Livio Suppo: “Suzuki has done an excellent job” 

Suzuki will be missing next year on the grid MotoGP. The Japanese manufacturer has decided to end its involvement in competition to refocus its efforts on sustainable development. 

Called in for reinforcements at the start of the year to take on the role of team manager, Livio Suppo, who worked for Ducati and Honda in MotoGP, among others, returned to the paddock with a three-year contract. 

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Even if the latter did not go all the way, Livio Suppo has good memories of this experience. “I think Suzuki did an excellent job on his last comeback,” he confided. Of course, the pinnacle was the 2020 title, but it's not just that. This is the fact that in a short time, the factory was able to regain a good level of competitiveness. It is not easy. KTM is in more and more difficulty. So, I think the firm did a very good job, as did the team. »

A friendly team

Apart from Suzuki's title and results, the Italian believes there is something else that has made the team famous over the years. “The attitude of the team,” he says. This team has a very good reputation throughout the paddock. I've worked for other teams and I know it's not easy. For some reason this team has always been considered a good team. Maybe because he hasn't always been a title contender. When you're the leader, it's more obvious to find people trying to beat you. When you're a competitive team, but not competitive enough to be dangerous, it's easier to find yourself in that position. » 

Regarding the welcome given to him, Livio Suppo added. “When I arrived in Qatar this season, I was very happy to see how nice everyone was to me. They welcomed me very warmly, so I was super happy to start working with them, because they are really an impressive team.

“My dream was to set up a satellite team and a junior team in Moto2” — Livio Suppo (Suzuki)

Livio Suppo of course had the ambition to take Suzuki to the top, but also to extend the aura of the factory on the grid of the premier category and in Moto2. “I accepted the proposal from Sahara-san (Shinichi Sahara, MotoGP project manager at Suzuki) because I felt that in this team, there were a lot of things to do. This team had never had a satellite team, so my dream was to set up a satellite team and a junior structure in Moto2. I had a lot of ideas and I was really happy, after four years off, to come back to this world and feel like it was mine. »

If almost all members of the team have found work in the paddock, Livio Suppo should return full time to his electric bike company that he founded after being dismissed by Honda. However, he does not rule out becoming an advisor to pilots... “I think that with the experience I have on this side of the wall, I could be useful to a pilot to prevent him from making a mistake. If I find someone, a driver who I think has potential and a character that matches mine. I don't mean, I would like to be a pilot's personal manager. I think I would rather be a consultant for a pilot. So why not ? But at the moment there is nothing. »

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