Two years ago, we fully translated this Tech3 communications publication which explains in detail and in several parts the underside of the world of MotoGP. We are republishing today, in an updated version, this insight on the team which will receive a member of Paddock-GP for a whole dream weekend...
This episode of the behind-the-scenes discovery of the Tech3 team concerns one of the key figures who, with Hervé Poncharal, is the heart of the French team.
Guy Coulon works as a renowned team manager for Johann Zarco and has been in the paddock for twenty-six years with Tech3, whilst having worked with a multitude of talented and winning MotoGP riders.
His extensive knowledge of motorcycles and extensive experience has seen him transform sportsmen into competitive riders. Guy also proudly heads the development of the team that designed and built the Mistral 610 motorcycle in-house, competing in the Moto2 World Championship since 2010.
From a young age, Guy's entire life has been dedicated to racing, partly due to the fact that he grew up near the Le Mans circuit, where he first visited the 24 Hours of Le Mans Moto at the at the age of 5, which later became an almost annual ritual. He realized his dream of becoming a full-time racing mechanic in 1974, after working in the Paris-Dakar rally for a number of years as technical director. This was before the creation of the Tech3 team in 1989 with Hervé Poncharal, and starting their first season together in 1990. There was no doubt, from the start, about the different roles that Guy and Hervé would have to play. assume, due to their respective dedication to professional competition.
Guy is a well-respected and integrated figurehead in the racing world, and he has a very high level of knowledge of motorcycles, motorcycles to which he has dedicated his life. He has worked with a wide variety of motorcycles, including different manufacturers and different engine sizes, such as: the Honda NXR750 which won the 1989 Paris-Dakar or the Honda NR750 during the 24 1987 Hours of Le Mans in Endurance. This adds to the different types of Yamaha that have been operated in the MotoGP World Championship over the past few years, from 250cc to 500cc 2-strokes, and from 800cc to 1000cc 4-strokes more recently. His love of motorcycles sees him preparing classic motorcycles at his home in his spare time, as he continues to bring success and expertise to Tech3's technical department.
Guy is committed to much more than just being a team manager, but, in this role, his main responsibility is to establish and deliver competitive MotoGP setups by working closely with the rider, race technician datas and the suspension specialist. As he interprets the rider's words, Guy suggests and makes technical decisions with his great mechanical knowledge, to obtain maximum performance from the Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider and his machine. He ensures that riders recognize the changes that are being made while suggesting ways to modify their riding styles, to achieve the best results with the Yamaha YZR-M1 in collaboration with the team.
Guy has worked with all kinds of victorious MotoGP riders and helped them achieve the best results during their time at Tech3. This includes, among other things, French Olivier Jacques, who won the 250cc world championship with the team, the Italian Marco Melandri during his second season in MotoGP, the two-time Superbike world champion Colin Edwards, the 125cc world champion Andrea Dovizioso, the British Bradley Smith as well as the current double Moto2 world champion Johann zarco.
Additionally, Guy operates as the exclusive project technical director Tech3 Racing Team Moto2. His knowledge in the field of motorcycles allows him to make the necessary and essential decisions so that the Mistral 610 is progressing and taking advantage of its best result which was the victory in Catalonia in 2010 and its four other podiums. The Mistral 610 is designed, designed and manufactured exclusively by the Tech3 team, which is the only team to do this in the Moto2 world championship. Development is led by Guy with the team managers, who all modify and undertake the development of the chassis and aerodynamics.
As he enters his 43rd year of motorsport, Guy's determination, vision and perseverance make him an example of motivation to make the best decisions for the growth of Moto2 and MotoGP projects. His calm and cooperative attitude, coupled with his creative ideas for the team, means that the life and soul of the Tech3 team rests on his shoulders. In addition to his immense technical knowledge of motorcycles, Guy designs the motorcycles which are then manufactured by the team, illustrating his deep understanding of engineering, both inside and outside of motorsport. His experience and wisdom bring out the best in the riders and bikes of the Tech3 team, where he plays a vital role in the team's victories.
