At the start of the upcoming Dakar, Livio Suppo, a well-known figure in MotoGP and a historic team manager for Ducati, Honda and briefly Suzuki, shared his thoughts on his first year as a consultant for Italtrans, a Moto2 team. Suppo, who returns to the paddock at the start of 2024, reflected on the challenges and growth of the team and riders.

He expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress, noting that the start of the season was difficult. “Moreira has rightly taken his path to growth because Moto2 is a very different category to Moto3,” said Suppo. “Even strong rookies need some time.” He also praised Foggia’s unexpected performance in Austin, but acknowledged his struggles throughout the rest of the season. In response, the team made the decision to bring in Huertas mid-season, who showed his potential by winning the rookie of the year title, despite missing two races due to surgery.

Suppo praised Huertas’ transition from Supersport to Moto2, highlighting his comfort on the bike during testing in Jerez. “For a rider with three years’ experience on bikes more similar to Moto2, like the Supersport, it’s easier than the other rookies,” said Suppo. He added that Huertas’ success is not only due to his previous experience, but also to his talent and desire to prove himself.

Discussing his decision to focus on a Supersport rider, Suppo explained that while there is often a prejudice against riders in that category, Huertas’ story was different. “As a youngster, he tried to do the Rookies Cup but his family couldn’t afford it,” he said. “He won Supersport 300 in his second year and then moved up to Supersport, where he won the World Championship this year. It’s clear that he has something special.”

Looking ahead to the 2025 Moto2 season, Suppo remains optimistic but cautious. “It’s too early to set targets, but we are satisfied with the development of the new chassis,” he said. “We are confident that both our riders will be fast. The competition will be tough, but I am calm because the team is working very well.”

As for Foggia’s struggles in Moto2, Suppo admitted that while Foggia has proven himself in Moto3, the adaptation to the bigger Moto2 class has been difficult for him. “He has talent for Moto3, there’s no doubt about that,” said Suppo, but he hopes Foggia will regain his form by returning to Moto3 with a strong team.

As for Marc Marquez’s move to Ducati, Suppo was cautious about expectations. “I don’t think he will dominate the championship like he did in 2014,” he said. “He will certainly be a protagonist, but it won’t be easy, especially with riders like Pecco who, despite not winning the title, won 11 GPs this year.” Suppo considers the official Ducati team to be strong, but believes competition with the other teams will be fierce, given that Ducati has gone from having eight bikes to six.

Asked about the coexistence of Marquez and Bagnaia, Suppo noted that managing two champions in one team could be a challenge. “They are both very strong riders,” he said. “It will depend on how the team manages the balance between them.”
On the future of Aprilia and Honda, Suppo highlighted the challenges facing both manufacturers. While he is hopeful for Aprilia, especially with the potential of riders like Martin and Bezzecchi, he acknowledged that Honda is in a difficult situation due to past decisions. “They have made decisions in the past that pay off in the end,” he said, hinting that Honda’s future could depend on re-evaluating its approach.