Livio Suppo: “Davies? He’d be a good solution for Aprilia”

The CAS didn’t believe in Andrea Iannone’s innocence and faced with a food contamination defence, it opted to disqualify the rider for four-years in line with a proposal from the WADA. A heavy blow for the Italian who has continued to claim his conscience is clear. And for Aprilia too, the manufacturer now having to complete its line-up when the grid is already almost complete. What would Livio Suppo do if he were in Aprilia?

Who would you put in place of Iannone?

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It’s not an easy situation and the experienced Italian manager has this to say: “It’s difficult now. I’d go with a young Moto2 rider, considering how talents like Binder and Oliveira have shown they can be fast despite limited experience”. Or perhaps it’s better to opt for a rider who already knows their way around powerful bikes: "The situation means you have to look around. Chaz Davies is still without a ride and is someone who has been able to give the very fast Jonathan Rea a run for his money from time to time. Sometimes it pays off to come at it from another angle”.

 

Davies between SBK and MotoGP

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The Welshman is currently on the market, having concluded a lengthy stint with Ducati, on the factory Superbike team. Having joked that he might work for Andrea Dovizioso, Chaz Davies was looking to stay in the production-derived series, but although his name has been closely linked to that of the Go Eleven team, we shouldn’t rule out a conversation that might take him to MotoGP, and another Italian manufacturer.

"A very heavy hand"

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In the meantime, and after honouring its rider during a track walk, Aprilia welcomed Iannone back to the garage in Spain, the Italian paying his team a visit over the race weekend. Suppo comments: “If someone unknowingly takes prohibited substances, then a one-season ban is already sufficient punishment. Clearly, the WADA didn’t believe this claim and they’ve come down very heavy. Four years is a lifetime for a sportsperson”.

Translated by Heather Watson

MotoGP, Rivola: “Aprilia could have done well with Dovizioso”