Wayne Gardner dismisses Suzuki podium aspirations

Suzuki has got no chance of ending its long search for a podium in the 2011 MotoGP world championship, according to Wayne Gardner.

The Japanese factory hasn’t scored a top three finish since Loris Capirossi took third place in the Brno race back in 2008.

And now that Suzuki has slashed its involvement in MotoGP to just one factory GSV-R because of the global financial crisis, Aussie legend Gardner reckons there’s no hope of Alvaro Bautista ending the podium drought this season.

The 1987 world 500cc champion told MCN: “They’ve got no hope. The development of that bike with one rider is going to be impossible. You need a minimum of two and maybe more.

“I would think their attempt this year will be a half arsed one and it is just a case of staying on the grid and seeing what happens. Hopefully we won’t lose them but I can’t see them getting any decent results.”

Bautista finished his pre-season preparations in Qatar earlier this week with the 12thbest time.