The chance of a Suzuki MotoGP satellite team remains slim – But Livio Suppo would find the idea of a supported Moto2 team interesting
Suzuki will still not equip a satellite team in MotoGP with the GSX-RR in the near future. On the other hand, a new trend has developed in the Moto2 class. More and more MotoGP brands are actively supporting a team in the middle class in order to promote and sign promising young riders.
KTM has been successfully demonstrating this for years with the Ajo team. Honda runs the Honda Team Asia in the two small classes. And since this season, Yamaha has also been financing a Moto2 team, which is run in cooperation with VR46.
Could Suzuki imagine entering into a cooperation with a Moto2 team as well? “I think KTM has done a very good job in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP in the past years,” praises Suzuki team manager Livio Suppo.
He does not want to rule out such a constellation in principle: “That you train riders at least from Moto2 onwards – Moto3 would be difficult for us – would be a very good idea.” Because Suzuki has consistently relied on young talent since its MotoGP comeback in 2015.
A second team in the premier class is not ruled out in principle. But the likelihood of that remains low. “We know that people in the paddock have been waiting for a satellite team from Suzuki for several years.”
“But a lot has to be done before it can be thought about,” Suppo said. “For many years, the ideal situation for Carmelo [Ezpeleta] would be for all six manufacturers to equip four riders each. Of course you need six brands that are ready to be able to use these bikes.”
“The bikes also need to be competitive. It would be very difficult to ask a satellite team to race with a motorbike that is not competitive. Today we are more and more in a technical situation where that would be possible.”
With eight bikes, Ducati has the biggest line-up in the field. Is that too much? “First of all we have to be happy that we have 24 bikes on the grid and they are all more or less competitive,” Suppo looks at the positive side.
“Even a bike from last year is competitive. In my opinion, it’s better for a rookie when the bike is already developed. The top speed of the Ducati is of course very strong. The riders are worried.”
“If you have a problem in qualifying and you start behind, it is very difficult for the riders. On the other hand, it’s better to have eight Ducatis than a lot of non-competitive bikes.” Ducati also leads the constructors’ championship after the first four races.
