It’s a theme that is a real Arlesian in the MotoGP paddock: that of the Suzuki satellite team. An allied structure that conducts the Hamamatsu troops on the ground Davide Brivio continues to develop its necessity. He has just done it again before the season kicks off in Qatar. It must be said that the candidates for the mission are there. But Suzuki doesn't seem at all convinced by this policy...
And yet, the Yamaha case with Tech3 showed that having a satellite structure at your side could save appearances, honor and the situation. In 2017, the M1 led by John Zarco helped the Iwata factory keep its head above water. Meanwhile, Suzuki officials were drowning around a GSX-RR that had become unfathomable... But in a paddock now open to competition, skill must also be considered. Otherwise, it offers itself to others. And in the case of the French, it is the Austrians of KTM who rub their hands.
Certainly, but the Suzuki case is still different: the problem with Hamamatsu is that we are more than cautious when it comes to thinking about sharing its technology. So do it… There is a world! Davide Brivio insists, however, looking at the Marc VDS and Angel Nieto Racing structures which would not sulk at the signing of an agreement.
However… " Having a satellite team is one of our goals. We really want one and we really need to have one. We are working on this project. I can't tell you if it will be completed in 2019. When? If you ask our engineers, they will always tell you that now is not the right time. Until then, Suzuki had always focused on an official team. It does not have the culture of a satellite team which requires special resources and another internal organization. But sooner or later, I hope we get there ».
It is therefore a safe bet that the two aforementioned candidates will stay with their current manufacturer unless one of them recovers the future orphaned Yamaha from Tech3…
