SUZUKI SATELLITE TEAM

Will Suzuki join the major factories with a satellite team in the future? Possibly in 2018, said team manager Davide Brivio. “But it will be very difficult.

            “Suzuki has never had any experience with satellite team, and the resources are focused on the factory team. But we hope for 2018 it will be possible.”

The new rules – especially the levelling of the electronics – have been positive for the sport and the championship, all the major manufacturers agreed at a special joint conference at Valencia, where Honda, Yamaha and Ducati were joined by Suzuki and Aprilia.

            “We are one of the manufacturers who took the benefit,” said Suzuki’s Davide Brivio. “Also with the change of tyres, we were at less disadvantage than before, because nobody had any experience with the Michelins.”

            The rules had opened the way for there to be six manufacturers, including from 2017 also KTM. But while this was good for the sport and the spectators, said Yamaha’s Lin Jarvis, there was a disadvantage for satellite teams.

            “In general, it pumps up the price of riders. There were six factory seats, and now there are 12. This makes it hard for satellite teams to capture and keep top talent.”

By Michael Scott