When Suzuki returned to MotoGP, it was understood that in the short term, its GSX-RR would be available for a private team. A movement wanted by the organizer Dorna. So much so that in the organization of its future MotoGP starting grid, Carmelo Ezpeleta's men depicted an ecosystem made up of manufacturers equipped with an official structure with two machines and another with a satellite vocation with, also, a couple of motorcycles. Yes, but Suzuki is in no hurry to adopt this plan.
Solicited, approached, even perhaps sometimes in a hurry, Suzuki does not budge one iota and swears that if private GSX-RRs are considered, it is not for now. Davide Brivio, the Hamamatsu field man for MotoGP clarified on crash.net the position of his employer on this sensitive subject: “ We are investigating this possibility because Suzuki has no experience in this area of satellite teams. We see how we could organize this, the resources that would be useful for such a project such as parts, dedicated engineers. We would like to do it, but we must first see if we are sufficiently sized for it ».
However, just with the interview prospect alone, candidates have been knocking on the door of Davide Brivio : " since our return in 2015, stables have come to see us for information. It's logic. They want to know if we are ready for this type of approach and where we stand. By the way, it’s gratifying and positive for us. So we spoke with teams. We exchanged information. But it is clear that we are not really negotiating with anyone in particular on this. We are not at that stage. When and when we are sure we can commit, then we will discuss the subject with the teams in more depth ».
On the team side, two are rumored to be considered as potential candidates to serve Suzuki's interests as a satellite structure. First there was LCR which could find in this solution a lever to align a second motorcycle. La Dorna, moreover, awarded him the currently vacant twenty-fourth place on its MotoGP grid. But Lucio Cecchinello never stopped swearing his loyalty to Honda. Then there is the Pramac team, whose boss has clearly considered abandoning the Ducati in 2017. A year in which Suzuki will really have to clarify its position on the subject.
Currently, Honda has five motorcycles, Yamaha has four and Ducati is making the effort for six and what's more with different generations of Desmosedici. Aprilia only has two motorcycles and is looking for allies. Next year, KTM will join the troop with two motorcycles.
