032016 proved to be a stellar year for Team SUZUKI ECSTAR, with both riders battling with the other factory riders for the podium places and the team finally securing that all-important win.This year marked the second full season for Suzuki’s return to MotoGP and in many ways, it was a season of two halves for the team: One where young Maverick Viñales took the fight to the other Japanese factories with ruthless consistency, while Aleix Espargaró took longer to adapt to the new Michelin tyres and ECU and also had to recover from a series of mid-season DNFs. The aim for 2016 was to continue the progress made in 2015, where the team scored 137 points with Aleix in 11th place with 105 points and Maverick just behind in 12th with 97 points and the ‘Rookie of the Year’ title. At the start of the season, team boss Davide Brivio was optimistic for the season ahead. He explained: “There is a lot of difference for 2016 compared to 2015 as this is an era of evolution for us with the team and the bike. We feel confident having Aleix with big experience in MotoGP and with Maverick moving from a rookie to have more experience to help him step-up: For 2016 we want to be closer to the factory teams.”And they were very close. Much closer than many experienced race watchers expected them to be. Viñales seemed to have the jump on his more-experienced compatriot at the start of the season during qualifying; which translated into final results. A sixth at the season opener in Qatar was followed by a fabulous fourth in Austin, Texas before he finally managed to get his first podium-placing at Le Mans, France. Further solid qualifying performances were backed-up with yet more top-10 and top-six finishes before the MotoGP circus arrived at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix at the beginning of September.ALEIX ESPARGARÓSeason Review #2I’M PROUD OF HAVING BEEN A PART OF THE HISTORY THAT WE’VE WRITTEN WITH THIS TEAM FOR SUZUKI; THE WHOLE TEAM WAS AMAZING AND WE REALLY CREATED A FAMILY.”
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