MotoGP: Suzuki confident Loris Capirossi can deliver

Suzuki MotoGP boss Paul Denning is convinced that Loris Capirossi still has the hunger and motivation to be one of the world’s top riders after he quit Ducati in Brno last weekend.

The Italian will partner Chris Vermeulen in 2008, and Denning admitted he has no concerns that Capirossi’s days as one of the world’s best are numbered, despite the 34-year-old being outclassed by Casey Stoner this season.

“For us there is no doubting the ability and the experience and the will to win for Loris. The key point was to establish the motivation and it took five minutes of the first meeting to establish he still had it. He’s as hungry or more so to do well than ever before. His attitude when we first discussed was angry. Not angry at anyone but angry with his results and an anger that he wants to turn into a positive and move forward, “said Denning, who only began negotiations with the triple world champion in Assen when American John Hopkins made the shock move to Japanese rivals Kawasaki.

Suzuki beat off Kawasaki to Capirossi’s signature and Denning said it was testament to the progress of the GSV-R that had helped lure the Marlboro Ducati rider, whose own place had already gone to compatriot Marco Melandri.

“Suzuki spoke seriously to Loris at the end of ’05 and we couldn’t make things happen then, but I think he’s seen the project was sold to him at that point be delivered in full in 2006 and ’07 and more. I guess he’s got something quite tangible that he can believe in.

“At the stage of his career its probably instinct and gut feeling in terms of where he genuinely feels he can challenge to win races and put together a world championship over the next year or two. I think undoubtedly if we were struggling for pace and results it wouldn’t be an attractive situation. He was always very enthusiastic and he seemed confident from the start that he wanted to go, “added Denning, who confirmed Capirossi would make his GSV-R debut in a test after the final race in Valencia.