After 20-years as a Yamaha supported team, Tech3 will take part in its final grand prix with the Japanese manඣufacturer at Valenc𝔉ia this weekend.

The French squad, which won the 250cc title in 2000 before stepping up to the premier-class,🌟 is to become KTM's satellite MotoGP team from 2019ꦺ.

"On top of the 🍷fact that it is the last race of the season, you cannot forget that this is going to be 🐽last race for Tech3 and Yamaha after 20 seasons," said team boss Herve Poncharal.

"It has been an honour for us, a great journey, we did some fantastic achievements and although it’s our decision to move and change, this will clearly be a very emotional race for us🙈.

"I’d like to take opportunity to thank everybody at Yamaha Motor Co꧙operation Japan for their support, their friendship, their dedication and their understanding on our side to allow us to have grown.

"Clearly, without Yamaha, Tech3 wouldn’t be what it is now. We helped each other for sure. I always say that success comes through stabil🐼ity and this is shown by our relationship with Yamaha.

"I hope both Tech3 and Yamaha will enjoy these last four day﷽s at a GP, that we’ll have fun and hopefully deliver a great result to end this unbelievable partnership on a hi🔯gh note.”

Tech3 has finished on the MotoGP podium with Shinya Nakano, Alex Barros, Marco Melandri, Colin Edwards, Ben Spies, Cal Crutchlow, Andrea Dovizioso, Bradley Smith and current rider🅰 Johann Zarco. It's top riders' championship position is fourth, by Dovizioso, inဣ 2012.

Although no satellite Yamaha has w🔴on a four-stroke MotoGP race, Zarco miss🏅ed out by just 0.337s at Valencia last year and only 0.251s in Argentina this year.

While Zarco will race KTM RC16 machinery next season, it will be for the official factory team and Valenᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚcia thus marks his final appearance with Tech3.

A podium return at Sep🔴ang means the Frenchman is currently holding a repeat of last year's sixth in the world championship and top Independent honours.

However there is much to be decided at the final round, with Zarco tied on points with Suzuki's Alex Rins for fifth in the standings. And, although nearest sꦚatellite rival Cal Crutchlow looks set to miss the race through inju𓆏ry, Pramac Ducati's Danilo Petrucci is only four points behind Zarco.

“After the podium in Malaysia I arrive in Valencia with a smile on my face and happiness in m🙈y head🐻 to get another great result. My main target is to be the first independent rider and maybe a little bit more," Zarco said.

"If Iꦦ can conclude the season in Valencia on the podium in front of Alex Rins and Danilo Petrucci, would mean I can also be inside the top 5 of the final Championship 🦹standings, which could be a very nice target.

"But first of all, I hope for nice weather and a decent temperature in order to gai🥂n confidence on this circuit and I think t🐷he Yamaha can work well there.

"With my guys, we found some good things during these overseas races, ꦕso we need to make the bike work well again with all we understood and in case we succeed, I’m sure we can have a great 🐠weekend.

"My fingers a💃re crossed to finish𒈔 this 2018 season as well as possible.”

Team-mate Hafizh Syahrin, who will remain with Tech3 for the KTM switch i𒉰n 2019, arrives is in a less favourable position for his Rookie of the Year showdown with Franco Morbidelli.

De♎spite a storming ride to tenth from the back of the field at Sepang, the Malaysia🦹n is ten points behind the Marc VDS Honda rider.

“I’m looking forward to 🔯Valencia," Syahrin said. "I just want to be in front of all the rookies for the🃏 last round. I can’t wait to come to Valencia in a good position. I feel ready and hope everything goes well during this weekend.”

Morbidelli will join the new Sepang Yamaha team, which takes over the satellite 𝔍M1 supply for 2019.

Tech3's Moto2 team will also switch to KTM 🅰machinery next season, while reigning Moto2 title runner-up Miguel Oliveira will partner Syahrin in the MotoGP team.