MotoGP: Exclusive interview with Davide Brivio, new Suzuki Team Manager

We are here at the Sachsenring with Davide Brivio, Suzuki's new Team Manager. Davide, how did this “thing” come about?

“First of all I must say that when Suzuki suspended its racing activity it had already announced that it would return. The return was scheduled for 2014. They then continued to work on the MotoGP project, redesigning a completely new bike and starting to carry out tests. Then they contacted me to find out if I was interested in this project because, unlike in the past, Suzuki wants a direct team, while in the past it had always relied on external organisations. I was happy to accept, then came the decision of the board of directors to postpone the return. In the meantime there was the official announcement of his return and this is very important. We will then continue development.

Will Randy de Puniet always be the tester?

“We don't know yet for next year. For this year, yes, he has a contract for the entire season. There are still three testing sessions left to complete this year's program. He is doing a good job and we are discussing whether he can continue to do so in 2014."

Together with Valentino Rossi you won "everything" in Yamaha. Valentino's contract expires in 2015 and many think that he could come to Suzuki to form the winning duo again

“I take this opportunity to clarify what in my opinion is Valentino's situation. This year he returned to Yamaha with the clear intention of staying for "life". He feels like a Yamaha rider, he has won a lot, he has achieved his greatest satisfactions with this brand and therefore it makes sense that he ends his career there. In my opinion he will therefore remain a Yamaha rider."

What do you think of Valentino's return to Yamaha from a results point of view

“I consider it positive because Valentino managed to return to the top with this bike. Maybe he had to work a little more on the set-up because he found a different bike than the one he left behind. He had to readjust his riding style and had to take a few more races to adapt than I thought. Now it seems he's on the right track. Today's race (he finished on the third step of the podium) shows that there is still work to do, but he is in the right direction. The goal is to enter the top positions and always fight with the best. A race like today's, where you start well, and still fight, even if you then had some problems, is the goal. To always be fighting for victory between now and the end of the season.”

Speaking of this race at the Sachsenring, there were many crashes, especially in practice. Do you think that the level has risen too much as well as the performance of the electronics and tires?

“It's hard to say. On the topic of tires I can say that crashes also occurred in the other classes. Certainly now the riders trust the bike more because the electronics help a lot and come into play in critical moments; but maybe sometimes they exaggerate. I'll try to hypothesize... perhaps the conditions of this asphalt are also a bit particular, the grip seems to be a bit fluctuating. Then the layout of the track is also particular; there are only three right turns against 10 left ones, you're leaning a lot, you can't miss a line. Here it seems that the mistake is not forgiven.”

A thought then on Marc Marquez, Honda rookie and today world championship leader

“He is statistically a rookie because he debuts this year in this category, but in fact he is now a leading rider, he already seems like an expert rider. He has now finished surprising; we were surprised the first time he got on the MotoGP in Valencia, a bit during the winter tests. Then the numbers speak for him, except once he crashed (Mugello) he always got on the podium and this is an impressive performance list for a rookie rider. He is now rightfully among the Top Riders of the Top Class. "

Do you consider him one of the title candidates until the end of the season?

“I think so and in my opinion he is so intelligent and smart that he doesn't make the mistake that others have made, who perhaps took the first season to learn. He now has the chance to fight for the world championship and he will try until the end."