SUZUKI CONFIRMS INTENTIONS TO LEAVE MOTOGP

It’s official, the factory Suzuki MotoGP team has confirmed its intentions to exit the premier world championship at the end of the year.

The Japanese manufacturer has made an official statement in which it has said it is currently in conversations with Dorna about its MotoGP future.

When it was first reported Dorna stated that Suzuki could not simply pack up and leave as they had signed a five-year contract to remain in MotoGP until the end of 2026.

Suzuki has stated its intentions to depart are down to changes in the automotive industry that sees them want to move away from racing.

“Unfortunately, the current economic situation and the need to concentrate its effort on the big changes that the Automotive world is facing in these years, are forcing Suzuki to drastically decrease racing related costs and to use all its economical and human resources in developing new technologies,” the statement read.

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our Suzuki Ecstar Team, to all those who have supported Suzuki’s motorcycle racing activities for many years and to all Suzuki fans who have given us their enthusiastic support.”

Although a historic MotoGP team, Suzuki did briefly leave the sport in 2012, however returned full-time in 2015.

Since then, the team has gone from strength to strength, most notably Suzuki rider Joan Mir won the Riders’ Championship in 2020, ending a two-decade drought for the brand.

Both Mir and his teammate Alex Rins are both contenders for the title this year.

If Suzuki does depart at the end of 2022 as it plans it is sure to send the riders market into a frenzy with both Rins and Mir hot property.

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