As the MotoGP championship approaches its end this year, with only five races remaining, including the next one in Australia, there is much to discuss. Livio Suppo shared his perspectives on various topics, starting with Marc Márquez’s departure from Honda and Miguel Oliveira’s situation with Aprilia, then addressing Alex Rins’ performance and also exploring some technical aspects of the current MotoGP.
Marquez’s Exit: Suppo’s Perspective “It is evident that, by seeing a rider of Marc Marquez’s caliber go through all the recent turbulence and eventually break a lucrative 10-year contract with Honda… Oliveira may think, ‘If Marquez did it, I can too.’ It may be the ideal move for him, especially considering his fame in Portugal. However, contracts are made to establish rules. Currently, Oliveira is also frustrated with his bike, which is not performing as well as others, and fears that Aprilia may advance next year. Perhaps it would be better if riders always signed one-year contracts.”
Alex Rins Transition Rins has adapted well to LCR Honda, although he is about to move to Yamaha next year. Suppo expressed: “I am happy for him and for Lucio. At the beginning of the season, he secured third place in a race affected by rain at a circuit that favors him. But for someone who has difficulty walking and still finishes the race as the best Honda, it is commendable. His victory in Austin must have boosted his morale. Alex has immense talent; his departure is a great loss for Honda.”
Suppo’s Technical Perspectives “I am not a rider or a technician, but I listen to what the riders say. In the current MotoGP, with the ‘holeshot,’ electronics, anti-wheelie, and other features, it is difficult to make a difference, except during braking. Aerodynamics also play a role in braking. Riders are forced to push harder during braking, which is why we often see Marquez falling forward.”
Reflecting on the recent race in Mandalika, Suppo commented on the risky overtakes and high number of crashes. “This indicates that riders like Martín fell because they made a mistake by one meter. Seven out of the twenty-one riders on the grid crashed, and it is evident that it is a track where making mistakes is easy, forcing riders to make riskier overtakes.”
