MotoGP: Series bosses want Rea in at Suzuki

Sunday’s race at the San Marino Grand Prix saw yet another embarrassing weekend’s performance for Andrea Iannone on the factory Suzuki machine, spending most of the weekend on the bottom half of the time sheets before finally retiring out of Sunday’s race with arm pump, putting the muscle pain down to a too-tight rain jacket worn over his leathers.

And with both factory and series bosses frustrated with the performance of the 2016 race winner so far this year, rumours continue to circulate the paddock that series bosses Dorna are making a concerted bid to lure reigning World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea onto the machine despite his Kawasaki contract.

The proposed deal could potentially kill two birds with one stone for Dorna, too, by both making Suzuki more competitive in MotoGP and ending Rea’s domination of WSB and potentially brining the championship closer together again.

However, the sticking point in any potential deal seems to be Suzuki, with the Japanese manufacturer so far unwilling to break a two-year contract with Iannone mid-season. That might be changing slowly, however, as they continue to lose face as the poor results continue.

The rumours haven’t been helped by the addition of a new test rider to the Suzuki stable, with MCE British Superbike racer and Suzuki MotoGP replacement rider earlier this season Sylvain Guintoli taking to the track at the team’s post-race Misano test to try and get development moving forwards again.