Two Riders at Tech 3 with Dunlop and Yamaha

The Tech 3 Team will compete in the 2006 MotoGP World Championship with two riders, Spaniard Carlos Checa and Briton James Ellison, both on Yamaha M1s fitted with Dunlop tyres. "Thanks to the combined efforts of Dunlop, Yamaha Motor and Tech 3, we have been able to finalize this project", explains Herve Poncharal, Team Manager of the French team. "After a difficult winter during which we developed our project with Dunlop, Yamaha and the young rider James Ellison, we are now really excited to see Carlos Checa joining the team. "Carlos is the most experienced rider on this year's MotoGP grid. During his ten-year career as one of the top riders in the sport's premier category, he has ridden different bikes on different tyre brands and, based on this experience, his input to our development will be of great value, especially for Dunlop. "With Carlos partnering James Ellison, one of the emerging talents and who raced on Dunlop tyres last year, we complete the ideal line-up of our team, a blend of youth and experience, in which we have strong hopes." Carlos Checa will get his first experience of his new Yamaha M1 on Dunlop tyres during the team's next tests in Qatar on 5th, 6th and 7th February. Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, adds: "Yamaha is very pleased to be able to finally complete its two team, four rider line-up for the 2006 season. It was always our desire to try to have four riders on the grid, both to continue Yamaha's MotoGP participation at the optimum level and also to support the MotoGP sport which is very important for our business and provides us with great exposure and promotion for motorcycling worldwide. Yamaha would like to thank all the parties that contributed to the completion of this project and we wish the Tech 3 Yamaha Team every success in 2006."