Shinichi Sahara is the project manager of the Suzuki adventure in MotoGP and he found himself obliged to reorganize his team in view of the 2021 season which must be that of the defense of Joan Mir's world title. A situation imposed by the departure of Davide Brivio to Formula 1. But there are other skills within this team which will work differently. The Japanese is not worried about this. On the other hand, the collateral damage of the Italian's absence risks being the idea of a satellite team...
Shinichi Sahara found how to fill the strategic position left vacant by Davide Brivio, gone towards other horizons. Thus, rather than finding a successor, the Japanese diluted his functions within a committee composed of Sept people. With this method, he also hopes to improve internal communication and exchanges. He says thus: “ all questions relating to management are discussed with key people in the team. This is why we set up the team management committee. These key people cover zone by zone and also exchange information with each other. This is how we chose to handle the situation after Davide left », revealed Sahara.
The committee is composed as follows: in addition Sahara, the technical manager Ken Kawauchi is represented there, Mitia Dotta et Roberto Brivio, Operation Manager are there for team coordination, the two team leaders Frankie Carchedi (Mir) and Manuel Cazeaux (Rins) as well asAlberto Gomez for marketing questions are also on staff.
Sahara is not afraid that internal problems may arise without a real team leader. On the contrary : " even when we still had Davide, I played the role of team manager. I discussed all the issues with Davide, I gave him advice and he gave it to me. All information was exchanged between Davide, myself and Ken Kawauchi. JSo I know how he managed the staff and the technical side. So I'm not worried. We also have very competent employees in the team, both for the technical field and for marketing and administration. You can compensate for Davide's departure. I believe everything is under control. So I'm not worried at all ».
The project manager Suzuki also sees an advantage in the new system: “ the team got even closer. Previously, requests from different departments converged on Davide, who then passed the information on to me or other people. Now we communicate directly. We are trying together to overcome this difficult situation ».
Shinichi Sahara must prioritize and the satellite team is not a priority
But then, what was the point Davide Brivio if everything seems so obvious to reorganize? We will see during the Grands Prix this season. But there is still one subject that will suffer from this departure. The Japanese clearly identifies it, and it is that of the satellite team: “ Davide was the main point of contact to speak to the different teams, as a window into Suzuki. I was involved too, of course, but with Brivio gone, I'm just busier. Half the work of building a satellite team happens on the track where you talk to teams. The other half in the factory. I have to manage things ».
He adds on speedweek : " I didn't abandon the satellite team. But it's true, Davide's departure makes my job more complicated. Like I said, I'm very busy, but I'll keep going. Top management hasn't dismissed the case, but we talk about a lot of things at the same time. Therefore, the satellite team has been sidelined for now. But I can say that we are progressing slowly. I myself am starting to think in more detail about how a satellite team could be managed. We always talk to multiple teams. So I'm going to have to continue these conversations along the way, but at the factory, I still have to explain it to management. Like I said: we move slowly ". Which is not a good sign, because the big decisions must be made on this subject by the end of March...
