With Liberty Media's acquisition of MotoGP, a new era has begun for the World Championship, which aims to experience a new period of growth and expansion similar to that experienced in recent years by Formula 1. The link between the two is becoming increasingly close.
Today, the Tech3 team officially announced its acquisition by IKON Capital, in partnership with new investors such as Bolt Ventures and Main Street Advisors. They are joined by Trail Slam, an investment fund whose partners include Pierre Gasly, Alpine's Formula 1 driver.
Tech3's new CEO Guenther Steiner, long-time Team Principal at Hass, is therefore not the only big name from the Formula 1 circus to have decided to invest in the project, which aims to strengthen Tech3's structure and improve the team's sporting performance thanks to the influx of new capital. As well as helping MotoGP expand its popularity and presence in markets such as North America.
Among the major investors in the group that acquired the team founded by Hervé Poncharal are David Blitzer of Bolt Ventures, who holds several stakes in some of the most important team sports in the United States, and Paul Watcher, CEO and founder of Main Street Advisors, who boasts the creation of businesses with influential athletes, artists, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and institutional investors globally.
"It's a very exciting time to be entering MotoGP, and it was important to IKON Capital and me to bring together a group of like-minded investors who share a long-term vision for the Tech3 team," said Guenther Steiner, CEO of Red Bull KTM Tech3. "We are joined by a strong group that understands motorsport, brings genuine value-added capabilities, and shares our core values. Just as importantly, we are committed to preserving Tech3's heritage while taking a measured and strategic approach to growth. This is about building on what already works, and I'm looking forward to working together to shape the team's future."
David Blitzer added: "MotoGP is well positioned to enjoy the kind of meteoric rise we have seen with Formula 1, and we are confident that our investment in Tech3 is an investment in the future of motorsport. We look forward to working with Main Street Advisors, IKON Capital, and the other members of this group of owners who share our vision to provide Guenther and the Tech3 team with all the resources they need to compete with the best in MotoGP and grow both on and off the track."
Paul Wachter said: "MotoGP is one of the most exciting investment opportunities in the world of sport today, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Bolt, IKON, and Guenther to help write the next chapter in Tech3's history and support the evolution of the series as a whole. Our platform, which combines investment, business development, and strategic advisory, is uniquely positioned to help accelerate the growth of Tech3 and MotoGP, and we look forward to more people, especially in the US, getting to know this exciting sport and its rich history."
In addition to Bolt Ventures, Main Street Advisors, IKON Capital, TRAIL SLAM, and Pierre Gasly, Tech3's investor group also includes ALK Capital, Barry English (Penman Holdings), Tom Stafford, Charles de Carvalho, and Richard Cook (Dolphin Capital).
This high-caliber group of investors was welcomed with great enthusiasm by Carlos Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP, who said: "The fact that a group of investors of this caliber is acquiring a team is a strong endorsement for MotoGP and the championship's global growth path. We are excited to welcome the group to the paddock and look forward to working together to bring the championship to new audiences around the world."