MotoGP – A third Suzuki that appeals to many: Martinez, Schwantz, Spies…

The big announcement was expected in just under two weeks in Jerez, or at least an "unofficial" confirmation of intentions for the new year. Jorge Martinez in Andalusia had to clarify his team's (Team Aspar) plans for the future. Not in 250 or 125, nor on the newborn Supermotard program: good news is expected on the MotoGP project. A program pursued since last season, with the Iberian manager who kept in contact with all the manufacturers present in MotoGP, until reaching a conclusion: if MotoGP must be, MotoGP will be with Suzuki, with that third GSV-R which The Hamamatsu house intends to sell to a "private" structure for the next season. The contacts have been intensified in recent months, so much so that at the presentation of his 250cc team Martinez had let slip... a half-confirmation in this regard. “We are always open to all possibilities”, declared the four-time world champion between 80 and 125cc. “We are thinking about MotoGP and we are in contact to be able to realize this project for next season”.

From that moment, however, the situation became more complicated than expected. Nebula, that's it. Asked the price of "leasing" and management of the third Suzuki, Martinez received an exorbitant figure as an answer. He reveals it Moto sprint: 4 million euros. A sum... significant, taking into account that leasing a Honda-customer or a Ducati-Sat costs less than half. Partial justification comes from the fact that the GSV-R will in all respects be an "official" motorbike: same specifications as the Rizla team, updates at the same time as Capirossi and Vermeulen. If this bike was once tempting, now Martinez would risk really racing with "water in his throat". A banal play on words that "Aspar" could also have overlooked, considering the ambitious plans of its structure. The budget, all in all, could be found. PepePhone, the new Iberian telephony giant, already a partner of Alstare Suzuki in Superbike and of the Toth team in 250cc, would have taken care of covering the expenses. PepePhone would bring not only a large budget, but also Fonsi Nieto, rider of the Alstare Suzuki team in Superbike where he wears these folkloristic colors that distinguish the Gixxers of the Belgian team.

Martinez would thus have a bike, sponsor and rider. A perfect plan. But also not. Nieto has an option with Alstare for next season, not to mention that Suzuki is pushing to entrust the third Suzuki to Ben Spies, the new star of American motorcycling. The resolution to the enigma is easy to understand: Martinez is not interested in racing with a driver not personally chosen, mostly "Yankees". The plan and possible agreements with important Iberian financiers would be broken. “Aspar”, we remind you, does not only have interests in motorcycling: in Valencia everything revolves around him, and to give an example with the city Formula 1 Grand Prix he should earn something like 20 million euros. Spies would ruin the pre-established plans, therefore the Suzuki solution is set aside for the moment: we will also talk with other manufacturers.

Speaking precisely of the American rider, but wasn't it certain that he would participate in the 2009 MotoGP? In the interview given to MotoGrandPrix.it previously, the Texan had declared as follows: “2009 is still to be decided. I hope to be able to find out more in the next couple of months.". There will certainly be two wild-cards between Indianapolis and Laguna Seca this year, then we'll see. It all depends on what Kevin Schwantz, manager and mentor, implements in the coming weeks. The third Suzuki GP is of interest, Spies is ready, Schwantz dedicated to bringing the project to life. There would also be a pool of Yankee sponsors interested in the adventure, starting with Rockstar Energy Drink, already a partner of the Suzuki Yoshimura team (and of Spies himself) in the AMA Superbike. Will it be enough to close the budget and build a capable team? We will know soon, without underestimating possible twists. Or “sales” from Suzuki.

Alessio Piana