Brivio 'window' closes, but Suzuki 'hasn't given up' on satellite team

Suzuki MotoGP project leader Shinichi Sahara admits Davide Brivio's unexpected departure as team manager has made the factory's quest for a satellite team more complicated.

However, Sahara "hasn't given up" and will continue speaking with "several teams" about a supply of the world championship-winning GSX-RRs.

Joan Mir, Portuguese MotoGP, 20th November 2020
Joan Mir, Portuguese MotoGP, 20th November 2020
© Gold and Goose

Suzuki MotoGP project leader Shinichi Sahara admits Davide Brivio's unexpected departure as team manager has made the factory's quest for a satellite team more complicated.

However, Sahara "hasn't given up" and will continue speaking with "several teams" about a supply of the world championship-winning GSX-RRs.

Gresini (splitting from Aprilia at the end of this season), Sky VR46 (considering a 2022 MotoGP entry) and Petronas (a previous Suzuki target) are thought to be among the potential partners for Suzuki machinery in 2022.

"About a satellite team, yes, Davide was the main person to speak with several teams, as a window to Suzuki," Sahara said. "Of course, I have been involved as well, but Davide leaving has made me busier.

"Half of the satellite team building job is at the track, to speak with the teams, and the other half is proceeding in the factory.

"Anyway, I haven't given up about a satellite team, but Davide's departure makes the situation a little bit more difficult for me. Like I said, made me busier, but that's it. I will continue."

Sahara added: "Slowly we are progressing. I myself start to think in more detail about how to manage, how to organise the satellite team. And as I said, we are speaking with several teams still.

"So at the track I have to continue speaking with the teams and at the factory I have to continue to explain to the top management. So I can say progressing, slowly. Step by step."

Brivio, who left Suzuki to become racing director of the Alpine F1 team, previously stated that March-April would be the deadline to decide on a satellite project for 2022.

Sahara added that Suzuki would soon join KTM, Ducati and Honda in officially signing up for the next five-year MotoGP contract cycle with Dorna.

"We are just doing some paperwork in the company to proceed to sign the contract," he said.

Reigning world champion Joan Mir and team-mate Alex Rins (third in last year's standings) will again form Suzuki's MotoGP line-up in 2021.

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