Defending MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir says he’s “calm” and “confident” after Suzuki Ecstar helmsman Davide Brivio left the team just weeks after winning the 2020 title.
Valued team leader Brivio, along with the Manufacturers ‘title, led Suzuki to his first MotoGP rider’s title since 2000 along with the Manufacturers’ title in a compact 14-lap season hampered by coronavirus delays.
However, he will face a new challenge in Formula 1 for 2021 after being named Race Director of the Alpine F1 Team. There he will try to sprinkle another outfit with magic dust in order to move up from midfield after being renamed Renault.
Suzuki Katana [2019] review
Having left an indelible mark on Suzuki, which will not directly replace Brivio in his previous role, Mir is nonetheless confident that the team will have plenty of other “experts” to keep the momentum going in his absence.
On the subject of matching items
“It’s a very difficult situation as Davide was a point of reference for the team,” he told SkySports24. “But I am very calm. I have a lot of confidence, I am sure we will do a good job, we have the people who can.
“I really appreciate what Davide has been doing since joining Suzuki. He started the newly created project at the beginning and built it into a top team.
On the subject of matching items
“We are certainly affected by [his departure], but I don’t think that without him we will lose our way because we always saw things the same way and we agreed on the direction in which to go. We also have knowledgeable staff to help us manage it.
“I fully trust the team structure we have and the rest of the people who helped build it. We will be more united than ever because we all love this brand, this team, and give 150% to be with to continue with the new one. ” Challenges in the best possible way. “
Will Suzuki and Joan Mir Miss Davide Brivio?
Davide Brivio is leaving Suzuki in a stronger position than when he joined, but just as a rider is nothing without the support of the team behind the scenes, the Ecstar outfit is now – thanks in part to him – well positioned to continue to thrive in his absence . Which is exactly how it should be.
If winning a MotoGP title is difficult, arguably, it is even more difficult to follow suit, and the pressure is on Suzuki and Mir’s shoulders to continue the upward trend they have forged to prove that title fame is no accident against which was the background of unusual circumstances.
Fortunately, there are still clear areas in which I can improve myself. He won the 2020 MotoGP title with just one win. Proof that consistency – together with a strong strategy and a raw top performer – is the foundation of a title challenge.
With Suzuki focused on improving the qualifying pace, having finished ninth on average all year round, the team has clear goals … because it most likely can’t rely on consistency alone to deliver an eager group of pretenders keep his new throne in check.