The living forces of MotoGP join Qatar for a first battle in a 2021 season which promises to be at least as indecisive as the previous one. This is a priori good news for the Tech3 troops who had two successes last year, with Miguel Oliveira. The latter has now left for the factory structure, but the boss Hervé Poncharal recovers in exchange a driver who has also achieved success on two occasions in the Grand Prix in the person of Petrucci, while he keeps his young wolf Iker Lecuona with sharp fangs. Before launching into the fray, the French boss gives his feelings…
Hervé Poncharal is about to embark on a new season with the partner KTM, an alliance which will assert itself even more this year with colors which do not deceive on its RC16 ... " After a long winter, we are finally back here in Losail, Qatar, where we completed a five-day test. We are very happy to start a new MotoGP season. I think this year is going to be very exciting for everyone, but also for Tech3 KTM Factory Racing. "
"However, we have a new driver, Danilo Petrucci, who is a two-time Grand Prix winner and has been on a very competitive brand for a long time. In addition, we have Iker, who is entering his second season and is no longer a rookie. Clearly, our expectations are very high for these two guys ».
"I would also like to point out that we are extremely proud to wear the official colors of KTM. I think our whole setup, the team uniform, the colors of the bike are really beautiful. It is very easy to spot us on the trail. Like every year, there was some sort of competition and I think we were voted by our colleagues from the MotoGP team for the most beautiful bike. So, this is already something that we won this year before even starting the championship.t."
Hervé Poncharal is counting on a brainstorm in Mattighofen
"On the other hand, we have to say and we saw, that we were not in the best shape on this circuit, which has never been so easy for KTM. Nevertheless, after five days, I think there has been a lot of brainstorming in Mattighofen, Austria, and I think we can have confidence and be sure that they come back with ideas to close the gap with the leaders” adds Hervé Poncharal.
"Another very important point is that the race is much later than usual, at the beginning of March, so the weather will play an important role, because it's clearly much warmer than what we are used to facing. "
"I don't want to end this preview without mentioning the fact that Carmelo Ezpeleta and the entire Dorna team managed, together with the Qatari authorities, to give the entire paddock the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This is great for all of us! We know how difficult it is to get vaccinated and this shows Dorna's enormous commitment to our sport and support of our paddock. I think this will help MotoGP in 2021 to be much safer and less risky."
