KTM is pulling out all the stops to keep Tech3 as its satellite team when MotoGP ushers in the new 850cc era in 2027. Pit Beirer, KTM’s motorsport chief, made it clear the Austrian manufacturer is ready to fight for the partnership that has fueled both teams' growth on the grid.

Since 2019, the French Tech3 squad has been racing KTM RC16s, breaking away from a long-standing alliance with Yamaha to embrace factory-spec machinery from the Austrian brand. The chemistry has been electric, but now Tech3 is at a crossroads. The team is weighing whether to stick with KTM or jump ship to Honda, which is eyeing an expansion to six bikes again.

The stakes are high, especially after recent ownership shake-ups. A consortium led by former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner snapped up Tech3 last September, just months after Bajaj Auto took full control of KTM amid the manufacturer’s insolvency battle. Beirer emphasized that keeping four bikes on the track is crucial, especially with MotoGP’s major regulation overhaul looming.

“I think the project is much stronger if you have four bikes instead of two,” Beirer said. “But it’s a new ownership and Guenther is coming in. He said from the beginning, ‘Don’t push me, don’t rush me. I will take my time to understand the game a bit better and listen to all options.’ That’s a fair deal. But we are definitely fighting for them. We want to keep them with us because I feel we would be stronger together. The better we can perform on track… We are working on it. Don’t ask me if I’m confident—that could hurt me. I should never be too confident. But we work really hard to bring boys on the podium and to keep Tech3 with us.”

According to recent reports, Tech3 is now leaning toward extending its relationship with KTM into the 850cc era, despite flirting with a Honda switch. This decision will ripple through the team’s rider lineup, as KTM holds options to renew deals with both Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales. Bastianini was initially tipped for a move to Gresini Ducati, while Vinales was in line for a promotion to the factory squad. For now, all eyes are on the track as KTM fights to keep its satellite team locked in for the next chapter of MotoGP.