Davide Brivio will leave TrackHouse Racing at the end of the season to join Honda, but he continues to participate in discussions that will shape the future of the American team in MotoGP. It's a delicate position that the Italian has chosen to embrace with complete transparency.
As the market for pilots for 2027 accelerates, Brivio finds himself in an unusual role: advising a team of which he will soon no longer be a part. I wanted to be very fair to the team and tell them that I wouldn't be there. », He explains. " I wanted to avoid starting a discussion with the pilots and then having to say, "Sorry, I'm leaving." »
A decision that surprised many in the paddock due to its particularly early timing. Perhaps we announced this too early. " he admits with a smile. But I felt it was the right way to proceed »
Since that announcement, responsibilities have gradually changed hands. Justin Marks is now in charge of the negotiations. We are discussing it together. He asks for my opinionI give him my ideas and opinions. Then, he decides. »
This situation highlights the real conundrum that TrackHouse is facing a challenge. With the announced departure ofAi Ogura toward Yamaha and the still uncertain future of Raul fernandezThe American team practically has to rebuild its driver lineup for 2027.
And behind the names circulating lies a much deeper question: What project does it really want to build? TrackHouse ?
Bastianini or Gonzalez: two opposing visions at TrackHouse
The case ofEnea Bastianini This perfectly illustrates this dilemma. The Italian now appears to be one of the favorites to join the team. Aprilia satellite. Experienced, a Grand Prix winner and already accustomed to high-level battles, he would offer immediate guarantees.
Conversely, Manuel Gonzalez This represents a bet on the future. As the Moto2 championship leader, the Spaniard has the profile of a young talent to be nurtured. But recruiting a rookie also requires time, patience, and accepting a learning phase.
For BrivioThe debate is there. The question is not what Manuel Gonzalez can do “, he explains. “ The real question is what kind of project TrackHouse wants to implement. »
And the former boss of Suzuki develops his thinking. If the goal is to start again with a young driver and build something for the long term, then he represents an excellent profile. But if the objective is to achieve immediate results with a driver who is already established, then it's a completely different project. »
This reflection goes far beyond the case GonzalezBrivio believes that modern MotoGP leaves less and less room for beginners. Few people are brave enough to trust a rookie. “, he notes.
The days when a young driver could directly get their chance in an official program seem increasingly distant. There is a certain reluctance to integrate a beginner into a factory team. He continues. " Generally, it is now necessary to go through a satellite team. »
This development complicates the natural progression of talent emerging from Moto2. However, Brivio remains convinced that Gonzalez possesses the necessary level. Manuel undoubtedly deserves to be in MotoGP »
But the Italian refuses to dramatize the situation. crash.net. "If I were in his shoes and it didn't work out in 2027, I would stay another year. An opportunity will eventually present itself." »
In the immediate future, the situation of Raul fernandez remains just as important. Long criticized for his lack of results, the Spaniard has rediscovered his form in recent weeks, notably with his victory in the Mugello Sprint.
A return to form that has not gone unnoticed by Brivio that holds the top spot. " I'm happy to see him exploiting his potential, even under pressure. " he confides. The former boss of Joan mir andalex rins in Suzuki He even reveals the advice he regularly repeats to her.
« Don't worry about what you can't control. Focus on what you can doTry to win races, try to achieve good results, and let others work on your future. »
This advice also resembles a management philosophy. Because even when leaving, Davide Brivio continues to act as he always has: by building long-term projects. And one of his latest missions at TrackHouse It could well be about defining the team's identity for the years when he is no longer there.
