Suzuki could regain lost technical concessions for 2018

Suzuki will regain the technical concessions it lost at the start of this MotoGP season if it fails to score a podium finish in this weekend’s Valencia finale.

MotoGP operates a system of technical concessions to allow the category’s newer manufacturers to catch up to the established front-running teams, which include the right to carry out unlimited in-season testing and engine development.

Currently, only Aprilia and KTM are entitled to these, with Suzuki having lost its concessions last season as a result of Maverick Vinales’ Silverstone victory and three other podium finishes.

However, the rules state that a manufacturer that fails to score any concession points – which are awarded for top-three finishes – in a given season will regain any concessions it has previously lost.

Neither Andrea Iannone nor Alex Rins have finished in the top three this year, and should they fail to do so in Valencia, Suzuki could be in line for a major performance boost next season.

Being able to change the engine specification mid-season would prevent a repeat of a troubled 2017 campaign that was badly compromised by Iannone’s choice of configuration in pre-season testing.

Other benefits include being able to use more engines throughout the season (nine instead of seven) and being able to lodge as many as six wildcard entries across the course of the year, double the allocation of the top teams.

Sylvain Guintoli, who turned down the chance to race full-time in World Superbike with the Puccetti Kawasaki team next year, could take advantage of this to make a number of race appearances on a third GSX-RR next year alongside regular testing duties.

Translation by Irene Aneas