Moto2: Tech 3 switch to Kayaba suspension

The Tech 3 Moto2 team will switch from Ohlins to Kayaba suspension this weekend at Assen.

The French team has run Ohlins on its self-designed Mistral 610 machine since the inaugural Moto2 season in 2010.

"On Tuesday after Catalunya there was the Moto2 test, unfortunately hit by bad weather, but we tested Kayaba suspension between the showers," team principal Herve Poncharal told Crash.net at Assen on Wednesday.

"I asked the riders, because I didn't want to impose anything, and the riders decided 'we want to be on Kayaba'. So here we will race with Kayaba suspension, without any proper tests.

"We are trying because I believe Kayaba can produce very competitive suspension. We won the 250cc World Championship with Kayaba. We had a long history with Kayaba in 250 and 500. I like this company. I believe in them and I think they can be winning again, a bit like WP are now showing in Moto2.

"The trend in Moto2 now is to have WP, because the top guys are using them, except Rabat [Marc VDS, Ohlins] but I think there are four of five brands of suspension that could be successful in Moto2.

"I agree with having things like tyres and engines the same in Moto2, for cost reasons, but I think it's good for the championship to have different components and different companies involved.

"I think we will be the only one using Kayaba at the moment but I'm happy if other teams want to do the same in the future. I also think it will help our riders, when they see two Japanese engineers working in the box exclusively for them. It should give them a boost."

Marcel Schrotter has scored 12 points for Tech 3 so far this season, with team-mate Ricky Cardus yet to score.