Suzuki: Losing concessions 'a good sign'

Suzuki's return to the MotoGP podium at Aragon also means the Japanese manufacturer will lose technical concessions for the 2019 session.

The factory previously joined Honda, Ducati and Yamaha in racing without concessions during the 2017 season, due to a victory and three further podiums for Maverick Vinales in 2016.

Concessions are granted and withdrawn on the basis of podium finishes; 3 points for 1st, 2 for 2nd and 1 for 3rd. Once six points are reached, concessions are lost for that manufacturer from the following season.

But concessions can also be returned if a manufacturer fails to take a podium in a single season.

That's what happened to Suzuki last year, when the factory's new riders - Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins - struggled after a mistake in choice of engine character, which could not be corrected due to the engine development freeze.

Suzuki thus rejoined KTM and Aprilia in having unlimited private testing, 9 instead of 7 engine changes per rider, exemption from the engine freeze, plus 6 instead of 3 wild-card entries for this year.

But Iannone's close third place at Aragon - where he also momentarily led the race (pictured) - has put Suzuki onto 6 concession points, following earlier third places in Argentina (Rins), Texas (Iannone) and Jerez (Iannone), plus a runner-up finish at Assen (Rins).

"We’ve now lost the concessions, and it’s a good sign because it shows we’ve become much more competitive," said team manager Davide Brivio.

“It’s been a great race for us because we stayed so close to the leaders and we were in the fight for the victory until the very end of the race, so it has been fantastic.

"It’s great to have both riders so close to the top and we’re very happy. Andrea was really strong and Alex [4th] rode very well, they both managed the tyres well and our [soft] tyre choice paid off."

Iannone and Rins are now ninth and tenth in the world championship, with five rounds to go.

“We have many ‘favourite’ tracks coming up before the end of the season so we’ll try to get more and more good results," said technical manager Ken Kawauchi.

Iannone will move to Aprilia next season, which like KTM is yet to take a (four-stroke) MotoGP podium, having been replaced at Suzuki by rookie Joan Mir.