Suzuki Quitting MotoGP

Only two years ago Suzuki celebrated winning the world title with Joan Mir. Then came the pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, and most recently the conflict in Ukraine; all together, this brought the Japanese manufacturer to decide to leave the MotoGP championship at the end of this season.

The sudden, shocking news took everyone by surprise last Monday at Jerez during the MotoGP test. At 18:00 project leader Shinichi Sahara gathered the riders, mechanics, engineers, and Livio Suppo, the team manager hired to a two-year contract just this March, and delivered the announcement.

This was a huge communication mistake. In just a few hours, multiple voices had spread panic throughout the paddock, with many members of the crew knocking at other teams’ doors, riders included.

Not even the number one guy in Dorna, Mr. Carmelo Ezpeleta, was aware of the decision, which represents Suzuki’s second withdrawal from MotoGP in 10 years; the team suspended its involvement from 2012–2014 due to the financial crisis. With the official announcement still pending, Ezpeleta warned Suzuki that “the conditions of their contract do not allow for them to make this decision unilaterally.”

Once again, the reasons are assumed to be financial. Despite the president’s disagreement, the board took the decision, although Suzuki signed a contract with Dorna just last year to remain in MotoGP until 2026.

But is it more expensive to continue or to stop the MotoGP program? Carlo Pernat, former Aprilia Racing Team principal and Enea Bastianini’s current manager, provides some insight: “According to the new agreement, each manufacturer receives 3 million euros from Dorna per season; a satellite team receives 5 million to line up two riders. This amount returns to the manufacturer to pay for the bikes. I don’t know exactly how much the penalty is for a team or manufacturer to break the contract with Dorna, but I assume around 10 million.”

With Suzuki set for a MotoGP exit at the end of 2022, Álex Rins will be on the market. According to paddock radio, 2020 MotoGP Champion Joan Mir could become Marc Márquez’s teammate, replacing Pol Espargaró, but what about Rins? That info has been refuted by several insiders, but Aprilia could also be an interesting option considering the fantastic results it is scoring this season.

Another possibility would see the existing Suzuki race team “reborn” and continue in revised form, using machinery from another manufacturer. In this case, the crew as well as the riders could continue.

On the other side, several independent teams have knocked on Carmelo’s doors to occupy the slot currently occupied by Suzuki. Among the contenders: the Leopard team, which has won several Moto3 titles; GasGas, a KTM brand, could eventually join; or Aprilia or KTM might be interested in supporting one of these teams, in effect having a satellite team, which would be an immense advantage in development of their bikes.

In its long world championship adventure, Suzuki can boast three withdrawals and seven titles in the premier class. The first win in the 500cc dates back to 1975, with the legendary Barry Sheene, who won titles in 1976 and 1977. Then it was the Italian cycle, with Marco Lucchinelli (1981) and Franco Uncini (1982). The following year came shocking news: Suzuki retired while reigning champion. It came back only four years later, but winning another world title in the premier class would have to wait until the arrival of the brilliant American Kevin Schwantz in 1993. Another magnificent American, Kenny Roberts Jr., won for the Hamamatsu-based manufacturer in 2000. Then came the most recent hiatus, the return in 2015, and finally the triumph of the GXX-RR in 2020 with Mir.

What next?