RiderTua.com – In 2019, Davide Brivio paved the way for Joan Mir to enter MotoGP with Suzuki. A year later, the Italian team manager successfully brought Mir to celebrate the MotoGP world title in 2020. However, after that victory, Brivio decided to leave Suzuki to accept a new challenge as one of the directors of the Alpine team in Formula 1.
This season, Brivio, who also won the MotoGP title as team manager for Valentino Rossi at Yamaha, returns to the MotoGP paddock as Aprilia Trackhouse team manager.
Joan Mir: Alberto Puig and Davide Brivio have similarities but also differences
After Suzuki withdrew from MotoGP at the end of 2022, Joan Mir switched to Repsol Honda and placed himself under the guidance of team manager and former rider Alberto Puig.
When asked what do these two aging managers have in common? Mir explained, “One thing is that they always talk to the drivers, they always try to be very close to the drivers. Maybe Alberto has more respect in that regard.”
“In the past, Brivio showed that his leadership at Suzuki was very good. He built the team from scratch. And this is something very difficult. They (Puig and Brivio) have some differences but regarding how they treat me, or how they approach the relationship with the riders, they are very similar,” added the 26 year old rider.
Joan Mir is now accompanied by Marc Marquez’s former crew chief, Santi Hernandez, for his second season at Honda. Meanwhile, Brivio will work with Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez during his debut year working at Trackhouse Racing.
Before Mir, Brivio’s HR (human resources) skills and talent in helping Suzuki won praise from Maverick Vinales and Alex Rins. Aleix Espargaro, who managed to win three races for Aprilia, is also another of Brivio’s Suzuki signings, although Andrea Iannone’s offer from Ducati proved disappointing.
But with most MotoGP riders’ contracts expiring in 2025, could Brivio make a big signing for the rich and ambitious Trackhouse team? Maybe by reuniting with one of his former riders?
