After news broke regarding Suzuki’s withdrawal from MotoGP as of 2023, it wasn't long before the Leopard Racing team was being mentioned. As if a replacement package was already ready and waiting, and yet that’s not the case. Team principal Miodrag Kotur confirms this, explaining: “The rumour’s gone around for a while, but it hasn’t come from us.”

But the connection between teams was soon made.

“The Suzuki news came as a surprise to us, as it did to everyone. Even Dorna, because they’d just signed a long-term contract and now this announcement, after less than a year. As for us, we haven’t discussed it internally. For now, it’s not in our plans and I think that if a constructor withdraws, Dorna will do all it can to find another, rather than find a satellite team.”

There is also talk of a privateer Aprilia team.

"This is what the manufacturer wants, but Ducati has three. It would be good if one of them went with Aprilia, but I don’t think that the place left by a constructor will be given to a satellite team. I highly doubt it.”

How important is it for you to enter MotoGP?

"It was at one time, but now all the teams have made agreements for five years, so perhaps we’ll talk again after that. We don’t know what will happen in MotoGP in the next five years. We’re not waiting for a team to leave before we try and enter, particularly considering that, if someone wants to enter, they need to know well ahead of time. You can’t prepare for next season in May or June. We’re focused on other things for now. We’ve acquired the Viterbo circuit in Italy and are concentrating on other projects.”

Translated by Heather Watson

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