Zarco confirmed at Tech 3 Yamaha for 2017
Tech 3 Yamaha has announced that reigning Moto2 champion Johann Zarco will ride for the team in MotoGP next season, completing the squad's 2017 line-up.
The 25-year-old joins fellow intermediate class rider Jonas Folger as part of a one-year agreement, with an option for a second in 2018.
They will form the first all-rookie pairing Tech 3 has fielded since its first season at the top level in 2001, when it ran 250cc graduates Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano.
Zarco and Folger replace Tech 3's outgoing duo of Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro, who will reprise their partnership at the all-new KTM factory team next year.
"It goes without saying that I am very happy to join the MotoGP class with Tech 3 and I am confident that we can form a solid partnership," said Zarco, who will inherit Smith's current crew chief Guy Coulon.
"The team has a deep relationship and long history with Yamaha and they have proved that they can manage well in every situation and have had a good package year after year.
"This pleases me and it gives me extra motivation for reaching my targets in the 2017 season."
Zarco won the Moto2 title in 2015 in dominant style, sealing honours with three races to spare after nearest rival Tito Rabat was forced to miss three of the last four races from injury.
He followed in Rabat's footsteps by staying in the intermediate category to defend his title, spurning offers to graduate to MotoGP in 2016, and is currently tied at the top of this year's standings with Alex Rins.
The Frenchman had tested for Suzuki as part of a pre-agreement with the manufacturer, which also included a chance to race in the Suzuka 8 Hours, but in the end he was passed up for one of two factory seats in favour of Rins.
A potential deal to ride a satellite Suzuki, possibly run by the LCR team, also came to nothing.
2017 MotoGP grid so far:
| Team | Riders |
|---|---|
| Yamaha |
|
| Honda |
|
| Ducati |
|
| Suzuki |
|
| Aprilia |
|
| KTM |
|
| Tech 3 Yamaha |
|
| LCR Honda |  Cal Crutchlow |
| Marc VDS Honda |
|
| Pramac Ducati |
|
| Avintia Ducati |
TBA |
| Aspar Ducati | TBA |
Valentino Rossi
Maverick Vinales
Jonas Folger
Johann Zarco
Jack MillerShare Or Save This Story
Sho Tsuboi calls for Super Formula engine overhaul as Toyota “can’t properly compete with Honda”
Super Formula Sugo: Igor Fraga livid as safety car gifts Nirei Fukuzumi victory
How a Le Mans winner is changing the game for female racing in Japan
MotoGP 2027 grid: All confirmed rider signings
Johann Zarco: “My ego is filled” after impressive MotoGP comeback in Aragon
Johann Zarco set to return at Aragon GP after terrifying Barcelona accident
Maverick Vinales to make MotoGP return in post-Austrian GP Pirelli test
Tech3 announces Senna Agius's signing for 2027 MotoGP season
Tech3 confirms Pol Espargaro for Austrian GP as Vinales' replacement
Alpine lost Fuji WEC victory by 0.591s because it “didn’t want to sacrifice a car”
Charles Leclerc: “McLaren and Red Bull did a step forward that we didn’t do”
The one detail that impresses Red Bull most about Isack Hadjar's "outstanding" F1 return
"Crazy and unfair": Anger over Nicolo Bulega extensively testing Ducati's 850cc MotoGP bike
How to make two MotoGP grids with a single qualifying session
What we learned from an emotional MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix
Are Aprilia riders making it too easy for Marc Marquez to win the 2026 MotoGP title?
What we learned from MotoGP’s decisive San Marino Grand Prix
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments