Livio Suppo reveals that in 2013, Honda cherished the ambition of forming a dream duo with Marc Marquez et Casey Stoner. The former Repsol Honda team manager recently spoke about this period in discussion with the media Relief.
Under the direction of Livio Suppo, Racing Consultant, Casey Stoner joined Honda after a first successful collaboration at Ducati, where they won the world championship in 2007. Stoner's arrival at Honda marked a turning point for the team, which had won only one title since 2006 with Nicky Hayden. Suppo remembers: “ Nakamoto asked me in my first year at Honda to bring in Casey. Our goal was to revive HRC, and with Stoner then Márquez, we won several titles. »
Unfortunately, Honda's plans were upended when Stoner announced his retirement. Suppo confides: “We really wanted to create a dream team with Márquez and Stoner. Stoner's retirement was a game changer, and it would have put Dani Pedrosa in a difficult position. » Pedrosa, despite his small size and light weight, impressed with his exceptional talent and special sensitivity on the bike, qualities that Suppo deeply admires.
Suppo, who has seen the unique talents of Stoner and Márquez up close, notes their differences in character but also their total commitment and incredible talent. “Every rider is different, but seeing them on the track is an immense pleasure for any motorcycle enthusiast,” he said.
Looking back on his career, Suppo considers winning the world championship with Ducati in 2007 as one of his best moments, while the tragic death of Marco Simoncelli at Sepang in 2011 remains his worst memory. Suppo also talks about his relationships in the paddock, highlighting the special friendship he developed with Nicky Hayden, while maintaining a clear separation between friendship and professionalism during his time as manager.
Today, although he works as a consultant for the Italtrans Moto2 team, Livio Suppo continues to closely follow the premier category. His memories and reflections on the years spent at Honda, as well as the unfulfilled dreams of a team comprising Márquez and Stoner, recall the constant ambitions and challenges in the competitive world of MotoGP.
