MotoGP | Suzuki, exclusive interview with Davide Brivio at Mugello

During the Mugello GP we were able to interview Davide Brivio, Team Manager of the Suzuki team in MotoGP. The team principal told us some curiosities about the new Suzuki GSX-R1000, how things have improved over the years on road bikes, thanks also to the team's work and the ability to transfer the know-how from MotoGP to the development of a motorcycle from the street.

Davide, the first question is our curiosity, we wanted to ask you, what was the driving force that led you to leave the Yamaha team, for a completely new project like that of Suzuki?

“It wasn't an immediate transition. I left Yamaha when Valentino Rossi left. In fact I followed him first, in fact I worked for some years with him on a personal level helping him with his contracts etc., therefore for him and for VR46. Then, after a few years of working for him, I received the call from Suzuki and it was a very difficult choice, but I felt a bit of the call of this type of work, that is, organizing a team, managing the staff, trying to choose the pilots, improve. It's a job that I like to do, Suzuki is one of the largest companies in the world, so in the end I decided to accept."

This year, after a long wait, the GSX-R1000 made its debut, a super sports bike that takes a lot from Suzuki's MotoGP on a technical level, such as variable valve timing and electronics, for example. First of all, are you a motorcyclist in your private life and what type of motorbike do you prefer to ride?

“I'm not a great motorcyclist, when there's availability I like to use the scooter, because it's comfortable and I try not to use a motorbike that's too dangerous, but I'd like to have the time, perhaps to go for a few laps on the track , but then you never succeed.”

Do you think that there could be a transfer of technologies between racing and production bikes or that the application is too different to think of combining them on a technical level?

“No absolutely, there is a big connection between racing and production and this is one of the main reasons why Suzuki decided to return to MotoGP or participate in MotoGP, it is one of the main reasons, in addition obviously to the promotion of the brand , but one of the reasons is to develop technology, which can then be transferred to the production motorcycle. Clearly there are some things that cannot be transferred, maybe we have the seamless gearbox, that will probably never have an application on the production bike, but so are all the experiences we have with electronics, or even on some chassis components. Our work is functional to generating know-how within the company which could then be used for any model. Yes, absolutely there is a connection and there must be for us to participate in MotoGP. I must say that indeed, the new GSX-R1000 also has solutions and ideas that come from MotoGP and therefore that our engineers have used and transferred."

Did Kevin Schwantz contribute to the development of the new GSX-R1000?

“I know he tried it several times, but I honestly don't know how much of an influence it had, because I didn't participate in that project.”

Edited by Gianluigi Cuttitta