Breaking news
MotoGP
Quartararo form motivated Tech 3 Lecuona signing
Tech 3 MotoGP team boss Herve Poncharal says Fabio Quartararo’s sensational rookie season in 2019 was partly behind his desire to sign Moto2 underdog Iker Lecuona for next year.
Lewis Duncan
Published: Oct 26, 2019, 11:40 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Lecuona has been plucked from Moto2 following just three full years in the intermediate class to take the Tech 3 seat originally earmarked for Brad Binder, who will now take the place of Johann Zarco at the works KTM squad.
Petronas Yamaha rookie Quartararo has scored six podiums and four pole positions across a surprising campaign, given he had just one Moto2 win to his name last season before his MotoGP move was confirmed.
Speaking to MotoGP.com about the move, Poncharal admits he doesn’t expect Lecuona to have a similar season to Quartararo’s next year, but has “a good feeling.”
“Very quickly I told KTM management that my guy is Iker Lecuona,” said Poncharal. “I love his riding style, he’s very young but very aggressive. For sure everybody remembers the race in Thailand a few weeks ago where he was fighting with Brad Binder like a luchador.
“This is what we need, this is what we like and we are not a junior team, but we are a team who is taking a young rider to discover the MotoGP class.
“So Iker fits completely well, and if you look now at the 2019 season, what is the main [talking] point? The main point is Fabio Quartararo. This is the big surprise.
"One year ago a lot of people were asking themselves was it too early, was it the right decision? Now I think the team and Yamaha think, ‘Thank God, we took the right decision.
“So I’m not saying Iker is going to do what Fabio is doing, but I have a good feeling and we need to look at young riders, we need to prepare the future.
“I just love Iker; the way he rides, the way he is. This is the man we need.”
Lecuona made his circuit racing debut in ’16 in the CEV Moto2 class, and has two podiums to his credit in his three years in grand prix racing.
Despite having a deal for Moto2 in 2020 with Ajo Motorsport, Lecuona said it only took him “five minutes” to agree to Tech 3 and KTM’s offer.
“I had the option of going to MotoGP and logically I said yes,” Lecuona stated. “It didn't take me 10 hours, [it took] five minutes to say yes.
"I had a contract with Ajo and I was very happy. It disrupted everything.
“I’ve been [racing on short circuits] for four years. No one has made such a jump. I know that you have to be lucky to get where I am and that all the stars line up so when a person looks for someone you are there.
“But it’s also true that I’ve worked hard. I know that next year if I was in Moto2 I can fight for the world championship.
“That was one of the reasons why I said yes to going to MotoGP. When you’re ahead, winning it or not, you’re very prepared.”
Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont
Iker Lecuona, American Racing Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article MotoGP riders divided on Sunday qualifying plan
Next article Oliveira ruled out of Phillip Island MotoGP race
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lewis Duncan
Marquez “comfortable” on Ducati MotoGP bike “but not ready for podium”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
Marquez “comfortable” on Ducati MotoGP bike “but not ready for podium”
Brivio: Trackhouse offers 'great opportunity' for MotoGP and NASCAR worlds to collide
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
Brivio: Trackhouse offers 'great opportunity' for MotoGP and NASCAR worlds to collide
Marini urges patience at Honda as new MotoGP season approaches
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar Official Testing
Marini urges patience at Honda as new MotoGP season approaches
More from
Iker Lecuona
Fermin Aldeguer to miss British GP, Iker Lecuona drafted as replacement
MotoGP
MotoGP
British GP
Fermin Aldeguer to miss British GP, Iker Lecuona drafted as replacement
How Iker Lecuona got “surprise” call-up for Gresini MotoGP seat in Hungary
MotoGP
MotoGP
Hungarian GP
How Iker Lecuona got “surprise” call-up for Gresini MotoGP seat in Hungary
Lecuona to miss Phillip Island finale after Indonesia crash
World Superbike
World Superbike
Mandalika
Lecuona to miss Phillip Island finale after Indonesia crash
More from
Tech 3
Johann Zarco says “I didn’t want to break the engine” after Malaysian GP DNF
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
Johann Zarco says “I didn’t want to break the engine” after Malaysian GP DNF
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Australian GP
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
Maverick Vinales “thinking every night” about future: “I haven’t given up yet”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Maverick Vinales “thinking every night” about future: “I haven’t given up yet”
Latest news
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 h
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Feature
Discover prime content
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.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe