MotoGP, Suppo: "We dreamt of a Stoner-Marquez dream team in Honda"

Today he's a consultant for Italtrans, a team in the Moto2. But Livio Suppo has had a first-rate career at the helm of MotoGP teams such as Ducati, Honda, and Suzuki. In the minds of many, he's closely linked to HRC, at a time when they won and knew how to make a difference, unlike today.

Rewinding back to those years, the Livio recalled how the first task he was given by Shuhei Nakamoto was to hire a rider. "When I joined the Japanese team, I was asked to bring Stoner. At the time, the brand wasn't in bad shape, but they had only won one title with Nicky Hayden. They wanted to start winning again, and that's what happened with Casey and later, several times, with Marquez," he exclusively revealed to Revelo.

On the subject of the two champions, having worked with both of them, but at different times, the 60-year-old fomer manager got to know and appreciate them up close: "They had two different characters, but they were both talented and had a constant desire to give it their all. When you have riders like these, if you're passionate about motorcycles, it's a pleasure."

And then came the unexpected confession. "Our goal was to have both of them and create a dream team," he said, as he hinted to how the team was ready to give up Pedrosa. "But Dani was very gifted and had a special sensitivity. If you think about his physique, and how heavy these bikes are, you understand how difficult what he was able to do was. If he failed to win a World Championship, it's just because he missed some opportunities, otherwise, he had a wonderful career and was able to create a very large following for himself, precisely because people understood how complicated it was for him. I think he should be proud of himself and what he achieved."

Livio continued, looking back at the past,  revealing more about his approach his profession: "I've tried to separate my profession from personal relationships. Today I'm friends with Capirossi and I talk often with Daniel, but the rider I was closest to was Hayden."

Finally, he spoke about the best and worst moments experienced in the top class: "The championship won with Ducati after five seasons, and Simoncelli's death in Sepang 2011."