This interview with Davide Brivio will be a landmark one, as it defines exactly the fact that MotoGP has entered a new era, placing the Japanese at a crossroads. Which one will they take? The tortuous one full of pitfalls of a total reconsideration with only a hypothesis of success in the long term? Or the one that simply leads to the exit from the paddock? The recent case of Suzuki, which the same Davide Brivio knows by heart, does not encourage optimism, and even less so since the servants of the GSX-RR were certainly the best structured to face the European offensive. What must be understood is that it is not a question of means, but of will to reaffirm, and of method to review, which involves a fundamental cultural revolution which has not yet only begun according to the 'Italian, now in Formula 1…
This exchange read on slick magazine deserves to already be the common thread of the 2023 season which is coming. Because it carries within itself the seeds of everything that can happen next, and in particular with regard to the two Japanese manufacturers still competing in MotoGP which are Yamaha et Honda. According to Davide Brivio, there will be no miracles as far as they are concerned because they have fallen too far behind not only from a technical point of view, but in the dynamics of their group. And contrary to what one might think, it is the most complicated and time-consuming thing to set up.
A strategy that not only Ducati but also the other European manufacturers that are KTM et Aprilia have been implementing for some time now: “ this is an evolution that started over the last 5-6 years » assures the former team manager of Suzuki, until the 2020 title. Yamaha and Honda have not yet taken this step forward, but not only: their problem is figuring out how to do it » he adds. But what is this new policy which is thus defeating the empire of the rising sun? The Italian replies: “ It used to be said: the Japanese make motorcycles and the Europeans race them. But that's over. Japanese companies must do like Europeans: the track and the factory must work together, with the same mentality and above all with the same skills. ».
Davide Brivio: “ the Japanese have not fully understood that this MotoGP has nothing to do with that of twenty years ago«
The revolution that the Japanese did not see coming was this: “ A few years ago there was not a large amount of data like today, a sophisticated data analysis system, dedicated engineers to identify a problem with scientific precision and then seek a solution. It is now necessary lots of data analysis from the weekend on the track, not just at the factory, to understand exactly what is happening on the bike. And that's something they're not used to doing in Japan. ».
« European companies are more aggressive in their approach to the race, they therefore established a new way of racing. And Yamaha and Honda will also have to adapt » analyzes again Davide Brivio. But what he sees does not reassure him: “ Yamaha gives the idea of still working like in the time of Furusawa... I recently heard Marquez say, 'I once asked the team why we tried this specific piece, and they told me they didn't know.' Well that means at Honda they still use the old method: it seems that they throw away parts, copy what they see around, to understand what effect it has. But it's not good ».
Davide Brivio concludes: “ Honda and Yamaha really need to overhaul their MotoGP project. It's not a question of money, but of method and mentality. We must accept this indisputable fact, but perhaps Yamaha and especially Honda have difficulty accepting that the Japanese manufacturers' way of doing things is outdated, and that they must therefore change it.. And quickly too! Because it is on this point that European manufacturers are now ahead, as we saw in 2022. And they will continue to advance! They need a multi-year plan. Italian and European manufacturers are now very strong, they have figured out how to organize themselves to use the technology, while Honda and Yamaha still have to face this transition ».
Words which are not neutral because nothing is less certain than names like Yamaha et Honda will have the patience to renew themselves in this way, allowing themselves to be soundly beaten by the Europeans before being operational. Two manufacturers whose fate on the track depends on only one driver: Fabio Quartararo on one side and Marc Marquez the other. The latter also have a career to pursue with objectives other than those of supporting a manufacturer in its profound reconsideration. In view of the inventory made by Davide Brivio, it would even be like asking them to sacrifice their legitimate personal ambitions. This 2023 season will be one of all hopes but also of all dangers for the Japanese. And MotoGP?
