Loris Capirossi expects Suzuki development to suffer in 2011

Loris Capirossi reckons Suzuki will slip even further behind successful rivals Honda, Yamaha and Ducati by cutting its involvement in MotoGP next season to just one bike.

The Japanese factory will reduce its entry to just one factory GSV-R bike in 2011 despite coming intense pressure from Dorna and the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association to maintain its two-rider participation.

Capirossi said the impact on development by ditching one bike and leaving Alvaro Bautista as the lone entry would be hugely detrimental.

Suzuki has only won one race in the 800cc era when Aussie Chris Vermeulen won a rain-hit French Grand Prix at Le Mans. And a GSV-R hasn’t finished on the podium since the Brno clash way back in August, 2008.

The triple world champion told MCN: “It will be tough for Suzuki next year with just one bike. When you have two riders you can always try something different. Our competitors have four or six bikes on the track and you can learn from everybody.

“In our case it was hard enough with two bikes but now it will be even more difficult. Alvaro will have one year of experience but he’s always checking my data and always trying to set the bike like me but next year he is alone and it won’t be easy.”

Capirossi will partner Frenchman Randy de Puniet in the Pramac Ducati squad in 2011.