Suzuki working on 2014 MotoGP return
Suzuki wants to return to MotoGP from 2014, but has ruled out entering any races as a wildcard next year
The outfit's MotoGP project leader Satoru Terada says the programme is yet to receive definitive confirmation from Suzuki management, but revealed plans were already underway to return with a full programme in two season's time.
"A return in 2014 is our objective: are working hard towards it," Terada told Motosprint.
"I must say that we haven't been given definitive confirmation yet, because the final decision is up to top management, as that's where the budget comes from.
"These decisions are made at the top level: the people working in the racing departments can't do anything. However, after a year of reflection, the top management, too, has now understood we can start over.
"Suzuki has a long history in grand prix racing, it has practically always raced, and nobody liked the decision to suspend the MotoGP project at the end of 2011."
Terada explained that the 2014 target was based upon building an entirely new bike and with the aim of being competitive from the outset - and ruled out any wildcard appearances next year for the same reasons.
"2014 is a much more realistic objective," he said. "We want to do things well, and this needs some time.
"We started from a new concept, also because we have redesigned the engine and this means a complete change to the entire project.
"I rule out [wildcard entries in 2013]. When we decide to race, we'll do that by lodging an entry in the championship - from the start. We are not interested in doing tests as wild card entries."
Asked whether he was happy with the level of performance of Suzuki's MotoGP prototype, he said: "Not yet, but it's not as if we expected extraordinary results at this time of the year.
"We have only just started, and we'll race in 2014, so there is still time.
"[The bike is] still a prototype, in the sense that its use is to gather data needed to build the definitive bike, the one we'll enter in the races.
"What's important is that the passion for racing has stayed with us. We are doing everything possible to meet [the 2014] timeframe."
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| Series | MotoGP |
| Teams | AB Motoracing |
| Author | Michele Lostia |
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