Suzuki: 'No panic, no rush' over team manager search

MotoGP boss Shinichi Sahara insists he is in no rush to secure a new team manager, despite the start of the 2022 season now being just weeks away.

Sahara has been fulfilling the dual roles of project leader and team manager, assisted by a 'committee' of senior staff, since Davide Brivio left for F1 at the start of last year.

But with the workload proving too much, Sahara went in search of a new team manager and, late last season, indicated they were close to an agreement. But those plans went awry and the factory began 2022 testing at Sepang last week still without a team manager.

"There are some delays, which were not desired, but it is what it is," a Suzuki spokesman said at Sepang. "[A new team manager] is something that Sahara, the team and Suzuki want to fix as soon as possible. But there are many parties involved, many discussions."

On the eve of the final MotoGP pre-season test at Indonesia's new Mandalika circuit, Sahara himself explained:

"Unfortunately, I think it is not the proper time to tell you something, because we are still under negotiation with some people. Okay, it's taken more time than I wanted, than I expected. But we are not in panic, not in rush, because even now everything is under control in terms of team management.

"So I cannot tell you anything about it to keep confidentially and protect the people involved in this discussions or negotiations. Of course, I will announce to you, all the media, the fans and our partners as soon as it is fixed.

"At this stage we are not looking for any [more] people, we have already fixed the candidates and are just speaking. That's why we are not in panic."

Sahara also insisted that the team manager delay should not cause any complications in terms of contract talks with former world champion Joan Mir and three-time MotoGP race winner Alex Rins for 2023.

"I'm not concerned very much about this because myself and the riders always exchange information and sometimes speak about the future," Sahara said. "This is quite normal. Also in the past we had Davide Brivio as the team manager here, [but] I was also involved to negotiate with the rider to make their contract with us.

"But now in this stage I'm concentrating on producing and providing a competitive bike for them and our target, our aim, is to fight for and win the championship again. If we can win the championship with current riders Joan or Alex, this is the best scenario for us."

Mir endured a frustrating title defence, failing to lead a race lap on his way to third overall behind Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) last season.

The young Spaniard made clear Suzuki had lagged behind its rivals in terms of technical development last year, but has been impressed by the factory's response in winter testing.

Rins only managed a single podium last year due to a series of race mistakes but was the quickest Suzuki rider at the Sepang test, in fourth.

Sahara said he has no fixed timetable in mind to conclude contract talks with his riders but, "probably, theoretically maybe… before summer. July, August."

The Japanese also reiterated that Suzuki would like to have a satellite MotoGP team in future, "to educate young riders and have more information from more bikes."

However, it depends on "company policy" and finding "the correct team to make a collaboration with us. Some good teams already have relationships with other manufacturers so maybe we have to wait. But I myself am very keen to have a satellite team."

The last two Covid complicated seasons have seen Sahara's presence at the race track swing from one extreme to another. He's now hoping a relaxation of worldwide Covid restrictions will allow him to find a better balance.

"In 2020 we won the championship but I only attended one race. I thought that everything was going well in the team, but at some point I missed information during the year," he said.

"Then last year, 2021, because of the team structure [manager]thing, I attended all the races but missed out on being in the factory to control the development.

"I have some good colleagues to control the development, but even with these good colleagues it's different from direct control. The Covid situation makes this difficult, so I really hope it becomes more normal very soon."