Official: Suzuki withdraws from MotoGP

What’s been rumoured as 99% certain all week has now been officially confirmed by Suzuki, the company will not compete in the 2012 MotoGP world championship and “temporarily suspend its participation”. Below is the complete press release.



Suzuki Motor Corporation has decided to suspend temporarily its participation in FIM Road Racing Grand Prix MotoGP from 2012.

Suzuki last won the premier-class title with Kenny Roberts in 2000, but has taken just one win - with Chris Vermeulen at a wet Le Mans in 2007 - during the four-stroke era. The team's most recent podium appearance was at Brno in 2008.

Suzuki's MotoGP exit follows that of Kawasaki (2009) and Aprilia (2004). It leaves Honda, Ducati and Yamaha as the only remaining factory manufacturers and underlines just how vital the new class of privateer 'Claiming Rule Teams' (CRTs) are to the future of the sport.

This suspension is to cope with tough circumstances mainly caused by the prolonged recession in developed countries, a historical appreciation of Japanese Yen and repeated natural disasters.

Having an eye to returning to MotoGP in 2014, Suzuki will now focus on developing a competitive new racing machine for that class.

Suzuki will continue motocross racing activity and support of road racing activities using mass-produced motorcycles, by obtaining FIM homologation and co-operation with the supplier of its development racing kit parts