The world champions in teams and racers of 2020 have been hunting for the manager of the team since David Brivio, who has run the Japanese brand since 2013, left to join Alpine as a racing director in Formula One.

In connection with the release of Brivio on the eve of the 2021 season, Suzuki has chosen to form a steering committee of seven high-ranking members of the team, headed by project leader Sinichi Sahara.

But dissatisfaction with Suzuki grew as no one filled Brivio’s void, and late last year Sahara admitted that the new role proved too significant for him.

Suzuki was hit last week when Alpine announced a new role at Brivio, stopping hopes of returning to Suzuki for the Italian – and earlier this month the company revealed that finding a new team leader is taking longer than expected.

Supo was the team boss at Ducati when Casey Stoner won the title in 2007, and in 2010 he moved to Honda – first as director of marketing and communications – where he became head of the team in 2013.

He left the role at the end of 2017, when Alberta Puch joined Honda.

Supo’s name has been associated with the vacant team boss position at Suzuki for some time, and the brand confirms his appointment on Wednesday.

Motorsport.com understands Suzuki’s main goal – to take on the role of team manager before Supo was a former racer and current RNF race Head of Yamaha Wilka Zelenberg.

However, Zeelenberg – after the rebranding of Petronas SRT in 2022 – will remain in RNF Racing in 2022.

Suzuki has endured a difficult 2021 season with the 2020 world champion Jeanne Mir due to lack of development with the GSX-RR was able to take only six podiums and take third place in the standings.

But the Japanese brand seems to have taken a step forward with its motorcycle in 2022 after a strong phase of pre-season trials in Malaysia and Indonesia in February.

The world was forced to miss the last day of testing in Indonesia due to illness, but believes it did not hurt his preparations for the start of a new campaign.

The world champions in teams and racers of 2020 have been hunting for the manager of the team since David Brivio, who has run the Japanese brand since 2013, left to join Alpine as a racing director in Formula One.

In connection with the release of Brivio on the eve of the 2021 season, Suzuki has chosen to form a steering committee of seven high-ranking members of the team, headed by project leader Sinichi Sahara.

But dissatisfaction with Suzuki grew as no one filled Brivio’s void, and late last year Sahara admitted that the new role proved too significant for him.

Suzuki was hit last week when Alpine announced a new role at Brivio, stopping hopes of returning to Suzuki for the Italian – and earlier this month the company revealed that finding a new team leader is taking longer than expected.

Supo was the team boss at Ducati when Casey Stoner won the title in 2007, and in 2010 he moved to Honda – first as director of marketing and communications – where he became head of the team in 2013.

He left the role at the end of 2017, when Alberta Puch joined Honda.

Supo’s name has been associated with the vacant team boss position at Suzuki for some time, and the brand confirms his appointment on Wednesday.

Motorsport.com understands Suzuki’s main goal – to take on the role of team manager before Supo was a former racer and current RNF race Head of Yamaha Wilka Zelenberg.

However, Zeelenberg – after the rebranding of Petronas SRT in 2022 – will remain in RNF Racing in 2022.

Suzuki has endured a difficult 2021 season with the 2020 world champion Jeanne Mir due to lack of development with the GSX-RR was able to take only six podiums and take third place in the standings.

But the Japanese brand seems to have taken a step forward with its motorcycle in 2022 after a strong phase of pre-season trials in Malaysia and Indonesia in February.

The world was forced to miss the last day of testing in Indonesia due to illness, but believes it did not hurt his preparations for the start of a new campaign.