Suzuki: Cutting Costs is Fundamental

Suzuki has called out for a serious rethink of the MotoGP technical rules in order to save the sport from going bankrupt in the near future. Following the withdrawal of Kawasaki from the series earlier this month, all MotoGP teams have looked into ways of reducing costs for the 2009 season in one way or another. The reduction of test mileage and practice sessions were only a few changes that are to be implemented this year.

However, the teams are scheduled to have a second meeting ahead of the season opener in Qatar, in which further cost saving proposals are to be discussed for the upcoming seasons. After Gresini Honda – through team owner Fausto Gresini – and Ducati, Suzuki is the 3rd team in the MotoGP paddock to publicly back FIM's new cost-cutting policy.

“There is a generic agreement that cutting costs is a fundamental requirement. It is not a wish, it is a fundamental requirement to safeguard the future of the championship. Some of the short term measures that have already been suggested are not going to be very effective, but they may be a minor help,” insisted Suzuki's boss Paul Denning in an interview for series' official site, stressing the need to find new ways to reducing costs in MotoGP.

“I think there need to be some fairly fundamental, sweeping changes, to take a decent percentage out of the costs, in order to make the decision making process easier for manufacturers and teams, for participation and making it more attractive to provide further bikes and expand the championship in the future. That has to be the ultimate target,” added Denning.

A couple of weeks ago, Ducati's boss Livio Suppo revealed the first measures agreed by the MotoGP teams for 2009. Among those, the reduction of testing and practice mileage, while also the necessity of building engines that are to last for at least 2 racing weekends. However, this last proposal is to be further discussed by the teams, as they have already developed the power plants for 2009.