MotoGP: Suzuki uncover 2017 machine ahead of Sepang test

The ECSTAR Suzuki team of Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins have pulled the covers off their 2017 MotoGP machine at the Sepang International Circuit ahead of tomorrow’s first day of testing action at the Malaysian circuit.

Running a largely unchanged livery from last year’s, team boss Davide Brivio says that despite a bike that looks similar there’s a lot of work to be done by the team.

“The 2017 season will be important for us because it is already the third consecutive season since returning to MotoGP. We are no longer rookies so we must try to get closer to the other rivals. In addition, we have as a great incentive two new riders. I think Andrea Iannone is mature and is ready to achieve great goals if we are able to give him a good package with the bike.

“And in the other side of the garage Alex Rins, with whom we started a new adventure, a young driver with great talent and we will try to guide him to the top of MotoGP. This is why we are looking at an interesting season, but we know it will be difficult because all the teams have been very strong. It looks like 2017 will be a crucial year for everyone for different reasons, so we will face a very strong group of opponents.

“But we want to be with them, we want to try to be in the fight and get closer to the top, so we must try with Andrea at the first moment and, once he gains experience, I think Alex will be in a position to do so.”

His sentiments were echoed by project leader Saturo Terada, who says that the team are even more fired up after last year’s successes with the GSX-RR project.

“This season is going our third season after coming back to MotoGP and we have so many expectations for that. We worked really hard to improve and develop the bike during last two years and we could see the results coming out throughout 2016, so we feel happy checking out the direction we took was the correct one. Now we are pretty focused on 2017 and with the same hunger.

“We think we’ve got a really good GSX-RR base for the coming season and we have to still improve in some areas like electronics, but overall we are satisfied. We are keen to see how our performance is at this very first test of 2017 in Sepang and compare with our rivals where we are. Furthermore, I would like to welcome our new riders Andrea and Alex to the team. Hopefully together we will do a nice job!”