Suzuki officially withdraws from MotoGP

by Steven Mostyn - Nov 18 2011, 09:59

Bad news for fans of MotoGP after it today emerged that stalwart Japanese racing team Suzuki has announced its decision to withdraw from the sport after 37 years of participation.

“Suzuki Motor Corporation has decided to suspend temporarily its participation in FIM Road Racing Grand Prix MotoGP from 2012,” the team said in an official statement.

“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,” it added.

Despite Suzuki’s withdrawl, the team has said it hopes to be back in action in time for the 2014 season and, in the meantime, will concentrate on developing “a competitive new racing machine for that class.”

Although something of a shock, the loss of Suzuki had been widely speculated prior to the announcement—not least because the team had not begun the usual round of bike testing ahead of the 2012 season.

In terms of impact, while Suzuki’s absence will surely be noticed throughout MotoGP, the team has not won a race since the French Grand Prix in 2007, and has not won a MotoGP Championship since 2000.

Suzuki will continue to support motocross and other road-racing activities that rely on mass-produced machines.

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