The 2026 MotoGP season opener in Buriram was a sobering debut for Tech3 KTM under new CEO Guenther Steiner. Expectations for the French satellite squad were high, but the weekend delivered disappointing results, with the team collecting just four points.
Enea Bastianini finished 12th, largely benefiting from late retirements and only overtaking rookie Diogo Moreira on track. Maverick Vinales struggled near the back of the field throughout the race, salvaging a few positions but remaining far from competitive. Team Manager Nicolas Goyon called the weekend a "lacklustre show," emphasizing the gap between Tech3 and KTM’s factory riders.
Source: Motorsport.com
Qualifying continued to be a major hurdle. Bastianini and Vinales failed to reach Q2, starting 20th and 17th respectively, while factory KTM riders Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder secured strong grid positions. “Until we improve qualifying, it will be difficult to hope for results,” Goyon said.
Setup and rider comfort also posed challenges. Bastianini could not recover from his low starting position, and Vinales struggled with confidence and bike feel, hindered by technical choices and difficulty finding an optimal setup at Buriram. The team acknowledged that while testing at Sepang had shown promise, it did not translate to success on race day.
Looking ahead, Tech3 faces urgent questions about qualifying performance, bike setup, and rider confidence. Goyon stressed that addressing these issues quickly is essential to salvage the season and ensure a strong start to the Steiner era. The MotoGP paddock will be closely watching to see how the team responds.
