Poncharal outlines Tech3 Moto2 test plans

The Tech3 team’s Moto2 programme is in full swing ahead of a test in Valencia next week, and boss Hervé Poncharal is looking forward to seeing the result of many months of hard work.

Both Raffaele de Rosa and Yuki Takahashi will be present at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, testing two bikes. With three days scheduled from January 26-28, Tech3 plan to use the first two and then carry over into the third if it is needed.

“We have a few things to test; we have a different swingarm, a different suspension setting, and we want to do a little bit of geometry also,” explained Poncharal. “I think what we need is proper weather conditions, which we haven’t had for quite a long time. We need the chance to do some laps with good track conditions, which will allow us to really be in a position where we can use the feedback and data effectively.”

A test in Valencia at the start of January was affected by poor weather, but the team still managed to get some valuable work done.

Poncharal continued: “We went back to Valencia from January 7-9 and unfortunately the first two days were impossible because of the weather. The last day was very cold as well but we managed about 100 laps with each rider and the chassis, with slight modifications, didn’t chatter any more.”

“It was interesting to hear Yuki because he knows 4-stroke bikes quite well and he gave us a lot of good information and feedback, and to have the two riders is helping a lot with the understanding of the bike.”

With more testing to be undertaken before the official outings in March, Poncharal is pleased to see his Moto2 project coming to life.

“I am happy because we now have the full team for the project, everybody is working here, it’s a proper factory. We have two bikes ready, two spare chassis, and a lot of bodywork, so we have a Moto2 team completely independent to our MotoGP organisation,” he said.

“We have something very important – two riders who are very competitive, very focused and very involved in the project. We’ve all been very busy and haven’t had any time off since the Valencia Grand Prix, but everybody is happy to have done this because we are starting a brand new adventure. I think it’s going to be a very exciting class, I’m sure.”

Concluding, Poncharal added: “But to really tell you how prepared we will be, we have to wait for the three tests in March, when all the teams will have the official engines and be on the same track. Then we will be in a much better position to evaluate the potential of everybody.”