Photo: Eugene Laverty
According to gp-inside, Eugene Laverty destroyed the Suzuki XRH-1 MotoGP machine in the first turn at the Phillip Island, definitely not the best debut for a possible career in the premier class in 2015, when the house of Hamamatsu plans to return to the grid as a factory entry.
Few days ago we reported that World Superbike rider Eugene Laverty was invited by the Suzuki MotoGP team at Okayamain Japan and in Australia at Phillip Island for a test ride aboard the XRH-1 prototype. Paddock rumors indicated that the test in Oz might be a kind of shakedown between Eugene Laverty and Suzuki’s test rider Randy De Puniet, and it could help Suzuki choose one of its 2015 contracted riders.
Apparently, the crash occurred in Turn 1, after Laverty put in 5 laps around the wet circuit, and the Suzuki machine is reportedly pretty mauled. The rider made it unharmed, so there’s a good side to this story, after all.
Now, in case the tests at Phillip Island were indeed meant to provide Suzuki with at least basic info as to which of the two riders may be the better choice for a full-time contract in 2015… things could get funny, to say the least. However, as we know Suzuki and Davide Brivio, the team will take in consideration a ton of other factors before reaching a decent result and being able to make an official decision as far as the factory riders are concerned.
Suzuki is currently looking for the best riders it can afford, and is eyeing pretty much every name on the grid, save for those top-riders whose paychecks are obviously way too big. Asked whether he would ride a Suzuki in 2015, Dani Pedrosa allegedly demanded 8 million euro ($10.92 mil) and Suzuki officials commented that such money is out of their league. Andrea Iannone, currently riding a Pramac Ducati bike could also be one of Suzuki’s options, in case Carlo Pernat’s “scoop” was more than smoke and mirrors.
However, with one third of the season gone and the summer break drawing near, we can expect that more news emerges from the Hamamatsu team soon.
Apparently, the crash occurred in Turn 1, after Laverty put in 5 laps around the wet circuit, and the Suzuki machine is reportedly pretty mauled. The rider made it unharmed, so there’s a good side to this story, after all.
Now, in case the tests at Phillip Island were indeed meant to provide Suzuki with at least basic info as to which of the two riders may be the better choice for a full-time contract in 2015… things could get funny, to say the least. However, as we know Suzuki and Davide Brivio, the team will take in consideration a ton of other factors before reaching a decent result and being able to make an official decision as far as the factory riders are concerned.
Suzuki is currently looking for the best riders it can afford, and is eyeing pretty much every name on the grid, save for those top-riders whose paychecks are obviously way too big. Asked whether he would ride a Suzuki in 2015, Dani Pedrosa allegedly demanded 8 million euro ($10.92 mil) and Suzuki officials commented that such money is out of their league. Andrea Iannone, currently riding a Pramac Ducati bike could also be one of Suzuki’s options, in case Carlo Pernat’s “scoop” was more than smoke and mirrors.
However, with one third of the season gone and the summer break drawing near, we can expect that more news emerges from the Hamamatsu team soon.
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