Suzuki delighted with Alvaro Bautista capture

Suzuki boss Paul Denning has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of Alvaro Bautista riding a factory GSV-R machine in 2010.

Suzuki signed the 24-year-old on a two-year deal during last weekend’s Czech Republic with Bautista replacing Aussie Chris Vermeulen.

And Denning said the decision was taken to bring Bautista in as Loris Capirossi’s team-mate was to bring a fresh approach to Suzuki’s factory team. The Japanese factory hasn’t won a race since 2007 and as yet this year’s GSV-R hasn’t scored a podium finish, despite a hugely promising pre-season campaign.

Denning told MCN: “The feeling is we need to look at the future and something fresh. Simply looking at the stats and the data of the last few years if you look at Casey (Stoner), Dani (Pedrosa), Valentino (Rossi) and Jorge (Lorenzo) and their history of being champion or very close to champion in 125 and 250s, that seems to bring an immediate level to the 800s.

“I think it would be silly of us to second guess it and think we could find a better path. He’s quick and he seems to have a great character and I think he will match our team very well. As an outsider looking in as well, it seems that no matter how tough of a weekend he has he is always there on Sunday.”