Estoril MotoGP: Tech 3 clinches new Yamaha deal

James Toseland’s Tech 3 squad has received a double boost in Estoril this weekend with confirmation that the French-based team has signed a new two-year deal to run Yamaha’s satellite MotoGP outfit.

The deal comes hot on the heels of news that Toseland has already penned a deal to ride for the Tech 3 squad in 2009, which was exclusively revealed by MCN this morning.

Yamaha’s new deal with Herve Poncharal’s Tech 3 team extends their partnership to the end of 2010.

Tech 3 and Yamaha have worked together since 1999 and Poncharal said: “I am delighted that Tech 3 has been able to extend our long partnership with Yamaha until the end of the 2010 season.

“We can look ahead to a future that looks brighter than ever before. This new contract gives us the stability to strive towards a goal we have always shared with Yamaha, and that is to win races. I would like to thank Yamaha management, and of course our riders.”

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, added: “We are delighted that we are going to be continuing our relationship with the Tech 3 Team and with Herve Poncharal.

“Our partnership is long-standing and we are very pleased with the significant improvements this year by the Tech 3 Yamaha Team both on and off the track.

“Yamaha believes in long-term relations with all of its partners and despite some difficulties in the past two years we have stuck together, made new plans and both Tech 3 and Yamaha are now seeing the fruits of our respective labours.

“Tech 3 plays an important part in our MotoGP program. It is therefore only logical to make the commitment to stay together and we believe that this early decision with give Tech 3 the confidence to invest in the future.”