The MotoGP paddock is about to turn a major page in its history. Starting in the 2026 season, Tech3—the oldest team still active in Grand Prix racing—will undergo a change of ownership and management. The flamboyant Günther Steiner, a former Formula 1 team principal, will become the new boss of the French team, while Richard Coleman will take over the day-to-day running of the team.
The announcement was made official at the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona, in the presence of key figures such as Carmelo Ezpeleta (CEO of Dorna), his son Carlos, and of course, Hervé PoncharalThe latter, co-founder of Tech3 in 1990, is preparing to transmit his life's work to Steiner, a respected figure in motorsport. This change of direction will be effective from January 1, 2026.
More Steiner will not come alone. He introduced the man who will become the new team principal, the Englishman Richard Coleman, still little known in the world of two-wheelers, but with solid experience in the world of motorsport.
At only 16 years old, Richard Coleman He started his career at Mitsubishi, in the technical department of the WRC program. From there, he embarked on a series of adventures in the world of racing, traveling the globe and winning no fewer than four world rally championship titles.
Later, he managed several English teams before discovering the other side of the coin: sponsorship, the lifeblood of motorsport. In 2014, he founded his own agency, specializing in the financing and commercial development of teams, particularly in Formula 1.
His arrival at Tech3 is therefore not a coincidence: he is a man of networking, strategy and vision, who perfectly complements the more media-oriented and technical profile of Gunther Steiner.
Coleman: " we will have to know how to speak to a wider audience, develop the show, open new markets »
Richard Coleman assures him: Tech3 will not be disrupted. The HQ will remain based in the south of France, Nicolas Goyon will continue to serve as Technical Director, and Hervé Poncharal will ensure the transition, remaining involved during this delicate phase.
"I'm not here to disrupt what works. ", emphasizes on speedweek Coleman. " Tech3 is a team that operates exemplarily. She takes to the podium, she has DNA, tradition, soulMy role will first be to learn, then to support long-term development. »
More Coleman sees further. In a logic close to that which Liberty Medium already applies to the Formula 1, he wants to participate in the transformation of MotoGP into a global product.
« MotoGP is entering a new era. Tech3, today, already does everything expected of a top-level team. But tomorrow, it will also be necessary to know how to speak to a wider audience, develop the show, and open new markets. "He says.
This will require enhanced business skills, a modern media approach, and the ability to balance sporting performance with economic development. It is with this in mind that Gunther Steiner et Richard Coleman want to evolve Tech3 : keep the racing heart, but broaden the impact.
As MotoGP prepares for major technical developments in 2027 (new 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics, end of holeshots, etc.), Tech3 is securing its structural and financial foundations.
For Steiner as for Coleman, the project is clear: to make Tech3 A model of excellence, both on and off the track. A winning team, but also a strong brand, capable of attracting partners, fans, and investors. The 2026 shift is underway. And Tech3 seems determined not to take it halfway.
