Xavier Simeon will join up with Smith in the Tech 3 Moto2 team for 2012.

Bradley Smith:
“I am thrilled to have signed a three-year deal with the Tech 3 Racing Team and I am looking forward to continuing the excellent relationship we’ve developed in 2011. I have a fantastic relationship with Herve, my crew chief Tom Jojic and all my crew, who all have an amazing passion for racing. It is that dedication and desire to succeed that convinced me to join Tech 3 in 2011, so to be staying until the end of 2014 is the perfect scenario for me. There was never any doubt in my mind that Tech 3 would be the best option to develop my career. It has been flattering to have attracted interest from so many top teams in Moto2, but the opportunity to move to MotoGP in 2013 was simply too good for me to turn down. To think I’ll be riding a Yamaha 1000cc MotoGP bike just over a year from now is hard to believe. I’ve worked so hard for many years to earn the chance to be given an opportunity like this, and now it has come I intend to grab it with both hands. Tech 3 gave me the chance to move to MotoGP in 2012 and it was an honour to be even considered at this stage of my career. The decision to stay in Moto2 was one of the hardest of my life but I believe that together, we can be fighting at the front from the start of next season and pushing to challenge for the Championship.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:
“It gives me enormous pleasure to confirm that Tech 3 has signed a three-year agreement with Bradley Smith. Without doubt, we have managed to secure the services of one of the brightest young talents in the world and I am thrilled that Bradley has put his trust in Tech 3 to help him accomplish his dream of racing in MotoGP. We know he had a lot of interest inside the paddock because of the way he has performed this season, so it is a big compliment to Tech 3 that he chose to commit himself to us until the end of 2014 at least. Bradley has made an immediate impact in Moto2 this year and we all know it is a very difficult class. The rules mean that rider talent plays a crucial role in determining the results, and Bradley has shown he has the speed, talent and commitment to match the best. He has shown the true potential of the Mistral 610 machine with some phenomenal performances this season, and we are in no doubt that in 2012 he can be a genuine title contender before he makes the step to MotoGP. One more year in Moto2 will help him gain more valuable experience, so that when he moves to our MotoGP Team in 2013, he will be immediately competitive. I am convinced that with Bradley’s long-term commitment to Tech 3 Racing that we can look forward to a long and successful relationship together. I’m also pleased to have signed Xavier Simeon. He has shown a lot of promise in 2011 and I’m sure next year he can be consistently finishing in the points and I want to thank RTL-Sport in Belgium for their continued support.”

Smith and di Meglio show fighting spirit in Aragon thriller

Bradley Smith proved once again why he is one of the toughest competitors in the Moto2 World Championship after he produced a heroic fightback into the top six in today’s Motorland Aragon race.

And it was almost a double top 10 finish for the Tech 3 Racing Team after Mike di Meglio produced an outstanding ride to finish 12th, the former 125cc World Champion finishing less than 1.5s away from fifth at the end of a thrilling race.

Smith’s awesome surge through the field was one of the highlights for a crowd of over 63,000 fans packed into the state-of-the-art Motorland Aragon track. The 20-year-old finished the first lap in 16th before embarking on an overtaking masterclass. He moved inside the top 10 on lap 16, as he engaged in an enthralling fight with nine other riders contesting fifth position.

He started the final lap in eighth place but two more brilliant passes on Mika Kallio and Thomas Luthi secured him a seventh top six finish of the campaign.

The race was one of the best of the season for di Meglio, who made a lightning start from 19th on the grid to gain 10 places on the opening lap. Immediately able to set a fast pace, di Meglio’s climb up the order continued when he moved into seventh place two laps later.

After eight laps di Meglio was only 2.3s away from the front and by the end of lap 10 he’d brilliantly forced his way to the back of the leading group of nine riders.

In a frenetic conclusion to the race, di Meglio finished 12th to score points for the third time of the season. He was only 1.3s behind Smith, a result which gives him great encouragement for the final four races of the Championship.

Bradley Smith 6th – 112 points:
“Nobody can say I don’t like working hard for my results after that. I had a bad start and it took a little while for me to get into my rhythm and find a good feeling with the tyres. I was a little bit worried at the beginning as there were many riders in front of me and I thought it might be difficult to reach the top 10. But I kept improving my pace and got more comfortable with the Tech 3 Racing Team bike and I started to make my way forward. As I was overtaking people I kept thinking this might be the last one but I just put my head down. It was definitely a crazy battle but really good fun. There were a lot of close moves and I loved every minute of it. It was something that I haven’t done for a while and holding my own in a tough fight is something I’ve been told I’m no good at, so I put a few things straight this weekend. We did a good job to finish sixth having started 15th. We didn’t quite get the result that I was looking for, but I learnt a lot in this race and although I lost some points to Iannone and de Angelis in the Championship, I am confident for the last four races.”

Mike di Meglio 12th – 12 points:
“That was an amazing race and it was all thanks to my fantastic start. I just attacked from the off and at the end of the first lap I’d gained ten places and fought my way through to ninth. From that point on it was one of the best races I’ve experienced in Moto2 because there was no chance to relax even for one second. It was a lot of fun with many overtakes, but what was difficult for us was my engine it was a bit slow compared to the other riders. I needed to push very strong in the corners to follow the others. I am sad that I lost too much time when I tried to pass, but it was still a brilliant race and I got points in the Championship. Twelfth doesn’t sound like a fantastic result but considering how close the gap is to fifth, I can’t be too hard on myself and I can look forward to the flyaway races in Japan, Australia and Malaysia in optimistic mood.”

Hervé Poncharal – Team Manager:
“That was a typically chaotic Moto2 race again where there was a lot of action in a lot of places and you couldn’t take your eyes of the race for one second. We were clearly very competitive this weekend but unfortunately a small crash on Saturday morning ruined Bradley’s qualifying and starting from 15th makes it very difficult. We got to show our true potential again in the warm-up when he was third, so we started the race with high hopes that he could fight his way through to the top six. This time the start of the race was not very good and for a few laps he was out of the points, but Bradley never gave up and pushed really hard. He was lapping at the same pace as the leading group and making some brilliant overtakes that showed when the lights go out he is one of the most determined guys on the grid. Considering where we started and where we were for the first few laps, we can’t be unhappy to finish in sixth. This shows how good the Mistral 610 package is and how good and motivated Bradley is. I have to say big congratulations to Mike too. He had a great start and all through the race he was fighting for a top 10. At one stage he was closing on the leading group at a really fast rate and I think we saw the true Mike di Meglio today, because he rode with a lot of aggression. Unfortunately there was so much happening at the end that he ended up 12th, but four-points in the Championship is a good result for him.”

The Tech 3 Racing Team rider made an electrifying start from the second row to lead into the first turn and as the race developed in hot and humid conditions, the 20-year-old was constantly in contention for his fourth rostrum finish in the last six races.

Once again showcasing the high level of performance of the Mistral 610 machine, designed and developed in France by the Tech 3 Racing Team, Smith brilliantly held off late pressure from compatriot Scott Redding to try and hunt down Esteve Rabat and Pol Espargaro in the chase for second spot.

The British rider gave his maximum effort until the chequered flag but he was never able to get close enough to attack the Spanish pair and he finished just over a second behind third placed Rabat.

Today’s result was Smith’s fifth top four of the season and his 13-point haul maintained his brilliant challenge for third place in the overall World Championship standings. With six races remaining, rookie Smith is sixth in the rankings but only four-points behind Andrea Iannone in third.
It was a difficult and disappointing afternoon for Smith’s team-mate Mike di Meglio, who was never able to find a comfortable suspension and chassis setting on his Mistral 610 machine during the weekend.

The French rider still rode with 100 per cent commitment but he was unable to finish higher than 27th position having struggled with a rear grip issue from the early stages.

Bradley Smith: 4th – 92 points:
“Fourth position is a little bit frustrating as we were all working for a podium all weekend. It was a great race but to get so close to the podium and see it all through the entire race is a little bit disappointing. But we got some really important points back in the Championship and I’m firmly in the hunt for third overall, which in my rookie season is a fantastic achievement. After not finishing the last two races in Sachsenring and Brno, completing the race distance meant that we learnt a lot. We are able to take the data with us and analyse it for the final part of the season to improve the bike even more because we already have a really competitive package. There are a few things that we need to work on, especially with rear grip. That’s where Rabat and Espargaro seemed to have a slight advantage today. I need to say a big thanks to my Team though who have done an incredible job once again this weekend. Now I am ready to get home for a brief rest before getting ready to return strong for Misano.”

Mike di Meglio: 27th – 8 points:
“It was a very hard race and we had a lot of problems. This morning it was not going bad and we worked with used tyres, so I was quite confident. But right from the start I had trouble with my rear tyre and that was really strange. I really hope we can solve these problems and we can have a better race in Misano.”

Hervé Poncharal: Team Manager:
“The last two races in Germany and Czech Republic were bad results for the Tech 3 Racing Team but we are so glad to see Bradley back at the front where we know he can be. He finished fourth in qualifying and fourth in the race, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. He made an incredible start to get the holeshot and was leading the race and never gave up. Marc Marquez was in a race of own today but Bradley was also very strong and I am happy that we are back in the battle for third place in the Championship. We are sixth now, but only four-points away from third, so we are right back in the hunt. I hope we are going to carry on like that for the next races because Bradley is having a fantastic rookie season. It is a shame for Mike because he started the weekend really well, but for some reason he could not make qualifying and the race at his best level. We need to analyse what went wrong and hope to return stronger in Misano.”

Confident of extending his fantastic run of form that saw him claim podium finishes in Silverstone, Assen and Mugello, Smith’s challenge for the rostrum was ended just seconds into the 29-lap race when a small mistake in the braking zone for the tight first corner left him no option but to run into the gravel trap.

Relegated down the rankings to 33rd, the British rider then showed his true potential on the impressive Mistral 610 machine to mount a thrilling recovery in front of a capacity crowd at the Sachsenring circuit.

The tight and twisty nature of the 2.281 miles circuit makes overtaking difficult, but Smith used all his race craft to fight his way back into 17th position. A valuable points-scoring finish seemed a certainty as he was poised to break into the top 15 when he lost the front-end at Turn 3 on lap 16. Smith was forced to retire having failed to get his engine running again, ending his proud record of finishing in every race so far this season.

Mike di Meglio also demonstrated his fighting qualities in a race run in temperatures that reached 23 degrees, despite heavy cloud cover.

The French rider superbly fought his way into contention for the points but had to settle for 16th position having just failed to get the better of Claudio Corti on the final lap.

Bradley Smith DNF – 79 points:
“First of all I have to say sorry to the Tech 3 Racing Team. They worked very hard this weekend and they gave me a great machine to do the business on. But I made a slight mistake going into the first corner. I downshifted too many gears and I couldn’t get the bike stopped and that was a big mistake on my part. I had a really good pace and felt really confident coming back through the field. My times were in the 1.25s and that was faster than Marquez and Bradl but then I made another silly mistake at Turn 3 and could not get the bike going again. It is a frustrating to go like this into the summer break, but it means that in four weeks I will be highly motivated to return stronger in Brno. I know what we can achieve and what we are capable of and I’ve no doubt that we can have a great second half of the season.”

Mike di Meglio 16th – 7 points:
“I wanted to get some points and on the last lap I tried to attack Corti but I was very close to crashing. I lost some time because of that and it was very difficult to come back and catch him back up for another attempt. The weekend was a lot of hard work. We changed a lot on the bike and gained a lot of experience with different settings that will help for the rest of the season. I’m looking forward to the summer break now and returning fully motivated for the final part of the Championship.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:
“We can’t hide from the fact that today we are disappointed, but we have to accept that is racing. You can’t win a race in the first corner, but you can lose a race in the first corner and unfortunately that’s what happened to Bradley. He was really confident that he could pick up some places at the first corner but this time it didn’t go to plan. The race was not over, but damaged because of that first small mistake. He was the quickest guy on the track for many laps after that. And when you see that the tenth position finished ten seconds behind, we know he would have easily been in the top ten. But then he had the crash and that was a pity because his recovery was a good show for the fans. We would have liked to go into the summer break with a sweeter taste in the mouth. Bradley learned another lesson today but he shouldn’t be too down because the last few races he has been phenomenal and today he could have fought at the front again, so we know he has the speed to compete with the best. Mike had a decent race. He was only just outside the points, but there is a lot of work to do and he needs to have more confidence in himself. Clearly the gap between him and Bradley is too big. I really hope he can come back with fresh motivation from Brno onwards.”

His team-mate Mike di Meglio, struggled in the wet conditions and will start tomorrow’s race from way back in 35th position.

Bradley Smith 3rd 2.06.617 – 18 laps:
“Obviously I am very happy with this result for myself and the Tech 3 Racing Team as we have already proven we have great feeling in the wet in the last couple of races. I guess growing up in the UK has helped me in that respect because we have to ride in those conditions a lot. But to be on the front row for the first time considering how difficult the conditions were, I’m really pleased and it has been a positive day. At the end of the session it started to dry and the track felt very greasy and then all of a sudden, the last three laps the grip came again and Andrea (Iannone) and a couple of other guys got behind me. I didn’t want to give them a tow on the last lap, so I rolled off. And that was almost a big mistake because they still had two laps on me. Third position is still a great starting position and the first five laps will be very important tomorrow. I need to try and get a really good start and put my head down and try to go as hard as possible. It will be important to try and follow Marquez in the beginning and then we will see what happens.”

Mike di Meglio: 35th 2.10.652 – 17 laps:
“This was a very difficult qualifying as we did not have any grip from the start to the end. When I went out the last time we changed to a softer rear tyre and that was maybe a little bit too late. For the race tomorrow I will have to get the best start possible and try all I can do to at least get into the points, which would be a great result from where I am on the grid.”

After starting on the 4th row for the Dutch Moto2 race, Smith made a flying start in tricky conditions as the unpredictable Assen weather dominated the 24-lap race. The race was declared wet after an earlier downpour brought a premature end to the 125cc race and Smith excelled in the early laps.

After claiming his first Moto2 podium in wet conditions at Silverstone earlier this month, his wet weather riding skills were immediately on display and he needed just three laps to go from 10th on the grid to lead the field. Smith looked confident and assured at the front and held off intense pressure from Marc Marquez, Kenan Sofuoglu and Yuki Takahashi until lap 10, by which time the rain had started to fall again.

Smith was able to maintain his impressive pace though and briefly regained the lead on lap 18 before Marquez and Sofuoglu passed him again when Takahashi crashed out of contention on lap 19.

With Takahashi out and conditions becoming increasingly unpredictable, Smith opted to settle for the podium rather than taking any unnecessary risks and the 16-points gained moved Smith into fourth position in the World Championship rankings, just four-points behind Simone Corsi.

Mike di Meglio was also challenging for the podium in the early stages before a small mistake ruled him out of contention. A brilliant start from the Frenchman moved him up five places on the opening lap and quickly at ease with the treacherous conditions, di Meglio had brilliantly moved into the top five. But he fell on lap three and while unhurt in the crash he was unable to continue because of a damaged right handlebar.

Bradley Smith 3rd – 63 points:
“It was really hard work today because the conditions were so varied you had no idea what to expect from one lap to the next. At the start of the race I felt really comfortable, especially on a wet track. But once it started to dry I started to suffer a little bit. When I was at the front and the track was pretty damp, that’s when I felt at my best. We went very cautious with the set-up making sure we could get full grip if the rain came down. The racing line got bigger and bigger and I think we ran a set-up that was a little bit too soft for those conditions. When it started to rain again and I knew I had a chance of the podium I just did the sensible thing and took the 16-points. It kept drying out and I found it more difficult, but to get that result was absolutely awesome. I love Mugello so hopefully I’ll be very competitive there next weekend too.”

Mike di Meglio DNF – 7 points:
“I am happy and sad as the race was going so fantastically well and then unfortunately I crashed. I got a really good start and was quickly inside the top six and I had a good feeling with the bike, even though the conditions were really difficult. I got into the top four and I was really confident I could stay there and maybe even push for the podium. But I made a small mistake and unfortunately the right handlebar was broken in the gravel, so it was impossible to rejoin the race. That’s disappointing because I could have scored my best result of the season. There are still a lot of positives to take from the weekend because I was competitive on each day, so I am confident I can be close to the front again in Mugello next weekend.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:
“I am very happy with Bradley once again because he is showing race after race that he is definitely a top five rider on any track in any condition in Moto2. The race was very long for my old heart. In those conditions it is so easy to make a mistake and I was worried a bit. But just like in Silverstone, Bradley had everything under control and he did an amazing job. His ride was a masterpiece and he was very mature. He did not try too hard in the end because third is a great result and we are now fourth in the championship, only a few points away second. To be at that level at this stage of the season shows what a brilliant job he is doing. I was very pleased to see all three Tech3 riders in the top 10 this morning in the Warm-up and we also had a couple of moments in the top six in the race and that shows that the Mistral 610 package is a strong one. It is a shame that Mike crashed because he was also looking very fast. Unfortunately he was unable to finish, so we hope he learns from this and comes back stronger next weekend in Mugello.”

Bradley Smith produced one of the rides of his career at the British Moto2 race at Silverstone today.

Smith suffered from technical issues during qualifying and had to miss the bulk of the session, leaving him in 28th position on the grid for todays race. With heavy rain helping to level things out a bit, Smith took his opportunity and stormed from 28th on the grid to claim a stunning second place in a rain-lashed Moto2 race.

Bradley Smith 2nd – 47 points:
“It hasn’t sunk in yet to be honest. The rain definitely helped me out today and I doubt I’d have finished second if it was a dry race, so for once I’m not going to complain about the British weather. Starting from 28th I knew I had to make a good start and Rabat went in really hot into the first corner and sat a lot of people up and I was nearly off the track. But going into Turn 3 I went right around the outside of about five people and just kept making moves. In the pack the spray was really bad and I couldn’t see anything, so I just got my head down and went for it. I had a really good pace but I had nothing for Stefan. I tried to keep a fast pace and put some pressure on him but he was cool and never really made a mistake that gave me a chance. But to finish second after all the chaos and drama of yesterday, it is something that I never expected when I woke up this morning. To finish on the podium in my home race two years in a row is an amazing feeling. I love Silverstone, so I can’t wait to come back here next year already. Looking at the Championship I’m only 18-points behind second position, which is unbelievable considering we’ve had some bad luck at the start of the year. I want to say thanks to my Tech 3 Racing Team because they have done an awesome job and this gives us a lot of confidence for the next few races.”

Hervé Poncharal: Team Manager:
“This was an absolutely fantastic day for the Tech3 Racing Team and big congratulations to Bradley for an unbelievable performance. We had a disaster yesterday with the technical problem that did not help Bradley do more than two laps at the end in qualifying, which meant he had to start from 28th on the grid. Nevertheless he was very confident when I spoke to him, especially in the wet. But it is so difficult to see anything from the back of the field and I don’t know how he did it. For me he produced the performance of the weekend and he’s just shown what an incredible talent he is. We know we have been fast all season but we a lot of bad luck that meant we never got the results we deserved. This will give Bradley so much more confidence and I’m sure this won’t be the last time we see him on the podium in 2011. The race was a disappointment for Mike. He looked good in qualifying yesterday to finish ninth. We know he likes the rain, but he never had the right feeling on the bike and was too cautious. Once again though all credit to Bradley because I think he put on an amazing show for the British fans.”

Mike di Meglio experienced a weeked that was the exact opposite to Smith – he struggled to find a comfortable set-up in the damp conditins and finished in 27th position and outside of the points.

Bradley Smith 4th – 20 points
“I thought ninth was a great result in Qatar, so fourth just feels fantastic and I want to thank my Tech 3 Racing Team and my crew chief Tom Jojic because the bike was working brilliantly in really difficult conditions. The step we made with the set-up in the wet conditions from the Warm-up was huge and I felt much more confident in the race. In those conditions you need to concentrate so hard that the race feels like a lifetime but I just decided to attack from the start. I was a bit shocked to lead but I felt comfortable because it’s not the first time I’ve been at the front of a Grand Prix. I realised pretty quickly I didn’t have the pace to match Luthi and Iannone when they came by but that’s down to my inexperience and a bit of confidence to push like they were in the rain. If I could run the race again though I’m sure I could have stayed with Corsi and battl closer for the podium. I just lost my rhythm a little bit at about two-thirds distance after a couple of big moments and I got a bit tense and that doesn’t help you ride fast in the rain. It was great to fight with Bradl and once he came by I relaxed a little bit and picked up my pace again. When he made that late mistake I just decided to attack and push as hard as I could and fourth is an amazing result when you consider how tough this class is and how difficult the conditions were. I’ve still got a lot to learn to be fighting closer for the podium but I’ll take this fourth with both hands and look forward to the next race in Estoril with a lot of confidence and optimism.”

Mike di Meglio 26th – 0 points
“The whole weekend was very difficult. We had the crash on Friday and a lot of things were going on. Now we have a bigger break and I hope we will be able to test, as I need to understand what is going on. The bike is good I think, but unfortunately I did not find the right balance yet. We start off quite close to the first riders in practice, but then we start to lose more and more time and that is not normal. We need to understand why this happens before Portugal. I hope that we will be able to get back to the front soon where Bradley is because he’s doing a fantastic job for the Tech 3 Racing Team.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager
“We never like to see a race start in these conditions as we never know what will happen. The conditions are very tricky and anything really can happen. Fortunately Bradley was born in England and he can cope with the rain! His start was awesome. He was aggressive at the right moment, took the lead and was able to be close to the front for a few laps. But importantly he never tried too hard and let the others pass when he thought it was wiser to let them get in front. The second part of the race was very long for my heart. It started to rain more, so it got more difficult as the tyres got more used. I am really pleased with Bradley and his way of learning and his improvements. He is really fast and that shows that the Mistral610 has a good potential, which I hope can be picked up by Mike. It was a tough weekend for Mike and clearly he needs to find some confidence. I have no doubt that he can go fast and I believe in him and I hope that the fact that Bradley is doing so well will help Mike to get his confidence back.”

After a tough practice session, Smith managed to get himself on the front of the third row for the race, and found himself in the thick of the action as soon as it began.

Smith was overtaken by Moto2 newcomer Michele Pirro on lap nine, but the Smith dug deep, and refused to let the Italian open up a gap as the 20-lap race unfolded. Far from settling for tenth position, Smith superbly chased down Julian Simon, closing down a 2.2s deficit on the 2010 Moto2 runner-up to pass him with four laps remaining.

Bradley Smith 9th – 7-points
“It feels awesome to have got a top ten in my Moto2 debut. I’d always set my heart on a top 15, so this is a real bonus. I feel like I earned it though because I am really tired now and the race was quite tough. Moto2 is obviously a lot more physical than 125s, so I might need to spend even more time in the gym! I learned so much in the race it was unbelievable. Those guys at the front certainly don’t hang around and while I’m obviously happy with my result, we’ve got work to match that pace. I’d say I’m a second a lap behind them at the moment, but I also learned a lot about the bike and what we need to do to take another step. But to pass and hold off a rider as good as Julian is a great feeling too. I guess I owed him one from our time together in 125s. The Tech 3 Racing Team never stop working so I know we will have some improvements for the next race in Jerez. Tonight was as much of a test as it was a race, so we can only get stronger.”

Mike di Meglio 19th
“We can’t deny it was a hard weekend, but I think we collected a lot of information that is going to help make us stronger in the next few races and make big improvements with the bike. I was involved in a good fight for some of the race but I would have liked to be closer to the points. I gained a lot of experience with the bike and understood more clearly that I can improve with my own riding technique, so I’m looking forward to Jerez and working on improving the set-up I found at the recent test to get closer to the top 15.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager
“Bradley did a wonderful job when you consider this was his first race in Moto2 and I have to pass on big congratulations to him and his Tech 3 Racing Team. He was able to pass Julian Simon, who was a hot favourite a few weeks ago for the title after he finished runner-up in 2010. And he was always fighting with some of the best riders in the world, so this is a fantastic early boost for his confidence. He was consistent all the way through the race and the experience he gained will only make him stronger for the rest of the season. Mike had a few difficulties this weekend and I think he still lacks a bit of confidence. He was fighting all through the race and never gave up and I’m pleased he was able to hold off Kallio at the end. I am positive Mike is moving in the right direction and we haven’t seen anything like what he is capable of.”

Smith and di Meglio give Tech 3 a nice blend of youth and experience – Smith is becoming way too big to be a title threat for next season in 125cc, despite his solid performance this year, so it will be exciting to watch what he can do with a move into Moto2 for 2011.

Full press release and details below:

Official Press Release & Rider Interviews:
The Tech 3 Team is delighted to announce that Bradley Smith and Mike di Meglio will lead the French squad’s second campaign in the ultra-competitive Moto2 world championship in 2011.

British rider Smith joins Tech 3 Racing having established himself as one of the brightest young talents in Grand Prix racing since he first burst onto the scene in 2006. He finished runner-up in the last year’s 125cc world championship with two stunning victories in Jerez and Mugello. And he’s guaranteed to finish fourth in 2010 after another impressive season that has seen him notch four podiums and three pole positions. The 19-year-old joins Hervé Poncharal’s squad highly motivated and ready for the exciting challenge ahead having become the second British rider welcomed into the Tech 3 Racing fold following the signing of Cal Crutchlow for its MotoGP effort. Smith will begin his preparations for the 2011 season immediately after the final round in Valencia next weekend, making his debut on Monday, November 8.

Tech 3 Racing is also thrilled with the signing of former 125cc world champion di Meglio, with the Frenchman excited at the prospect of developing and racing a machine designed and built entirely in France. The 22-year-old is already used to the cut and thrust of Moto2 competition having raced for the Aspar squad in the inaugural campaign. He is currently 20th in the rankings after today’s penultimate round in Portugal having scored a best of sixth in the recent Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

Mike di Meglio
“It is a great honour for me to ride for a French team with such a long and successful history as Tech 3. I was aware of Tech 3 and how important it has been for motorcycle racing in France while I was growing up and now finally getting the chance to ride for Hervé Poncharal, I can’t wait to get started. To be a French rider in a French team on a bike that was born in France is a special feeling. I feel like I have learned a lot in my first season in Moto2 and while I’d obviously liked better results, I am confident I can repay the faith that Tech 3 has shown in me. The Moto2 class is unbelievably competitive and only a few tenths per lap can be the difference between a good and a bad day. I have every confidence in my ability and in the Tech 3 Team to be running in the leading group in 2011. This team deserves to be challenging for wins and I’m convinced that Bradley and I can do that. It will be hard work but we are all ready for the challenge ahead.”

Bradley Smith
“I’m really excited and so pleased everything has been sorted out for next season. It’s the next step in my career and it could not be with a better and more experienced team. I get the chance to ride the Tech 3 Moto2 bike after the Valencia Grand Prix on Monday and I can’t wait. Of course I’m nervous about the next step but the Tech 3 Team have such experience and success at World Championship level I know they will really help in the transition from 125 to Moto2. It’s a big step but I’m ready and I’m glad it’s all sorted. It’s been stressful but I always thought it would happen with Hervé Poncharal and Tech 3. I’m too big for a 125 and so the time was right for the move and I will be starting from step one once again. First I will focus on the testing in Valencia, which I’m really excited about, and then starting a new season in a new class. It will be a massive challenge and I look forwa rd to carrying on where I’ve left off. Moto2 is going to be a new experience and I certainly will have to learn to push to my limit in qualifying because it’s absolutely vital to be near the front. I’ll have to get used to a bit of rough and tumble but scrapping is something I’ve learnt to do in the 125 class.”

Hervé Poncharal – Team Manager
“I am thrilled that Bradley and Mike have decided to join the Tech 3 Racing Team for 2011. Bradley is a rider I have admired for a long time and I am really excited at the prospect of working with him. He has a lot of natural talent but he works incredibly hard to improve himself and I like the way he approaches racing. I am sure together we can achieve great things and I have no doubt that Bradley can be one of the top riders in the Moto2 class. I’m also very happy to welcome Mike to Tech 3. It is fitting that a French team that has designed and built its own bike should have a French rider on board. Mike has phenomenal talent, which he showed when he won the 125cc world title in 2008. I’m sure we can bring out the best in him again next season. This year was a historic one for Tech 3 Racing when Yuki Takahashi won the Catalunya race. To see a bike that you’ve developed with a lot of hard work and dedication is an unforgettable emotion, and I’m sure Bradley and Mike can deliver more memorable moments for us. Finally I’d like to thank Yuki and Raffaele de Rosa for all their efforts in 2010 and wish them all the best for the future. They will always be remembered as the two riders that started a new chapter in the history of the Tech 3 Racing Team, and their commitment to the project has been incredible. Their input has been vital for development of the 2011 project and I’m sure Bradley and Mike will benefit a lot from that.”