Interview

MotoGP

Interview: Why Silverstone win is merely a "starting point" for Suzuki

Suzuki MotoGP team manager Davide Brivio says the manufacturer's first premier class win for nearly a decade at Silverstone should be a "starting point" as it targets greater successes in the future.

Léna Buffa

Edited: Oct 3, 2016, 12:40 PM

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Maverick Viñales, Team Suzuki MotoGP

In its second season after its MotoGP return, Suzuki has already reached the top step of the podium, getting its GSX-RR to win thanks to its star rider Maverick Vinales.

This milestone has just been reached, but the Hamamatsu-based team already knows that it will have new challenges to take up next year, with two new riders – Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins.

At the Aragon Grand Prix, Motorsport.com met with Davide Brivio, who leads a team which has established itself as a MotoGP frontrunner in a very short space of time indeed - but the Italian is determined not to rest on his laurels.

What are your feelings after your first win in Silverstone?

"It was great to win and very important to do so in our project's second year, with a rider who started out with us. It was a great way to thank the racing department, in Japan, who did a great job. I'd like this win to be a starting point, to stimulate us and to bring us new energy to go and get some more."

As a team manager, do you think the team needed this to get off the ground?

"We were not obsessed with chasing this win. We have always said that our goal was to try and finish in the top six in the championship and get a podium when we had a chance.

"This win was a bit of a surprise, partly because we maybe didn't expect it so early, but all the more so as we dominated the race from start to finish.

"Of course, Maverick deserves credit. This victory might have reinforced his confidence in what he can do, just like ours."

Do you think Suzuki has been seen differently this year, perhaps even before the win?

"I can feel appreciation, we've been congratulated for our work and that really pleases me. There probably was considerable growth in the winter. Maverick looks more mature and quicker to me, certainly more ready performance-wise, he probably thought a lot about his maiden season.

"Regarding the bike, we worked well in Japan by improving the performance of the engine and introducing the seamless gearbox."

How is the development of the bike going, considering that both riders will leave the team at the end of the season?

"We have improved the chassis after Mugello, then in Barcelona. The bike will stay the same until the end of the year.

"We work a little bit on what could be next year's bike – we work on the engine; we have a good chassis but we're trying to improve some areas like the way tyres work and finding more grip. Many little details. The new bike won't be a revolution, but an evolution of some details."

Will the chassis change?

"We will try to test some new parts when they are available, probably early next year, maybe in the Sepang or Phillip Island tests. The development is ongoing in Japan – the engine, chassis and electronics departments are involved.

"We need to understand the electronics a bit better, they're new to everyone and it will be important to interpret all parameters correctly. Then, the new riders will choose the new parts."

Maverick Viñales, Team Suzuki MotoGP, Aleix Espargaro, Team Suzuki MotoGP

Photo by: Suzuki MotoGP

How has the team's relationship with Aleix evolved after this summer's tensions?

"There was, indeed, a little tension during the contract negotiations. The rider market evolved very quickly and sometimes, everything happened very quickly.

"However, all of us are now very relaxed, we've found a solution and he has, too. We're trying to finish the season as well as possible.

"We're supporting him as much as we can and he's giving it 100 percent. I'm sure he wants to get a good result before the end of the season. We are focused on this."

From what you know about them, which qualities will Maverick and Valentino enjoy compared to each other, next year?

"Both of them are great talents. Valentino has won a lot already and Maverick wants to win a lot. Maverick is an intelligent rider, who understands what he needs to do to be competitive.

"I think at Yamaha, he will aim to beat Valentino If he achieves this on the same bike, it will certainly have a big impact on him and everything else. He will also have a great reference.

"At Suzuki, he has quickly become the quicker rider, so he doesn't have a reference ahead of him. At Yamaha, if he lets his hair down or has a bad time, Valentino could do better than him; this will keep him awake and will give him a goal anyway.

"From this point of view, he will probably still have lots of room for improvement, this will make him stronger. Valentino is experienced and strong, but he will need to be wary of Maverick. This will stimulate him too.

"Anyway, he already has a strong teammate, he'll have another one just as strong – I think in the end, he's used to it and it doesn't change much."

His aggressiveness, his motivation to reach the top quickly, is that what convinced you about Maverick when he raced in Moto2?

"He's a rider who won races every year, as early as his first year in every series. His record is quite special. He wants to win, he's not happy with just taking positions.

"He's quite ambitious from a sporting point of view, it's typical of champions and he doubtlessly will be one. I think he will at least fight for the title in the next 10 years."

Maverick Viñales, Team Suzuki MotoGP

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography

What appealed to you about Rins?

"He's a very talented rider too. It was interesting and stimulating to bring Maverick into MotoGP, to work with him and see him grow day after day, so we're trying to do the same kind of work with Rins.

"We're going to try and make the most of our experience with Maverick. We kind of fast-tracked Maverick when promoting him to MotoGP after just one year in Moto2.

"It might have been "safer" to get a rider who had MotoGP experience, but we liked the challenge and we believed in his talent. We won our first race with him and we will certainly remember that."

Has Iannone's performance matched your expectations this year?

"In the last two years, he has proven that he could fight with the best. When he's had a chance, he has always fought for the win or the podium. He has always been very competitive.

"If we can provide him with a good package, I think he'll get the most out of our bike and bring it to the podium if the bike is capable of doing it. It depends a little bit on us.

"He's a mature, quick rider – a talent that has potential to become a MotoGP frontrunner in the future. Of course, changing both riders could require more investment from the team, especially in the beginning, but we're very happy with our line-up and we're confident about the future."

Iannone has also undergone a lot of criticism this year. What's your take on this?

"I like riders to be combative, to dedicate themselves fully in order to win, and I believe Andrea has a burning desire to win. He might have made a few mistakes sometimes, but I'm happy that he has this combative personality.

"Sure, one needs to make as few mistakes as possible. He will also be more mature, more experienced and I think that with time, this experience will be more and more useful to him. He's a quick rider anyway, which is important."

So he shouldn't sacrifice his aggressiveness for consistency?

"Iannone has often been mentioned as someone who makes mistakes, everyone tells me I need to calm him down… I don't see things this way. He's a quick rider who wants to win.

"Mistakes and crashes happen to everyone. All of the top five riders in the championship have made mistakes this year.

"Last year, Marquez made mistakes and didn't manage to win the title. This year, Lorenzo and Valentino made some and are struggling a little more to win the title. This is racing!"

Andrea Iannone, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography

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