Yamaha Set to Continue Partnership with Tech3

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Yamaha is delighted to confirm the contract renewal with satellite MotoGP team Tech3 for 2014 and 2015. The two-year agreement will see Tech3 continue to run the prototype Yamaha YZR-M1 machines in the premier class for the next two years. 

Tech3 and Yamaha have enjoyed an excellent partnership and cooperation for over a decade, with Tech3 running the YZR-M1 machines for the first time towards the end of the 2002 season. 

The agreement will see Yamaha and Tech3 continuing to work closely together to develop young talented riders as they move into the premier class of motorcycle racing.

Lin Jarvis - Yamaha Motor Racing, Managing Director

“I’m really very happy to continue our relationship with Hervé Poncharal and the entire Tech3 Team. We have enjoyed a very successful partnership for more than a decade and have shared many memorable moments over the years. The Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team continues to perform as the top ranking satellite Team in the MotoGP class and their riders are frequently scoring excellent results and providing great excitement for the MotoGP fans. Now that we share Monster Energy as a common sponsor our link is even closer and we are very keen to continue to work together closely for the future to develop young talent which is a very important part of our total Yamaha Factory Racing program.”

Hervé Poncharal - Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team Principal

“I’m very happy and proud to announce that Tech3 is going to be for the next two years again working and supported by the Yamaha Motor Company. It is an honour and a privilege. We have been working with Yamaha since 1999 in the 250 class with Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano and in 2000 we won the 250 championship. Next season we switched to the premier class and since then we have enjoyed a great collaboration and a great relationship. It is not only a technical partnership but we feel truly part of the Yamaha family. Next year is a new adventure having two young riders; Bradley Smith will be entering his second MotoGP season and will be joined by Pol Espargaró so we are very excited. I believe this is going to be a great set up not only together with Yamaha, but with our sponsors too and that is something we are pretty proud of.”

Yamaha Press Release

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Crutchlow returns to podium in Assen thriller

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Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow made a stunning return to the podium in a classic Dutch TT encounter this afternoon.

The 26-lap battle was a nail-biting affair from start to finish and a fantastic charge in the second half of the race secured British rider Crutchlow a third rostrum in the last four races and ensured once again that he was unmatched as the outstanding non-factory rider.

Starting from pole position for the first time in his premier class career after a sensational qualifying performance yesterday, Crutchlow found himself down in fifth place in a frenetic opening to the 65th running of the historic Dutch TT.

With 90,000 fans gripped by the exciting action, Crutchlow’s podium challenge commenced when he seized fourth from heroic reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo, who just 48 hours after breaking his left collarbone in practice was producing a superhuman effort to keep the podium in his sights early on.

Crutchlow disposed of Lorenzo’s threat at the final chicane on lap 15 and he then moved into the rostrum places with an identical move to get by World Championship leader Dani Pedrosa on lap 21.

The former World Supersport’s blistering speed then saw him brilliantly hunt down Marc Marquez for second as the race reached an enthralling climax. Eager to equal the career best second place he scored in Le Mans last month, Crutchlow came close to pulling off a thrilling overtake at the first corner on the final lap.

Marquez though was not to be outdone and after coming close to contact, Crutchlow momentarily ran off track before recovering to claim a richly deserved fifth MotoGP podium that keeps him in fourth position in the World Championship standings

Bradley Smith produced yet another hugely encouraging display, the British rookie finishing inside the top 10 for the fifth race in a row.

Starting alongside eventual winner Valentino Rossi and Pedrosa on the second row after a career best qualifying performance, Smith did his best to keep himself in the hunt for the top six in the early stages to try and gain vital experience from the fastest riders in the world.

Struggling in the hard braking zones with discomfort from a recovery left wrist injury, Smith slipped outside of the top 10 but refused to settle for an 11th position he held from the fifth to the last lap.

Locked in a battle with Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso, Smith produced a stunning last lap attack to finish ahead of both to claim ninth for the third time in the last four races.

Cal Crutchlow 3rd – 87 points:

“I am really happy to be back on the podium after the disappointment of Barcelona. It was a great battle right to the end and once again I showed my speed and I was close to finishing second and that would have matched my best result in MotoGP. But obviously after starting from pole position I wanted to win the race and had it not been for me struggling with the full fuel tank in the first five laps, I think I had a chance to fight with Valentino. I can’t turn the bike on a full fuel load and then Jorge passed me and he was riding amazing considering his physical condition. It took me a while to get back by him but then I chased down Dani and Marc but it was a case of too little, too late. It was close with Marc on the last lap and I think we touched, so we were lucky he got back on the throttle when he did otherwise both of us could have been in the grandstand!  Being back on the podium is great for Monster, Tech 3 and Yamaha and it is another positive result for the Championship. Before the start of the season, if somebody had said I would have been on the podium three times in seven races and been so consistently fast with the best riders in the world, then I would have been happy. Now we go to Germany in a positive frame of mind and hoping to get back on the rostrum again.”

Bradley Smith 9th – 41 points:

“With my wrist injury continuing to cause me a problem, today was probably my hardest race of the year. After the operation immediately after Catalunya I expected it to be better than the last two races but to be honest I have a few more problems now. So it was a good race and to be able to get ninth on the last lap is a good situation. The distance to Bradl was quite similar to Barcelona and truthfully this ninth feels better than the sixth I got in Barcelona because today I really had to battle and nobody crashed. The gap to the front is quite similar to Barcelona and obviously the big positive of the weekend was starting on the second row. I knew finishing seventh was going to be a best case scenario because I knew Jorge was going to be coming through. I stayed consistent and my pace in the second half of the race was strong. I still need to work on the set-up for the early laps but I can go to Germany with a lot of confidence. I’ve scored another top 10 and beaten two very experienced riders on the final lap. And hopefully the wrist will be less of a problem at Germany and I can be in a bit less discomfort than here.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“That was a fantastic race but truthfully we might have expected a little bit more after Cal scored his first pole position in qualifying. It was the first pole for us since Ben Spies in 2010 and had Cal been able to be a bit faster in the early part of the race I’ve no doubt he could have challenged Valentino for the win. So while we got pole position and a podium, which is a truly magnificent effort, we were hoping Cal would have been closer to the win. Take nothing away from him though because once again he was the outstanding non-factory rider, he beat the World Championship leader in normal conditions and almost passed Marc right at the end. Today Cal showed once again what a great job he is doing and we are confident he can battle for the podium in Germany. Bradley also had a very positive weekend. Unfortunately the wrist he damaged in Mugello is still causing him some considerable pain, so to qualify sixth and finish inside the top 10 again was a fantastic effort. He never gave up and he remained very consistent and to get a top 10 on the last lap from two riders with incredible experience like Nicky and Andrea will give him some confidence for the future. Finally congratulations to Valentino and Jorge. It is great for Yamaha and MotoGP to see Valentino winning again and I am lost for words to describe Jorge's performance. He showed why he is World Champion today and I am sure he was pleased to see Cal finishing ahead of Dani for the standings."

Monster Yamaha Tech3 Press Release

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Difficult race for Kent and Rossi in Mugello

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Today's Moto2 race at the magnificent Mugello circuit in Italy had a disappointing outcome for the French-based Tech 3 Racing Team, with determined rides from Danny Kent and Louis Rossi not reflected in the final results.

A fast and aggressive start saw Kent gain three places on the opening lap, but the British rider was unable to sustain his impressive early charge and he ended the fifth round of the 2013 World Championship campaign in 22nd position.

Rossi's eagerness to make a flying start to launch an immediate attack on the top 20 resulted in a penalty for jumping the start. The ride through pit lane at the end of the fifth lap dropped the Frenchman to the back of the field. 

With his chance of racing into the top 20 gone, Rossi rode a lonely race to 26th but he was able to gain more experience and collect precious data for the Tech 3 Racing Team to help with future developments on the Mistral 610 machine.

The Tech 3 Racing Team will remain at the Mugello track tomorrow for a one-day test session, where Kent and Rossi hope to make positive progress with the set-up of the Mistral 610 without the time constraints and pressure of a race weekend.

One of the items on an extensive testing schedule to assess is a new aerodynamics package, with the long Mugello start/finish straight the perfect place to evaluate it.

Danny Kent - 22nd :

"We knew it was going to be a hard race because all weekend I have been struggling to find a set-up that suits me. It was a tough job and I can't be satisfied at all. Now we need to start making some big changes to try and make some progress because we are not demonstrating the full potential of the Tech 3 Racing package at the moment. Tomorrow we have a test and hopefully we can find some improvements to help me take a step forward in the next races."

Louis Rossi - 26nd :

"I am very sad about this race. I jumped the start and I am very sorry to the Tech 3 Racing Team because it destroyed any chance I had of getting into a battle. It was my mistake and after the ride through it was very difficult to make virtually the whole race alone. I didn't give up and at least I had the opportunity to modify my riding style to try and learn some new things. I have lots of information, so now I will speak to my crew to see if we can make some improvements based on the data we collected today."

Herve Poncharal - Team Manager :

"We can't deny today was very disappointing for the Tech 3 Racing Team on a track where we know the Mistral 610 is capable of battling for the podium. In 2011 Bradley (Smith) was on the podium and last year fourth, and while I wasn't expecting Danny and Louis to replicate those results, I certainly anticipated them being more competitive. Both of them are doing their best and it was unfortunate that Louis jumped the start because that compromised his race immediately. We can't be happy to see both of them outside of the top 20 and tomorrow's test is going to be vital to see if we can make any progress. We are not showing the full potential of the Mistral 610 and hopefully tomorrow we can find a direction that is going to improve our situation for the next few races."

Tech 3 Racing Press Release

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Crutchlow makes fast start at magnificent Mugello

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British rider Cal Crutchlow played a starring role on an opening day of practice for the Gran Premio d’Italia TIM that was dominated by Yamaha at the fast and technical Mugello track.

Full of confidence after storming to a career best second position last time out in Le Mans, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider set a personal best time of 1.48.672 in cool and overcast conditions to help Yamaha claim a fantastic clean sweep of the top three places.

After this morning’s FP1 took place in far from ideal conditions on a track littered with tricky damp patches, Crutchlow was over eight seconds faster on a full dry surface this afternoon to rocket up from ninth into the top three behind Factory Yamaha pair Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.

Crutchlow was less than 0.3s behind reigning World Champion Lorenzo and Mugello specialist Rossi and no other rider was able to lap within 0.7s of the former World Supersport Champion's impressive pace.

A hugely promising day’s work by Bradley Smith unfortunately ended in painful fashion when the rookie fell heavily while trying to consolidate an excellent eighth position on the timesheets.

Smith had superbly negotiated the tricky track conditions this morning to set the sixth fastest time, and relishing the challenge of powering his YZR-M1 machine round the undulating and high-speed Mugello track, he was lapping inside the top 10 again in FP2.

Confident he could improve on his eighth position he was pushing hard when he fell exiting Turn 15. The 22-year-old fell heavily on his left side and he needed lengthy treatment in the Medical Centre to assess a suspected left arm injury, though no bones were broken in the nasty spill.

Smith did though suffer an open wound to his left little finger after his hand was momentarily trapped under his machine. The injury will not prevent him from participating in Sunday’s race but he will require a skin graft on Monday to repair the damage.

   

Cal Crutchlow 34d 1.48.672 - 33 laps:  

“That was a very positive start to the weekend and I am happy to be in the top three and close to the best pace. This morning was quite tricky with the damp patches but I was fast on the wet tyres and happy with the feeling of the bike. This afternoon I was able to be in the top three in the dry and that is also very positive, but it is going to be very difficult to beat Jorge and Valentino. Jorge is looking for a third straight win here, so he is very fast on this track, and Valentino obviously has some special motivation for his home race. But I am the best of the rest again, which is a good sign and we’ve still got some things to try to improve the bike. I’m not completely confident in some corners but I know my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew has some good ideas to help me improve. It could be tricky conditions tomorrow though if we get some rain that’s been forecast, but after my second place in Le Mans and the good feeling I had in FP1 on the wet tyres, I am still very optimistic.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager: 

“It is a shame that Bradley suffered a big crash today because he was looking very strong and confident. We know he loves this track and he showed that his confidence is growing with the YZR-M1 because he was sixth in difficult conditions this morning and eighth when he crashed this afternoon. We have checked the data and he was not doing anything different in that corner compared to his fastest lap in the session. He had exactly the same speed but it seems he was on a brand new tyre that hadn’t reached working temperature. It is a pity because I am sure he could have finished inside the top 10, but what happened unfortunately can be part of the learning experience in MotoGP. Fortunately he has no broken bones because he landed heavily but the little finger on his left hand was quite badly damaged. The Clinica Mobile staff said he can race and I know they will do a fantastic job in getting him the very best treatment and ensure he is as prepared as possible for what will be a very difficult race. He will need a skin graft next week though.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Press Release

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Louis Rossi and Danny Kent gain experience in difficult Jerez race

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The Tech 3 Racing Team gained vital data and information to help future development of the Mistral 610 machine in a difficult Moto2 race for Louis Rossi and Danny Kent at the Jerez track in Spain today.

French rider Rossi finished the 26-lap race, which took place in gloriously sunny and hot conditions, in 25th place and he was satisfied to get another full race distance under his belt to improve his understanding of the Mistral 610 machine.

British rider Kent had settled into a consistent rhythm and was confident he could fight his way into the top 20 when his challenge unfortunately came to a premature end on lap 10 after a small fall at Turn 6.

Kent was able to remount and he continued to push hard for the remainder of the race to build up his experience of the Mistral 610 machine for forthcoming races in his rookie Moto2 World Championship campaign.

He took the chequered flag in 27th position and the Tech 3 Racing Team now heads to its all-important home round at the historic Le Mans track in France where optimism is high that Rossi and Kent can be challenging for their first World Championship points of the season.

Louis Rossi 25th:

“This result is not so good and the position is certainly not what we expect but after such a difficult weekend I am happy to finish. I improved my pace and that is positive but we have to work to get my confidence back. I want to thank the Tech 3 Racing Team for their support because this is a hard time for everybody. But they are giving me maximum support and I really appreciate this. It is my home race in Le Mans next and I will be doing my best to be more competitive for my home fans.”

Danny Kent 27th:

“It was another disappointing race. There was a bit of a tangle at the first corner and I nearly ran into the back of another rider and I lost a few places. I didn’t feel confident with the front in the hot conditions and at the end of the back straight it closed on me and I crashed. I was determined to finish for my crew and although I was on my own and it was impossible to catch the group in front, I worked on my riding style to help me for the rest of the year.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“Today was not what we expected at all but it was another learning experience for Louis and Danny that will help them for the future. The Moto2 class is very difficult and it is clear they both need time to gain some experience, but I think they both have to trust in their own ability much more. I believe the potential of the Mistral 610 is much higher than we are showing and I know 100% that Louis and Danny are better than their results are showing. All we can do is continue to work at our maximum level and look forward to the next few races with optimism that we will improve a lot. The next race is in France and that is a huge event for the Tech 3 Racing Team, and I am confident we can be much more competitive.”

Tech 3 Racing Press Release

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Tough Texas debut for Tech 3 Racing Team

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The Tech 3 Racing Team’s first visit to the spectacular Circuit of the Americas (COTA) proved to be a challenging affair, with Danny Kent and Louis Rossi finishing in 18th and 24th respectively.

Kent was unable to capitalise on an encouraging 13th position on the grid because of a small gearbox issue, but he did brilliantly to fight his way back through from outside of the top 20 in the early laps to claim a respectable 18th place finish at the chequered flag.

With 19 more competitive race laps under his belt, the British rider gained more valuable experience on the Mistral 610 machine and he is confident when the World Championship moves to Europe for the next race in Jerez that he will be able to battle for his first points scoring finish.

Today’s second round of the 2013 Moto2 World Championship at the long and technical COTA track was a big learning experience for Frenchman Louis Rossi.

Despite the best efforts of his Tech 3 Racing crew to improve his feeling and confidence with the Mistral 610 machine, Rossi never felt comfortable to push close to his normal potential and he finished in 24th position.

Danny Kent 18th:

“I am a little bit disappointed with the outcome of the race, particularly after such a positive qualifying that put me 13th on the grid. I had a problem with the gearbox going from second to first and it was creating a big problem for me entering the corner. I think that’s what put Nakagami out of the race too, so we weren’t the only one with a problem. Unfortunately it meant we finished the race with no points and that’s a shame because I am sure I could have been in the top 15 today. I am still learning so much with every lap I complete and I am looking forward to going to Jerez and fighting for my first points there.”

Louis Rossi 24th:

“It was a really difficult weekend for me because right from the first practice I didn't have a lot of confidence on the bike. I just couldn’t push with any confidence at all and we have to try and understand why it turned out to be such a difficult weekend. I want to thank my Tech 3 Racing Team because the bike was the best it has been all weekend in the race and I had slightly more confidence than on Friday and Saturday. Until about six laps from the end I could push harder but then the end of the race I had to slow down a lot. We have collected a lot of useful data during this weekend in Texas and we need to analyse it all in detail to make sure we have a better performance in the next races because where I finished today was nothing like I know what my full potential is. We tested in Jerez in the winter and I am looking forward to going there and being much more competitive.”

Herve Poncharal - Team Manager:

"We were confident we could score our first points with Danny here in Texas today because qualifying went well and he had a good feeling with the bike. But after a bad start and a few first laps where he struggled to find the right rhythm because of the gearbox problem it put him too far behind to reach the points. That's a pity and disappointing but he still showed great fighting spirit with a good recovery during the second part of the race. It was a bit like in Qatar where he was very fast in the second part of the race and easily good enough to see him battling around 10th to 15th. But by that time the gap was already too big. He is gaining experience and that is the most important thing and i am sure it won't be long before he is a consistent challenger in the points. Louis had a very tough weekend but at least he managed to finish the race and gain some experience. Both of them are learning a lot and are now ready for the first European race in Jerez where both have good track knowledge and where Danny in particular made a good job during the test one month ago."

Tech 3 Racing Press Release

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Fantastic fourth for Crutchlow in Texas

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Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow rode to a fantastic fourth place finish in today’s inaugural Grand Prix of the Americas in Texas to consolidate his place in the top five in the World Championship standings after two races. For the second race in succession, the British rider comfortably finished as leading non-factory rider after he superbly recovered from an early off-track excursion to claim his best finish of the 2013 campaign. Crutchlow was locked in an early fight with Stefan Bradl when he ran off track on lap four, which dropped him back to sixth as Alvaro Bautista swept through. The 27-year-old wasted no time in getting back up to his fast pace and he brilliantly recovered the lost places with two expertly executed overtaking moves on Bautista on lap five and then on Bradl on lap nine. Crutchlow maintained his fast pace and was easily able to streak away from Bradl and Bautista to finish behind factory trio Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo, which was a fantastic achievement considering they had all tested at COTA last month. 

It was mission accomplished for Bradley Smith in the 21-lap race as he gained priceless experience by guiding his YZR-M1 machine home to his first point scoring finish in his rookie campaign. Opting to run Bridgestone’s hard compound front tyre for the first time all weekend, Smith gradually built up his confidence and an impressive charge in the second half of the race saw him set a personal best lap of 2.06.415 on the penultimate lap to finish in 12th position. That was 0.3s faster than his best qualifying lap and the confidence and experience gained this weekend means Smith heads to Jerez next month optimistic that he can battle for a maiden top 10 finish.

Cal Crutchlow, 4th

“I’m very pleased and we did a better job than any of us expected before we arrived in Texas. With no testing here I was worried that it would be more of a struggle and the fire in the garage on Wednesday meant we couldn’t do any of our normal preparation work. So to finish fourth and be behind Marquez, Pedrosa and Lorenzo is a great achievement for all of us and I want to say a massive thanks to my crew. We qualified well and I rode very well in the race and the most pleasing aspect was my consistency. Unfortunately I ran wide while trying to pass Bradl but I managed to fight my way back through and I was running the same speed as Lorenzo for a long time and that gives me a lot of confidence to take into the next few races. I’m giving it my all and I’ll never give up and I think this weekend again we showed how competitive the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 package is. Now we go to Jerez and I was quickest at the winter test a few weeks ago, so it is going to be another big battle that I’m excited about.”

Bradley Smith, 12th

“I am really happy to finish the race because what I learned over a full race distance was priceless. I ran the hard front tyre on the advice of Bridgestone and while it was definitely the right choice, it took me a few laps to understand how it was working. The last thing I needed was to push too hard and make another mistake like in Qatar but the best thing about the race is I got faster and faster. I was quicker as in qualifying on the penultimate lap of the race, and that’s a sign of how much better I was riding the bike. I am learning more and more about the bike on each lap and I can go to Jerez now confident that I can be even more competitive and the goal will be to get closer to the top 10. Finally I can’t praise my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team enough. After the garage fire on Wednesday night it really put everybody on the back foot, but we all rallied round and it is nice to see both Cal and I finish in the points to reward their hard work."

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager

“That was a very good first race here in Texas and Cal did an amazing job. He was in a very hard battle in the early laps and after he ran off the track his recovery was fantastic. He was back on his pace immediately and he brilliantly passed both Bradl and Bautista, even though it was clear that they had a very competitive package at this track. What was very impressive was the way Cal pulled away and he was able to run the same pace as Lorenzo in front of him, which is not an easy task and something he should be really proud of. Bradley also had a good race and he did exactly what he had to do after the crash in Qatar. He was calm at the beginning but once his confidence grew he got faster and faster and at the end he was as quick as a lot of those inside the top 10. This will give him a big boost and also the experience he is lacking, so we can look forward to an even stronger challenge from him in the next few races. Cal and Bradley did an awesome job but so did the whole Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. We didn’t test here and that put us at a disadvantage and after the fire on Wednesday night our preparations were far from ideal. So to get this result in a crucial race for Yamaha and Monster Energy is extremely satisfying.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Press Release

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Promising Moto2 Debut for Danny Kent in Qatar

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Tech 3 Racing Team rider Danny Kent made a promising start to the new 2013 Moto2 World Championship in Qatar tonight after the British rider superbly fought his way through from outside the top 25 to finish just three places away from a points scoring position.

Starting from 26th on the grid at the floodlit Losail International Circuit, Kent took full advantage of an improved front-end feeling following overnight set-up tweaks to quickly mount a charge for the top 20.

Kent found himself in familiar company for most of the race when he diced at close quarters with Sandro Cortese, which was reminiscent of some of their memorable tussles during last year's Moto3 World Championship campaign.

Running a fast and consistent pace throughout the 20-lap season opener, Kent finished in an encouraging 18th position, giving the Briton plenty of confidence that he will quickly emerge as a consistent contender for the top 15 in the ultra-competitive Moto2 category.

Frenchman Louis Rossi's Moto2 debut unfortunately ended in premature fashion when he was ruled out of contention for a points scoring finish in the early stages. He was just about to break into the top 20 when he crashed out unhurt on lap four.

Danny Kent 18th:

“I'm pretty satisfied with my debut in Moto2 because my pace was consistent and around the group that finished around 13th and 14th, so that is positive. But I gave myself a lot to do starting from 26th and I've been struggling all weekend to find a good set-up. It was only in the warm-up last night that we made some big changes and though it was a completely different bike to what I've been using, I was immediately 0.7s faster than my best lap in qualifying. It gave me some more confidence in the front and I am really happy to finish inside the top 20 in my first Moto2 race. I am lacking a lot of experience compared to some of the rest who have been in the class since it started in 2010, and it is going to take a bit of time to get up there.”

Louis Rossi DNF:

“Of course I'm disappointed because I wanted to go home with a better result than a crash and I would like to say sorry to my team because they did a really go job this weekend helping me each day more to understand more the Mistral 610 machine. The start itself was not too bad and I was recovering some places and closing the gap to (Toni) Elias when I lost the front tyre in Turn 15. It is a long season and we have plenty of time to prove our potential and now I just want to look forward to Austin with the confidence that we were improving our lap time and performance on every single day.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“It has not been an easy winter with a lot of new things to learn for Danny and Louis and it is a difficult step to move from Moto3 to Moto2. They have found it quite difficult but we have seen progress being made and we clearly have a lot of potential to improve. Tonight was a good chance for them to gain some experience and Danny did a really good job. His times would have been good enough to be in the top 10 at some stage. He was fast and consistent at the end of the race and he was able to fight with Sandro Cortese, who is the benchmark for us because they were so close in Moto3. He wasn't far behind Sandro so it was a decent beginning of the season. Louis had a good start and was fighting even in front of Danny with riders like Elias when we crashed out. As we know in Moto2 a slight mistake is enough to destroy the work of the whole weekend but he has shown us already that he can be a success in this tough category. I think our Mistral 610 project will help them both gain experience and improve their skills and I'm looking forward to the next few races.”

Tech 3 Racing Press Release

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Crutchlow second, Smith makes MotoGP debut in Valencia test

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The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team ended a successful 2012 on a high note today after Cal Crutchlow and squad newcomer Bradley Smith were able to complete a brief but positive test session in cool and cloudy conditions at the Ricardo Tormo track in Valencia.

Cold temperatures and intermittent rain meant Crutchlow and Smith didn't even complete a single lap yesterday when preparations for the 2013 MotoGP World Championship got underway.

The weather played a pivotal role again today after to rrential rain overnight soaked the Ricardo Tormo track, which was slow to dry despite glorious sunshine and a strong breeze this morning. It looked like there would be no opportunity to test on Bridgestone's slick tyres as heavy cloud cover descended over the track in the early afternoon.

Forecast rain though never materialised and the asphalt dried sufficiently for testing to begin in the final two hours, with Crutchlow completing a 28-lap stint to finish second fastest on the timesheets. The British rider was able to check the strength in his left hand, which suffered a small fracture after he fell out of second position in Sunday's season finale in Valencia. He ended with a best time of 1.32.671 to finish behind Sunday's race winner Dani Pedrosa.

Smith was able to get his first taste of the YZR-M1 machine when he was one of only five riders to lap on Bridgestone 's wet weather tyres earlier in the day. He completed 16 laps in tricky conditions before returning later to get his first chance to ride on Bridgestone's slick tyres with carbon brakes.

The 21-year-old completed an additional 27-laps and declared himself satisfied with 11th place on the leaderboard, as he impressively got to grips with the heavier and more powerful MotoGP machine to set a best time of 1.34.538.

Cal Crutchlow 2nd 1.32.671 – 28 laps:

“It was good to finally get out on track after a frustrating first day. I thought today was going to be the same but the track finally dried and I could go out. I only did 28-laps but I was able to gather some information for Yamaha on a couple of set-up options and it was nice just to get back out and do some good laps. I didn't want m y last memory of 2012 to be crashing out of second in the race on Sunday, so now I can go into the winter in a positive frame of mind. I'm happy too because I could check my left hand that I injured in the race. I have  a small fracture on an old injury but it didn't feel too bad. Now I am looking forward to a good winter break, training hard and being ready to see what Yamaha brings out for 2013 in Sepang next February."

Bradley Smith 11th 1.34.538 – 43 laps:

“Today was a fantastic moment in my career and it is great to finally get chance to test the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 bike. Today more than made up for yesterday's disappointment when I couldn't ride because of the weather and it actually worked out great for me because I rode in the wet and dry, and this is brilliant to help me build up m y experience. Obviously the bike is completely different to anything I have ridden before, but it is an unbelievable machine. The power is incredible and in the dry when I came on the straight for the first time, I just had a huge smile. The level of technology is really impressive but I was able to consistently improve my time with every run and I am leaving very satisfied with my performance and confident in my potential for the future. Cal followed me for a couple of laps and gave me some tips and I really appreciate that. Cal had a fantastic season and I know I can learn a lot from him. I can go into the winter break now knowing what I need to work on in the future and I am glad we have plenty of testing ahead of us because there is so much to learn.” 

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“It is a shame that the weather played such a big part here because everybody had a lot of anticipation and excitement ahead of the first test for 2013. We certainly did because we have been keen to let Bradley begin learning about the YZR-M1. He did a few laps in the wet in the early part of the day and that would have given him some confidence because he has so much to learn about the tyres, power and electronics. It couldn't have been easy making his MotoGP debut on a wet track but he looked immediately at home on the bike. I'm pleased that he could get some time on slick tyres and carbon brakes, so at least he knows what to expect when we resume testing in Sepang next February. He has a big challenge ahead of him but today was a very promising start. We were doubtful the track would be dry enough for Cal to go out on slicks but the rain stayed away and it was good for him to do a few laps and get his confidence back after the crash on Sunday. It has been a long but incredibly successful season for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team and now we are looking forward to a thoroughly deserved winter break before we return refreshed and raring to go at the next test in Sepang in February.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Press Release

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Bad luck costs Smith podium chance in Japan

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Tech 3 Racing Team rider Bradley Smith experienced a frustrating Grand Prix of Japan at the Twin Ring Motegi this afternoon after a mechanical failure denied him the opportunity to battle for a first Moto2 rostrum of the season.

The British rider has been one of the fastest and most consistent riders on track all weekend and he started the 23-lap race brimming with confidence after finishing second quickest in this morning's warm-up session.

Smith got a typically fast start from seve nth on the grid to immediately thrust himself into podium contention. The 21-year-old ended the first lap in fourth place but his race was to come to a premature and disappointing end when an engine failure forced him to retire on lap four.

Today's misfortune ended Smith's impressive record of finishing in every race in 2012, but he is confident he will able to bounce back quickly and show his true potential when the Championship resumes at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia next weekend.

Belgian rider Xavier Simeon was able to enjoy a more positive afternoon's work and he deservedly ended his long search for a top 15 finish with a determined ride throughout the 23-lap race.

Starting from 22nd on the grid, Simeon went into attack mode right from the off an d his hard work was rewarded when he moved into the top 15 on lap 18.

He gained one more position in the closing stages of the race and superbly fended off pressure from a group behind that included Mike di Meglio, Yuki Takahashi, Mika Kallio and Andrea Iannone to claim his first World Championship points since the German round in July.

Xavier Simeon 14th – 19 points:

“First of all I want to thank the Tech 3 Racing Team because we really had a lot of problems with the temperature of the front brakes this weekend. This track is very stop and go with some incredibly hard braking points and I was a little bit worried how the brakes were going to perform in the race. But my crew and Nissin did everything to put me in the position to do the race without any issues and I'm really grateful for that. And of course I'm more than happy to have seen the chequered flag this weekend. It has been a long time since I have finished with some bad luck and some mistakes and I really needed a positive result. I was at the front of a big group and I just got my head down and attacked as hard as I could. When I realised I was battling for the points I just tried everything within my power to score them. It is a great finish to the weekend but I want to say sorry to Bradley. He was very fast and very strong all weekend and to be denied the chance of a podium by a technical issue is a big pity for him and the Tech 3 Racing Team."

Bradley Smith  DNF – 96 points:

“It is hard to put into words how frustrating it is to see a podium chance taken away in circumstances like that. We have all worked very hard to put ourselves into a great position to battle for the top three and then we don't even complete more than four laps. I was fourth on the first lap but I could already sense there was a problem and then it seemed to clear but on lap four the engine just died and it was race over. I'm very disappointed but at least we have the chance to bounce back quickly in Sepang next weekend. I just hope this wasn't my last chance to fight for a podium in Moto2.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“I am very upset today because I think we have been denied the opportunity to fight for a podium through no fault of our own. A tyre issue cost Bradley the chance to go for the front row yesterday in qualifying and today I am absolutely 100% sure he would have bee n challenging for the podium and we had a problem with the engine. So to see Bradley forced out of the race is incredibly frustrating for him and the whole team. I am very sorry for Bradley because he was very fast all weekend and we were very confident he could score his first podium of the season. After all their hard work, Bradley and his crew deserved this and I am sure they will bounce back from this disappointment to battle close to the front in Malaysia. On a positive note I want to say a big thanks to Xavier. He has not been on a good run but he has never let his head drop and he has never stopped giving 100% effort, and today he got his reward. He pushed right to the end and when you see the level of some of those behind him like Kallio and Iannone, this highlights what a great job he did. I am sure now he will use the confidence gained here to finish the season very strongly.”

Tech 3 Racing Press Release

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Danny Kent signs for Tech 3 Racing Moto2 Team

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The Tech 3 Racing Team has completed its 2013 Moto2 World Championship line-up with the signing of promising British talent Danny Kent on a two-year contract to join Louis Rossi.

The 18-year-old has demonstrated his World Championship pedigree in 2012 by qualifying on the front row of the grid three times and claiming a stunning podium at Assen in the ultra competitive new Moto3 four-stroke class.

Kent is currently sixth in the overall Moto3 standings and he joins a long list of B ritish talent to work with the French-based Tech 3 squad in Moto2 and MotoGP, including Cal Crutchlow, James Toseland, Bradley Smith and James Ellison.

Danny Kent:

“I am delighted to be joining the Tech 3 Racing Moto2 Team for 2013 and this is a great opportunity for me to take my career to the next level. I am under no illusions how difficult racing in the Moto2 class is going to be, but I can't think of a better team to join than Tech 3 Racing to help me learn. Herve Poncharal is somebody I have a lot of respect for and the team is very professional and I had no hesitation in agreeing to sign when I knew how much they wanted me. I feel ready to make this step because my physical size is not ideal for the Moto3 class, and I can't wait to start learning and understanding the Mistral 610 machine. The bike has been close to the p odium this season, which gives me a lot of confidence in its potential. I want to finish my time in Moto3 with some strong results in the last four races before putting all my focus and energy into preparing for this new adventure with the Tech 3 Racing Team.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“Danny is a rider I have admired for a long time and right from the moment we started considering our Moto2 plans for 2013, he was right at the top of the list of candidates. I have no doubt he is a rider with a very big future and I am really looking forward to working with Danny and helping him adapt to the very competitive Moto2 category. He has demonstrated numerous times this season his potential with some outstanding performances in the new Moto3 class, including at the last race in Aragon when he was leading and fighting for the podium for the whole race. With Danny and Louis we have shown our commitment to developing young talent and I am convinced we have put together the strongest line-up possible and 2013 will be a successful one for the Tech 3 Racing Team.”

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Louis Rossi to join Tech 3 Racing Moto2 Team

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The Tech 3 Racing Team is delighted to announce it has reached an agreement to sign highly rated French rider Louis Rossi for its Moto2 World Championship assault in 2013.

The 23-year-old gained vital World Championship experience in the 125cc category in 2010 and 2011 and he has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the exciting and ultra competitive new Moto3 four-stroke class this year. 

He scored a fantastic debut Grand Prix victory in his home race at Le Mans back in May and he has qualified on the front row tw ice in 2012. He has also scored four other top ten finishes and is currently firmly in contention to claim a top six position in the final Moto3 World Championship standings.

The signing of Rossi reaffirms Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal's commitment to showcasing French talent on the world stage, having previously worked with Olivier Jacque and Sylvain Guintoli in MotoGP and most recently Mike di Meglio in the Moto2 class in 2011.

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“I am delighted that Louis has decided to commit his future to Tech 3 Racing Moto2 Team. I have monitored him very closely and he is a rider with great potential who I am really looking forward to help take the next step in his career. I am confident the combination of Louis and the Tech 3 Racing's Mistral 610 project will be a formidable one in 2013.”

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Dovizioso pips Crutchlow to podium after exciting Aragon duel

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The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team celebrated a brilliant return to the MotoGP podium in the Gran Premio Iveco de Aragon today after Andrea Dovizioso came out on top of an exciting race long battle with teammate Cal Crutchlow. 

Dovizioso secured his sixth podium of the 2012 World Championship campaign after he showed ice cool nerves to fend off the relentless challenge from hard charging Crutchlow to claim a richly deserved third place.

Italian Dovizioso and Crutchl ow were barely more than two tenths apart for the duration of the 23-lap race, which took place in sunny but cool conditions at the magnificent Motorland Aragon track.

After Stefan Bradl's early crash, Dovizioso and Crutchlow were pitched into an entertaining battle for third place with Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies.

Crutchlow led the chase of the Texan until he ran slightly off line exiting the final corner on lap 11 and Dovizioso pounced to grab fourth on the long run to the first corner.

Dovizioso seized third from Spies on lap 15 at the second corner and it was at the same point of the track that Crutchlow also made his move on the American on lap 18.

The 26-year-old had brilliantly upped his pa ce by that stage and he launched a sustained attack on Dovizioso that went right down to the wire. The British rider briefly snatched third with a gutsy move at Turn 15 on the penultimate lap but Dovizioso responded instantly to seize the last podium position back.

Seeking to score his second podium in the last three races, Crutchlow tried the same manoeuvre again on the final lap, but Dovizioso was able to launch an instant counter attack and he held on to score his first rostrum since the Indianapolis round.

Dovizioso's outstanding ride moved him to within seven-points of Casey Stoner in third place in the World Championship standings, while Crutchlow's 13-points for fourth proved invaluable in his bid to secure fifth in the rankings.

He is now seven-points clear of Valentino Rossi and Alvaro Bautista with only four races remaining heading off on the flyaway tour to Japan, Malaysia and Australia.

Andrea Dovizioso 3rd – 179 points:

“It was a very good race and I am very happy to be back on the podium. It has been a difficult weekend with the weather but the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team did a fantastic job and the bike was very strong in the race. It was a very strategic race for me because right from the start I was quite slow in a few corners so I had to work very hard to stay in front of Ben and Cal. I knew Cal would be pushing very hard at the end of the race because a few times we have battled together like this and I have beaten him, so I knew he would not be giving up without a fight. He tried in the same place on the last two laps but at that point he couldn't stop the bike and I had a better exit speed to immediately take the third position back. And I know I am very strong on the brakes, so going to the last corner I was confident I could keep him behind me. It is great to be back on the podium, so I want to say a big thanks to my crew for doing such a wonderful job again.”

Cal Crutchlow 4th – 135 points:

“Obviously it would have been great to be back on the podium after the disappointment of Misano but credit to Andrea because he did a great job as always and I'm taking nothing away from him. I did my best in those last two laps to take third but I knew he had a little better exit speed than me coming out of Turn 15 and that's how it turned out. It was impossible for me to try again at the last corner but I am happy with fourth because this result once again shows the huge step I have ma de from last season. Today I was close to the podium and last year struggling to be in the top 10. It was a good result for the Championship too because I pulled a small gap on Valentino and Alvaro. I can go into the last four races with a lot of confidence and hopefully enjoy some more good battles with Andrea. I tried my best to beat him today and didn't quite manage it, so hopefully next time we are in a fight like that it will be me that comes out on top.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“I don't think anybody can say that Andrea and Cal didn't put on a fantastic show for the crowd today. I have to congratulate both of them because they have been very fast and really close to each other but at all times they treated each other with the utmost respect. They were very professional because they were very aggressive but without ever stepping over the limit. It was clearly the best battle of the whole race and it could have gone either way. Cal could not have done anything else to get back on the podium but on this occasion he couldn't quite get the better of Andrea. We know Andrea is fantastic on the brakes and he has a lot of experience, and he needed to dig really deep to keep Cal behind him and get another brilliant podium. They are both so evenly matched and so is the performance of the YZR-M1 that it is always going to be a close battle and hopefully we will see more of that in the last four races. I'm sure the fans won't be complaining and once again I think the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team put on a brilliant display.”

Monster Yamaha Tech3 Press Release

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Classy Crutchlow claims stunning first MotoGP podium

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Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow rounded off a memorable weekend with a stunning ride to his first MotoGP podium finish in today's bwin Grand Prix Ceske Republiky at the Brno circuit.

After signing a new one-year deal to remain with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team in 2013 yesterday, the 26-year-old then powered his YZR-M1 to second place in qualifying to score a career best grid position.

He then capped the best weekend of his MotoGP career with a fantastic ri de to third position in today's 22-lap race, a result that saw him become the first British rider since 2000 to finish on a MotoGP podium.

Crutchlow brilliantly capitalised on his fourth front row start of the season to lead the pursuit of fast starting Spanish duo Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa in the early laps. He was immediately able to set a fast and consistent rhythm and he impressively pulled away from Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Andrea Dovizioso in fourth.

The Italian was doing everything within his power to cut the gap to Crutchlow as he went in search of a sixth podium in eight races. But Crutchlow demonstrated fantastic concentration and speed to ensure Dovizioso never threatened to deny him a landmark first rostrum. 

Dovizioso was able to comfortably secure his seventh successive top four finish after he had held off an early challenge from compatriot Valentino Rossi.

Today's result continued a phenomenal season for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad. Crutchlow's third position was the sixth podium in the last eight races for the French-based squad. And with 272-points in the Team World Championship standings, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team trails Yamaha's Factory squad by just 39-points with six races of the 2012 campaign remaining.

Cal Crutchlow

“It feels fantastic to finally score my first podium in MotoGP. This has been the perfect weekend for me because I signed a new contract with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team and then scored my best ever qualifying result yester day. So to cap it all off with a podium is a great feeling and hopefully I've already gone a little way to repaying the faith Tech 3, Yamaha and Monster have shown in me. It wasn't an easy race because I was on my own for most of it and it was a real test of concentration. The pleasing aspect is my pace was really consistent throughout, but it had to be because I knew Andrea was behind. I basically raced my pit board so I knew where he was but I knew he was going to be hard to beat when you look at how well he has been riding lately. I felt comfortable holding the gap to him but I couldn't afford to make a mistake because I knew he'd be ready to pounce. It felt great when I came across the line and saw my crew celebrating because they have given me unbelievable support. I feel the pressure is off a little bit now, so hopefully today's podium is the first of many. To end a 12-year drought for a British rider to get on a MotoGP podium is also a great feeling. It seems a long t ime since Jeremy McWilliams did it, so I hope the British fans don't have to wait that long for the next one!”

Andrea Dovizioso

“I was confident going into the race that I could fight for the podium. But there is no doubt that Cal did a better job than me and I congratulate him for getting his first podium in MotoGP. When I was close to him in the early laps I could see he gained some time in corner entry and he had more corner speed than me. But he lost on the exit but for sure he was gaining more than he lost. I spent the whole race pushing at my maximum to recover the gap to him but it was not possible. He was very consistent and I couldn't push him into making a mistake, so he did a great job. We have finished inside the top four again today but this result demonstrates that we still have some margin t o improve. We have collected a lot of data and we will analyse that now to understand how we can be faster.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“I am so happy for Cal because the step he has made this season compared to 2011 has been incredible. He has worked so hard to get that first podium and today he finally got it, and I couldn't be happier for him and his crew. It has been an incredible weekend for Cal. We thought it was great to sign him on a new contract yesterday and then he got his best ever qualifying position. This gave us a lot of optimism but he rode the perfect race. He got a good start and pushed hard right from the first corner and that is what you need to do in this class. He was very consistent too and he never gave Andrea one chance to close the gap. We know that Andrea is a great rider and he has b een in tremendous form, so for Cal to beat him today confirmed he did a truly remarkable job. This season has been beyond our wildest dreams and we have now been on the podium in 50% of the races. I'm sure this will take some pressure of Cal and we are going to see him battling for the podium again in the last six races. Andrea had another very good ride too. He really pushed Cal as hard as he could and he showed what a great sportsman he is today by acknowledging that he was beaten by the better man. We are now looking forward to going to Misano where we will give our maximum effort to extend this incredible run of results.”

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Monster Yamaha Tech 3 to field all-British line-up in 2013

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The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is delighted to confirm that it will field an all-British rider line-up with Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith in the 2013 MotoGP World Championship.

Crutchlow has signed a new one-year agreement after a fantastic second season in MotoGP. The 26-year-old is currently fifth in the World Championship standings and he has scored eight top six finishes and started from the front row of the grid in three races.

Smith will move up from the Tech 3 Racing Moto2 project. A consistent top six challenger in the ultra-competitive Moto2 class, the 21-year-old has signed a two-year contract for 2013 and 2014.

Cal Crutchlow:

“I am delighted to commit my future to the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team for at least one more year. Together we have made huge progress this season and achieved some strong results and I am confident we can be even more competitive in 2013. Yamaha and Monster have been very loyal to me over a long period of time and they both made it clear how much they wanted to keep me for next year. That was incredibly flattering and I really appreciate their support. Next year will be my fifth with Yamaha and I am excited to continue my MotoGP career with them. My relationship with Tech 3 also played a big part in my decision. Herve Poncharal and all my crew have given me unbelievable backing since I joined in 2011. Yamaha put together a great package for 2012 and next year it will be even stronger. Hopefully I can reward their loyalty by challenging for the podium throughout 2013, which I know we are capable of.”

Bradley Smith:

“It is an honour for me to get the opportunity to move to MotoGP with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. I have dreamed about being a MotoGP rider for as long as I can remember and to get this chance with such a professional and successful team is fantastic. It is clear from the results achieved by Cal and Andrea (Dovizioso) in 2012 that together Tech 3, Yamaha and Monster is a very competitive package and I can't wait to begin this new adventure in my career. I know I have a huge challenge ahead of me but I believe in my ability and I am grateful to Herve Poncharal, Yamaha and Monster for showing a lot of confidence in me to offer me this chance. I already know the Tech 3 Team so it won't be s uch a huge transition for me and I have a good relationship with Cal. This will be very important because I can learn a lot from him. I am now looking forward to finishing the season strongly in Moto2 for Tech 3 Racing before I get my first chance to ride a YZR-M1 machine in Valencia."

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“I am really happy to confirm that Cal and Bradley will be with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team in 2013. Cal has done an amazing job this season and I am convinced that he is only going to continue to improve. He is a fast rider but also a big personality and we were determined to keep him with us for next season. We know there was a lot of interest in him, so for us to capture his signature is a big positive. Bradley has demonstrated his high potential in Moto2 and I have every confidence in him that he will be competit ive in MotoGP. Of course he faces a very difficult challenge because the level now in MotoGP is incredible. But he has a great attitude and a big desire to make this new chapter in his career a successful one. What I can assure him is that Tech 3, Yamaha and Monster will give him 100% support to help him show his potential. I have no doubt this is the strongest line-up we could have put together for next season and we can look ahead to 2013 with high expectations.”

Monster Yamaha Tech3 Press Release

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Dovizioso claims podium at magnificent Mugello

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Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Andrea Dovizioso produced a masterclass in aggressive riding under pressure to claim a richly deserved rostrum finish in front of his sun-drenched home crowd at the Mugello track this afternoon.

Dovizioso secured his fourth podium in the last five races to delight a passionate home crowd of nearly 65,000 fans after he came out on top of a fascinating battle with German Stefan Bradl. The Italian was in contention for the top three from the start of the 23-lap race after he rocketed from seventh on the grid to third at the first corner with a typically fast launch off the line.

He led Dani Pedrosa in second for the opening four laps before the Spaniard retaliated, which pitched Dovizioso into an epic battle with Bradl that went right down to the chequered flag.  Bradl moved into third position on lap 10 but Dovizioso was determined to score a second successive MotoGP podium at Mugello and put the LCR rider under intense pressure until he pounced to take third back on lap 21.

Dovizioso used all his experience to fend off Bradl's challenge and his 61st Grand Prix podium was secured by just 0.046s after a tense run to the finish line.

British rider Cal Crutchlow was locked in a superb battle of his own throughout the race with h ome crowd favourite Valentino Rossi.  At the halfway stage of the race the pair were six seconds behind Dovizioso and the podium battle but both showed stunning speed, spurring each other on to close down on the battle for third in the final stages.

Crutchlow could not have put Rossi under any more pressure but the Italian refused to buckle and an exciting last lap saw the 26-year-old brilliantly grab his seventh top six finish of the season after passing Nicky Hayden at the final corner. At the chequered flag Crutchlow was only 1.4s away from the podium after his tremendous tussle with Rossi.

Andrea Dovizioso 3rd – 108 points:

“To get a podium is always special but to do it in front of the Italian crowd and after s uch a strong battle makes it feel even better. I got the perfect start and was third at the first corner and I felt very strong in braking at the start so passed Dani at Turn 5. Immediately though I could see that Lorenzo was faster in some parts of the track, but it was good to see again the small points I need to improve to get the best out of the Yamaha. The fight with Bradl for the whole race was fantastic and he did a great job. When he passed me he was making it look easy and I was having to push right at the limit to make sure he couldn't open up a gap that I couldn't recover. He was trying for his first podium and I was pushing hard to be on the podium in Italy, so it made for a great battle. I knew I was a little bit stronger in the brakes than him so with three laps to go I decided to attack and I was confident I could hold him off. He didn't give up but I am so happy with another podium and I want to say a big thanks again to my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew. We are working so well together and our results show it. After three podiums in a row now I am really looking forward to going to Laguna Seca.”

Cal Crutchlow 6th – 95 points:

“My start and the first five laps pretty much decided my race because I got a terrible start. Once I found my pace I was pretty comfortable but I didn't have a very good feeling on a full fuel tank and that is something we need to work on. The battle with Valentino was fantastic and I learned a lot from him. His knowledge of this track is unrivalled and his consistency was awesome. I was faster than him in the final section but I was not close enough to pass him on the brakes and he had a fast bike down the straight. I did everything possible but he is incredible on the brakes and didn't give me a chance. But we came from way back to almost get in the fight for the podium and I am happy to have got Nicky on the last lap for the top six. I was really strong at the last corner and made a good move, and to finish 1.4s off the podium having come from so far back is a positive outcome. I also want to say congratulations to Andrea. He is doing a phenomenal job and to get three podiums in a row in this class is a great achievement. He did it in front of his home crowd too and it shows what an unbelievable job the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is doing in 2012.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“That was another incredible weekend for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team and to be on the podium in four of the last five races feels like we are dreaming. I have to give all the credit to Andrea, his crew and the Yamaha staff because together they are doing a fantastic job. These kin d of results are very difficult to achieve but Andrea's success is giving us an incredible feeling. Andrea's start today was unreal and that was the key to him getting on the podium. He was close to the front at the start and then he got involved in a really exciting fight with Bradl and I think the Italian fans really enjoyed his performance. When Bradl passed him I wasn't worried because Andrea is a very intelligent rider and I was confident he was saving his tyres to attack again at the end. He did that but Bradl certainly didn't give up and Andrea showed nerves of steel at the end to get third. I'm also happy to see Cal back in the top six. The second half of the race from him was really impressive and he was fast and consistent and never giving Valentino a moment to relax. A better start might have put him in the battle for the podium because he came from way back to finish less than 1.5s behind Andrea. That shows Cal never gives up and both of them back in the top six means it is another great weekend for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team.”

Monster Yamaha Tech3 Press Release

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Fantastic fourth for Bradley Smith in Mugello thriller

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Bradley Smith took a fantastic fourth place in a thrilling Gran Premio d'Italia TIM Moto2 race today, the Tech 3 Racing Team rider finishing just over one second behind winner Andrea Iannone.

Smith took full advantage of his sixth position on the grid to attack for the podium right from the start of a 21-lap race that took place in hot and humid conditions at the majestic Mugello circuit.

In a typically frantic opening, Smith dropped back from fourth to ninth with the leading group constantly changing places in a ra ce that once again demonstrated how exciting and tense the action in the Moto2 World Championship is. Smith's push for his first podium of the campaign started on lap 12 when he moved within striking distance of World Championship leader Marc Marquez in fifth position. His magnificent pursuit of the leading trio involving Iannone, Pol Espargaro and Thomas Luthi remained relentless and on lap 19 he set the third fastest lap of the race.

The 21-year-old started the final lap poised to mount a late attack for the podium, but despite putting Luthi under immense pressure, the Swiss rider displayed ice cool nerves to ride a faultless last lap that denied Smith third by just 0.128s.

Smith was still delighted to have scored his best result of the season and shown that Tech 3 Racing's Mistral 610 machine is one of the most competitive on the closely contested Moto2 gr id. The 13-points gained today moved Smith to within eight-points of the top six in the World Championship rankings.

Xavier Simeon also made an aggressive start and he recovered seven places on the first lap, moving immediately into the top 20 from 26th on the grid. The Belgian rider quickly found himself in a battle for the points but his challenge was ended when he crashed out of 19th place on lap eight after Axel Pons fell in front of him at the final corner.

Bradley Smith 4th – 69 points:

“That was an awesome race and it feels great to be fighting for the podium again. I struggled a bit at the beginning of the race when the other guys had new tyres because we focus on making the Mistral 610 fast on worn tyres. And that really paid off because in the se cond half of the race today I felt really strong and fast. I made a couple of aggressive moves and I was lucky a few times when some other riders went wide and I could get through. But I gave absolutely everything I had today and the bike was amazing, especially in the corners. The Tech 3 Racing Team did an amazing job and I really wanted a podium for them. I was probably only going to have a lonely fourth but Thomas made a mistake with about three laps to go and that put me right back with him. I gave it my all at the end but credit to him because he didn't crack under pressure and he never gave me a chance to take third. It would have been great to get on the podium again but now we go into the summer break on the back of a positive result and we can look forward to Indianapolis with a lot of optimism that we will be up there battling for the top three again.”

Xavier Simeon: DNF – 17 points:

“I made a really good start and was already inside the top 20 at the end of the first lap. A few riders passed me on the straight and then I lost contact with the group involving Krummenacher and Zarco. But I think I could have finished comfortably in the points and possibly around 12th. I was finding a good rhythm when Pons crashed in the last corner and I could not avoid him so we crashed out together. It's pity because we had some bad luck and a few problems during the whole weekend and could never perform like we did in Sachsenring last week. Now I just hope to recover well during the summer break and get back to the good feeling I had in Germany at the next round in Indianapolis.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“That was an incredible race an d I'm delighted with Bradley's performance. Bradley did an incredible job from the start to the finish line and he pushed like a demon.  We know he is a fighter and today he rode like a true champion. He was only one second away from the win and after all that effort he really deserved to finish on the podium. I'm also happy for the Tech 3 Racing Team. Everybody has been working non-stop to put the Mistral 610 back at the front in Moto2 and they can now start their summer break with a lot of satisfaction about today's result. We can also take a lot of confidence from today into the remainder of the season. It's a big shame that Xavier crashed today. During the whole weekend he could not show his true potential that we could clearly see in Sachsenring. Now we have to look forward but I am sure the break will allow him to be 100% fit for Indianapolis and fighting back inside the points. I'm sure too that Bradley's result will be a boo st for him as it is the first time the Mistral 610 has been so close to the front in 2012.”

Tech 3 Racing Press Release

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Dovizioso takes Sachsenring podium after late drama

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Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Andrea Dovizioso extended his outstanding run of form at Germany's Sachsenring today, the Italian rider capitalising on a late crash by reigning World Champion Casey Stoner to finish in third position.

Dovizioso rode a tremendous 30-lap race under severe pressure from Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Cal Crutchlow and Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies.

A third podium in the last four races a ppeared to have eluded Dovizioso when he started the final lap in fourth position. But late drama unfolded in front of a crowd of over 80,000 fans when Stoner tumbled out of second at the penultimate corner on the final lap.

Promoted into third position, Dovizioso aggressively attacked the final two corners to brilliantly fend off an attack from Spies and he took his 19th MotoGP podium by less than 0.1s after a tense run to the finish line.

Dovizioso's result moved him into fourth in the World Championship standings after Crutchlow's valiant effort to extend his impressive sequence of top five finishes.

The British rider was once again locked in a close and exciting duel with Dovizioso but just as the fight headed towards a nail-biting climax, Crutchlow ran off track at the first corner on lap 26.

He managed to keep control of his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine in the gravel trap and re-joined the race in 11th.

The 26-year-old was barely knocked out of his rhythm and he fought his way back into eighth position to collect eight valuable World Championship points.

The final result certainly didn't reflect Crutchlow's true potential and he demonstrated his speed and consistency once again by setting the third fastest lap of the race behind Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner.

Andrea Dovizioso 3rd – 92 points:

“I am really happy to finish on the podium again and it is a great feeling to do it here because this track has never been the best for me. It was the same in Assen last week, so to be on the podium there and also here at the Sachsenring shows the fantastic job that we are all doing in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. Of course we have to consider ourselves a little bit fortunate today to finish third because of Casey's crash. But it proved how crucial it was for me to remain at the front of the battle with Cal and Ben for the whole race. If I had let them overtake me then perhaps I would not have been third. I am happy because I rode an intelligent race today. I never pushed completely at the limit, especially during the first laps, as I knew from the past that I would probably pay for that tactic at the end of the race. My focus was to be consistent and I managed that and that was the key to this result. I was only six seconds behind Lorenzo and that is good because he is the benchmark at Yamaha and that means I was only 0.2s per lap slower than him. We can still improve but my feeling with the Yamaha is fantastic and I am really happy with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. Now I go to my home race in Mugello with a lot of confidence and the goal will be to battle for the podium again.”

Cal Crutchlow 8th – 85 points:

“I'm pretty disappointed to be honest and I think we definitely deserved better. My mistake was not passing Andrea earlier because I had the pace to be with Lorenzo. I was just waiting behind Andrea for the last five laps to size up an attack but unfortunately I ran off at the first corner. It was my mistake but I got back on track and was just as fast and recovered a couple of places, so it wasn't too bad in the end. I'm not sure why but Andrea's bike seemed to accelerate better than mine and he had more speed on the str aight. I would catch him in the corners but lose a couple of tenths on the straight. I'm sure I could have been fourth because the podium would have been a gift. I wouldn't have wanted my first podium in MotoGP to come just because another rider crashed out. Once again though I have showed what I am capable of. Last year here was a disaster and I was 14th, but today I was fighting two seriously fast riders and I had the pace to beat them. I got the third fastest lap of the race too so we definitely have the speed to battling in the top five at every race.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager

“That was another exciting race for the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team and once again it was quite a nervous experience for me to see Andrea and Cal fighting so closely together. We have seen that many times already in 2012 but it do esn't make it any easier to watch. It is almost like they can't race without each other! It was a shame that Cal made a mistake so close to the end because it would have been interesting to see the fight go to the last lap. Andrea once again was fantastic and his pace was very consistent. He didn't make even one small mistake that would have given Cal and Ben an opportunity to pass him and to ride under that pressure takes a lot of concentration and also skill. We are fortunate this time to be on the podium because of the crash of Casey but Andrea would not have been third had he not worked so hard to stay in front of Cal and Ben. So he deserves it and to get a third podium in the last four races is incredible for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. It is a shame that a small mistake compromised Cal's race because perhaps he could have been on the podium for the first time. He felt he was faster than Andrea and he was just waiting for the right moment to make his move. But he ra n off track at the first corner and that was a pity. He showed his pace and potential though again and I am sure his wait for a first podium will be over soon.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Press Release

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