For the Suzuki team manager in MotoGP, the goal is to raise the team with Alex Rins to fourth place in the world. The Argentinian podium was a great moment of celebration in this regard.
« Considering we hadn't been on the podium since Phillip Island 2016, we were pretty hungry, recognizes Brivio. Consider that on this occasion we already knew that we would lose Vinales, so Alex's podium has a different flavor and I experience it as the start of a journey with a young man with whom we want to build our future. »
What did you like about his approach to racing? ? asked Sandro Donato Grosso for sport.sky.it.
“The fact that he was not there to delay and that he fought to win. Others would have thought about pleasing the team with a podium when he saw there was an opportunity to win and took a risk. I really liked this approach. Faced with such an attitude, I would have accepted a fall which fortunately did not happen. »
Suzuki did to Rins “ an offer that cannot be refused ».
Will the contract with Suzuki be announced before or after Jerez? Can he ask for a nice sum of money?
“Like all drivers when they know they can ask for more. We are down to the details, namely: the number of passes and promotional days, trips, etc. etc. Jerez may be the right place to announce the continuation of the contract. We are facing a good boy, polite and well-mannered. He was fully integrated into the technical group that I deliberately did not change after Vinales and this represents a challenge won. »
What about the situation that concerns Andrea Iannone ?
“With Andrea's management, we spoke at the start of the season and we gave ourselves four or five races to make a choice, perhaps together. We will have to evaluate everything carefully. Andrea's talent is not discussed, but we must be happy and so should he. I expect and wouldn't be surprised, however, that he looks around as is normal. He calculates that when we say that everyone talks to everyone in this period, it is absolutely true! »
And who else are you talking to? With Lorenzo and Pedrosa in the first place, we can imagine….
“I spoke with at least 10 riders during this time. If you ask me if I spoke to Lorenzo and the Pedrosa managers, the answer is yes, they are great riders and it's nice to hear that their names can be associated with that of Suzuki, but with honesty I would say that no negotiations have been started in earnest. With the first Grand Prix in Europe, we will have answers about this. »
Can you tell us if Suzuki will have a satellite team in 2019?
“I would really like it because the value of satellite assistance is not debatable, but there are two aspects to resolve. The first concerns the Japanese of our parent company and some of their logistical/organizational aspects, the other the choices of the Marc VDS team to whom we speak. She is in reality courted by Honda with whom he already works, but also by Yamaha. It is more them who choose us than us. Right now, we haven't spoken to Aspar as many say. »
Would you like to see Morbidely on a Suzuki?
“What a strange question…. Obviously yes! What we like about Marc VDS is the youth program. If they choose us, maybe I'll suggest someone to them. »
While young Zarco must be forgotten because he travels in other “official” orbits?
" I really think so. »
What motorcycle do you offer?
“We have taken important steps forward. The riders today say that our Suzuki is excellent in terms of chassis, therefore in changes of direction, in entering corners, while the engine is perhaps not our strength. This year, with the regulations, we have nine engines under development, but we would like to use seven and pretend we don't have the concessions, so that we are trained if we lose them. I don't think we will have any substantial developments during the year. »
Marquez-Rossi, the time machine took us back to 2015? What do you think ?
“I really wouldn't want this to happen again like in 2015. I would like to stay out of the controversy, even if I have a personal thought like everyone else, but I wouldn't want to say it publicly so as not to trigger reactions. After 2015, however, we then saw circuit racing, and I hope the same can happen at least on the track, whatever happens outside. »
Photos © Suzuki
