Laverty on Suzuki’s title chances
As Joan Mir takes his third podium of the season, Michael Laverty says Suzuki can get back on the pace
1 Qualifying troubles
Try as they might, Suzuki have been unable to address their qualifying issues; identified as the major weakness from their title-winning 2020 season, a concerted effort went in to rectifying the problem with various solutions tried and tested. The fact remains that with a low fuel load and a fresh set of soft tyres rival manufacturers can eke out more performance from their package in time attack mode. Suzuki literally gain one or two tenths which is more likely to be the result of rider effort than machine performance gain.
2 Quickoff themark
Suzuki are the only machine on the grid without a rear lowering device for starts. Relying solely on their front lowering device and an impressive electronic launch strategy the Suzuki guys can comfortably jump one row off the grid. Both Suzuki riders can attack with confidence in the first few corners, meaning they can activate the tyres quickly, bringing them into their optimum temperature range immediately. This can be from a combination of heating methods to maintain heat in the wheel that will transfer to the rubber in the unwrapped minutes prior to the warm up lap.
3 Riders call for newtech
Joan Mir is calling for Suzuki to deliver the rear ride height device during the break, feeling that they are losing up to 0.3sec per lap on the straights due to not having the upgrade. Lowering the machine during the acceleration phase helps load the tyre and minimise wheelspin when trying to transfer all that bhp through the rear tyre. It also decreases the frontal area, and can also adjust the angle of the wings to reduce drag. The device would then be used during the race start and could improve the Suzuki’s speed from 0-100kph.
4 Sunday man and machine
Joan’s race craft, combined with the Suzuki’s ability to manage tyre consumption means that consistent results are almost a given. They are an incredibly strong package, but with three third-place finishes so far in 2020 being the highlight, they aren’t quite as strong as they need to be with an improved Yamaha package under Fabio Quartararo. Joan has the ability to claw back some major points in the two Austria races following the summer break. Despite running an in-line four engine similar to Yamaha, Suzuki’s chameleon-like ability to run fast lap times whilst adopting a V4 point and squirt riding style lends itself well to the Styrian circuit layout.
5 Guintoli is key to new ride height device
Suzuki have worked test rider Sylvain Guintoli hard during the past month. A lot of work is on-going with the 2022 prototype, but also evaluation of parts that can assist in Mir’s challenge to retain his title this season. Guintoli spent the recent Misano test working to refine the anti-wheelie strategies to maximise acceleration. With the anticipated arrival of a rear ride height device after the summer break maybe Guintoli was working on new parameters for the lower machine; the anti-wheelie strategies reduce the output torque based on the inputs from the inertia platform and the front suspension position, both of which will provide different numbers with a lower centre of gravity courtesy of the ride height device.
6 Racing by committee
Despite losing team manager Davide Brivio for the 2021 season the Hamamatsu factory have closed ranks, choosing to work with their current staff rather than bringing in an outsider who may upset the order. Shinichi Sahara who has taken over the reins seems to be taking the man management side of his new role in his stride despite a predominantly technical background. He has created a ‘management committee’ within the team, taking advice from key personnel on important decisions facing the squad.