Official statement – Suzuki confirms intention to withdraw from MotoGP

Suzuki out of MotoGP

The Jerez MotoGP Test also spawned a new wave of rumors suggesting Suzuki is expected to withdraw from MotoGP Racing at the end of this season. An obvious decision was made strictly for financial reasons by the senior managers at Hamamatsu. These rumors were officially confirmed by this statement released on Thursday night.

Suzuki’s Statement

Suzuki Motor Corporation is in discussions with Dorna about the possibility of ending participation in MotoGP at the end of 2022.

Unfortunately, the current economic situation and the need to focus all of its efforts on the major changes facing the Automotive world during these years are forcing Suzuki to shift costs and human resources to develop the industry. new technology.

We would like to extend our deepest thanks to our Suzuki Ecstar Team, to everyone who has supported Suzuki’s motorsport activities over the years, and to all the Suzuki fans who have supported us. enthusiasm for us.

It was Golden Week in Japan, a set of four national holidays within seven days, is one of the major Japanese public holidays, so it may have been a strange timing for this news to come out but it seems to be. truth. This could be the Japanese version of bad news coverage at the end of a Friday afternoon scenario…

Just a few weeks ago Suzuki celebrated their 500th podium in the Grand Prix Motor Racing.

In 2020, Suzuki Motor Corporation marks its 100th anniversary and 60 years in racing, the same year that Joan Mir dominated the first division and won the MotoGP crown. And now, two years later, another pivotal moment is recorded in Suzuki’s history books.

The story begins on June 4, 1962 when Ernst Degner stepped onto the brand’s first podium, riding an RM62 in the 50cc class at the Isle of Man (it was a World Championship final at the time).

Just three years later, the Hamamatsu factory hit 100 podiums in Finland with Hugh Anderson and, fittingly, the 200th podium was taken over by a Finn; Teuvo ‘Tepi’ Lansivuori 1975.

Over the next decade, Italy’s Marco Lucchinelli hit the 300 mark, and in 1993 it was Kevin Schwantz who claimed Suzuki’s 400th podium.

Suzuki Wins & Podium

Amid these milestones, some very talented drivers and champions have been added to the count; people like Barry Sheene, Randy Mamola, Kenny Roberts Jnr and our very own Daryl Beattie and Chris Vermeulen.

Suzuki’s most successful tier in terms of podiums is 500cc / MotoGP, totaling 316, and the racer with the most podiums for the brand is Kevin Schwantz – the American who has won 51 outstanding titles on the RGV500.

Schwantz was in Austin to see Alex Rins step onto the 500th podium, and he was joined by other Suzuki podiums; Randy Mamola, Maverick Viñales, Franco Uncini and John Hopkins as they toasted together Team Suzuki Ecstar.

In recent years, Joan Mir and Alex Rins have become the star performers for Suzuki on their GSX-RR machines, taking a total of 28 podiums between them.

Suzuki racer with the most wins

Suzuki racer wins the most podiums

Suzuki’s Milestones