Eugene Laverty rubbishes Suzuki MotoGP link

Eugene Laverty has rubbished suggestions that his new World Superbike deal with Suzuki comes with a guarantee that he will switch to the Japanese factory’s MotoGP project in 2015.

The Irishman ended a turbulent few weeks surrounding his future when he inked a deal to join the British-based Crescent Suzuki effort earlier this week.

Laverty had been linked with Aspar and Pramac Ducati in MotoGP, and a third factory Aprilia RSV-4 in World Superbikes before accepting a late deal to partner newly crowned BSB champion Alex Lowes at Suzuki.

Laverty’s Suzuki switch in World Superbikes prompted speculation that his deal included an assurance that he would get the chance to move to Suzuki’s MotoGP team in 2015.

Suzuki is currently testing a new 1000cc project with the intention to return to MotoGP with a full factory two-rider effort.

And while it seems certain Laverty will test the MotoGP bike in 2014, there is nothing in place that means he will be on the new 1000cc project full-time in ’15.

Laverty told MCN: “I don’t know where that came from at all. The news was obviously leaked that I was talking with Suzuki but there is nothing on paper for the MotoGP seat because you can’t do that when it is not 100% guaranteed that they are coming back in 2015. It looks very likely and honestly a big attraction with the Suzuki option is to try and put a foot in the door and go MotoGP. That’s why I am looking there. The question is whether I can go to Suzuki and be competitive because it is a long time since they won a race. It is a big task but I’ve got to go somewhere.”