Suzuki has still not officially announced its withdrawal from MotoGP at the end of this season, but everyone is aware and has validated this outcome at their level. Among the drivers, the managers of Joan Mir and Alex Rins confirmed, within the official team, Livio Suppo all but denied having been faced with a fait accompli while Carmelo Ezpeleta, boss of Dorna recalled the manufacturer of Hamamatsu to its contractual obligations. By that, mean that we do not leave MotoGP based on a simple decision of a board of directors. We will have to negotiate the exit... That being said, to replace Suzuki in 2023, there are options...
Will the MotoGP starting grid in 2023 drop to 22 bikes, two less than the full squad wanted by the promoter? Dorna ? For now, we are taking the path. Nevertheless Carmelo Ezpeleta do not remain idle in the face of this surprise defection of Suzuki.
On the one hand, the Spaniard recalled who was in charge of the starting grid: “ Following up on recent rumors that manufacturer Suzuki would leave MotoGP at the end of 2022, Dorna Sports has officially contacted the factory to remind them that the terms of their contract to race in MotoGP do not allow them to make this decision unilaterally » we read in the Dorna press release.
On the other hand, we want to reassure by specifying that MotoGP arouses great interest and that this bad publicity caused by this departure that Suzuki must confirm, is certainly not the sign of a category in crisis: “ Dorna continues to attract strong interest from a a number of official factories and independent teams who are looking to join the MotoGP grid as the sport continues to set the global example of close competition, innovation and entertainment, reaching hundreds of millions of fans across the world. The interest of these parties has been reconfirmed in the last 24 hours ».
The last 24 hours have therefore been hectic and the next ones will undoubtedly be even more so. It remains to be seen who these “ official factories " and others " independent teams ". At this stage, we can cite two names…
Alternatives to Suzuki are already appearing
On the manufacturer side, KTM would be on the spot according to speedweek which reminds us that the Pierer Mobility AG group with its other brands which are Husqvarna et Gas Gas was already looking for a third team in MotoGP last year. The Austrians even regretted seeing the clan Ducati increase in numbers, to the detriment of space for a third offspring in his family currently made up of his KTM factory team and partner Tech3. The men of Stefan Peirer also want an additional outlet for their young champions who are growing up quickly. According to the source, it is under the brand Gas Gas that this new adventure could be declined, the coat of arms currently making the heyday of Moto3 and Moto2.
As for the independent team, this new situation caused by the departure of Suzuki open the door to Leopard Racing, who has had a big project in the pipeline for a while for an arrival in MotoGP in the short to medium term. The technical director Christian Lundberg already declared on Motoracing : " we are working on a big project at the Viterbo circuit, as has already been said, proceeding step by step, because our boss Flavio Becca wants to create an ambitious project and soon you will know more information… MotoGP is not a dream, it's a reality. We are working on it hand in hand with the Viterbo circuit. It's a huge commitment, but it's a project that we've been talking about for some time and we're moving forward on this path “. A way that Suzuki cleared.
