Suzuki MotoGP

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Suzuki MotoGP
Suzuki Motogp.jpg
2022 nameTeam Suzuki Ecstar
Base Hamamatsu, Japan
Cambiago, Milan, Italy
Riders' Championships5
1976, 1977 - Barry Sheene
1993 - Kevin Schwantz
2000 - Kenny Roberts Jr.
2020 - Joan Mir
Teams' Championships1
2020

Suzuki MotoGP was the factory-backed team of Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Suzuki in the MotoGP World Championship, most recently using the name Team Suzuki Ecstar for sponsorship purposes. Suzuki withdrew from MotoGP competition at the conclusion of the 2022 season, winning their final race with Álex Rins. [1]

Contents

History

1970s

In 1971, Grand Prix racer Jack Findlay and his business partner Daniele Fontana constructed a racing motorcycle using a Suzuki T series engine with a chassis of their own design. [2] Findlay rode the motorcycle to victory in the 1971 Ulster Grand Prix marking the first victory for a Suzuki motorcycle in the premier 500cc class, as well as the first-ever 500cc class victory for a motorcycle powered by a two stroke engine. [2] [3]

Suzuki first entered a works team in the 500cc Grand Prix World Championship in 1974 with riders Barry Sheene and Findlay riding the Suzuki RG500. [4] The motorcycle was designed by Makoto Hase using the proven square-four, two stroke engine architecture that Suzuki had developed during their successful Grand Prix racing program in the 1960s. [5] The RG 500 was proven successful in its first race at the 1974 500cc French Grand Prix when, Barry Sheene finished in second place behind the defending world champion, Phil Read. The team's first victory came in 1975, a pole-to-finish win by Barry Sheene at the Dutch TT. Sheene finished the season 6th overall with two wins.

Having developed the RG500, Suzuki ceded direct control of their Grand Prix racing program to their British importer, Suzuki GB in 1976 so that, they could concentrate on developing they first four stroke motorcycle, the Suzuki GS series. [5] Barry Sheene won the riders' championship in 1976 with a total of five wins. [4] Sheene's second 500cc riders' championship came in 1977 with six wins. Teammate Steve Parrish was fifth.

In 1978 with two wins on the new Suzuki RGA, Sheene finished second in the championship behind Yamaha rider Kenny Roberts. Teammate Wil Hartog was fourth overall, also won two races. The 1979 championship was again won by Roberts with Virginio Ferrari finishing second, Barry Sheene third and Wil Hartog fourth, all riding the new Suzuki RGB. [4]

1980s

Randy Mamola and Graeme Crosby joined Suzuki in 1980. While Yamaha rider Roberts won his third title, Suzuki riders Mamola was second, and Marco Lucchinelli third. Lucchinelli became the 500cc World Champion in 1981 riding the new Suzuki RG 500 gamma for the Roberto Gallina racing team. [6]

Lucchinelli left Suzuki to join Honda in 1982. He was replaced on the Gallina team by Franco Uncini who went on to win the World Championship with five wins. Uncini was severely injured at the Dutch TT at Assen in 1983 and was unable to defend his title. Suzuki withdrew factory support at the end of the season. [6]

After three years away Suzuki returned in 1987 with factory supported entries. While not a full-time return, riders Takumi Itoh and Kevin Schwantz had some good results aboard the new Suzuki RGV500. Suzuki made a full return to racing in 1988 with Schwantz finishing 8th overall with two wins whilst teammate Rob McElnea finished the season in 10th place. [6] With a total of six wins, Schwantz was ranked fourth for the 1989 season. [6]

1990s

In 1990 Schwantz was second overall with five wins while teammate Niall Mackenzie was 4th. [7] Another five wins ranked Schwantz third overall in 1991. Doug Chandler became Schwantz's teammate for 1992 during which Schwantz enjoyed one win to finish the season fourth followed by Chandler's fifth place overall.

Schwantz won his long-awaited first World Championship in 1993 with four race wins. His new teammate Alex Barros also scored a win and finished 6th overall. [7]

In 1994, Schwantz was 4th overall with two wins whilst Barros was 8th. [7] Early in the 1995 season, Schwantz decided to retire from motorcycle competition. The other Suzuki rider Daryl Beattie finished the season second with two race wins. [7]

Scott Russell joined Beattie in 1996. Russell finished the season 6th while Beattie suffered serious injuries pre-season and did not have his previous form. He finished 18th. [7] Beattie was joined by Anthony Gobert in 1997. Beattie finished the season 11th and Gobert 15th. A fifth-place finish by Beattie was the team's best result that season.

Suzuki entered an all Japanese riders lineup in 1998 with Nobuatsu Aoki and Katsuaki Fujiwara. Fujiwara however was injured during pre-season tests and Aoki contested the world championship alone. He finished 9th for the season with a best result of 4th place. New rider Kenny Roberts Jr. joined Aoki in 1999. Roberts Jr. took Suzuki's first win in the four years since 1995. His four wins gave him second place in the championship. Aoki was 13th. [7]

2000s

Roberts became World Champion in 2000 with a total of four victories, [8] Aoki was 10th overall. [7]

In 2001 Sete Gibernau joined Roberts riding the Suzuki RGV500. Gibernau finished ninth overall and Roberts 11th. [9]

In 2002, the debut year of the new MotoGP class, Roberts and Gibernau rode the new Suzuki GSV-R four-stroke motorcycle. The team's best result was a 3rd-place podium finish by Roberts at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Overall, Roberts finished 9th and Gibernau 16th. [9]

John Hopkins joined Roberts in 2003. Hopkins came seventh at the Spanish Grand Prix. However, Roberts missed three races due to a crash in the Italian Grand Prix and finished the season 19th two places behind Hopkins in 17th place. [9] The rider line-up remained the same for 2004 while Bridgestone replaced Michelin as the team's tyre supplier. [10] Hopkins finished the season 16th with Roberts Jr. again two places behind in 18th. [9]

Once again the rider line-up remained the same for 2005, while Englishman Paul Denning became the new team manager taking over the position of Garry Taylor. [11] Roberts took a second place podium-finish in the wet British Grand Prix but finished the season 13th. Hopkins finished 14th for the season.

Chris Vermeulen joined Hopkins in 2006. [12] Hopkins finished the season 10th while Vermeulen finished 11th with a 2nd place podium-finish at the 2006 Australian Grand Prix.

Both riders stayed with the team in 2007 and raced the new 800cc Suzuki GSV-R. Vermeulen took Suzuki's first win since the advent of four-stroke regulations and finished the season 6th overall. Hopkins finished 4th with four podium finishes.

For 2008, Chris Vermeulen was joined by Loris Capirossi as the rider lineup and the same lineup remained in 2009.

2010s

For the 2010 season Álvaro Bautista joined the team.

For the 2011 season, the team fielded only one GSV-R for Bautista with no replacement for Loris Capirossi, who moved to the Pramac Racing team. At the end of 2011, Suzuki pulled out of MotoGP citing the need to reduce costs amid the global economic downturn. [13]

In June 2013, Suzuki announced that they would return to MotoGP with a factory team in 2015. [14] On 30 September 2014, Suzuki confirmed that it would participate in MotoGP from 2015, with Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales as their two riders. They raced a newly developed MotoGP machine, the GSX-RR, with a restructured team organisation led by Davide Brivio. [15]

2020s

In 2020, Suzuki secured the team's title for the first time, while rider Joan Mir secured the rider's title, becoming the first Suzuki rider to do so since Kenny Roberts Jr. in 2000.

On 12 May 2022, Suzuki announced they were "...in discussions with Dorna regarding the possibility of ending its participation in MotoGP at the end of 2022". [16] Suzuki were reported to have contractual obligations to participate until 2026. [17] Suzuki won two of their final three races in Australia and Valencia. [18] [1]

MotoGP results

By rider

YearClassTeam nameBikeRidersRacesWinsPodiums Poles F. laps PointsPos.
2022 MotoGPTeam Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR Flag of Spain.svg Joan Mir 1600008715th
Flag of Spain.svg Álex Rins 1924001737th
Flag of Japan.svg Kazuki Watanabe 10000031st
Flag of Japan.svg Takuya Tsuda 100000NC
Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Petrucci 100000NC

By year

(key)

YearTeamMotorcycleTyresNo.Riders123456789101112131415161718PointsRCPointsTCPointsMC
2002 Telefónica Movistar Suzuki Suzuki GSV-R D M JPN SAF SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GBR GER CZE POR RIO PAC MAL AUS VAL
15 Flag of Spain.svg Sete Gibernau Ret16912RetRetRet6Ret4Ret8Ret1412135116th1504th1433rd
10 Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Roberts Jr. RetRet85Ret76141143689Ret999th
51 Flag of Japan.svg Yukio Kagayama Ret0NC
Team Suzuki Test33 Flag of Japan.svg Akira Ryō 21115131114114118th
2003 Suzuki Grand Prix Team Suzuki GSV-R M JPN SAF SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GBR GER CZE POR RIO PAC MAL AUS VAL
21 Flag of the United States.svg John Hopkins 13137RetRet151511Ret1718DNSRet12132917th5510th435th
10 Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Roberts Jr. 14151316Ret1520171715149112219th
71 Flag of Japan.svg Yukio Kagayama Ret12425th
43 Flag of Japan.svg Akira Ryō 200 (6)24th
Team Suzuki Test43 Flag of Japan.svg Akira Ryō 10624th
2004 Team Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R B SAF SPA FRA ITA CAT NED RIO GER GBR CZE POR JPN QAT MAL AUS VAL
21 Flag of the United States.svg John Hopkins 1315RetRet141598Ret6Ret8Ret15124516th899th735th
10 Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Roberts Jr. Ret812Ret171678171014Ret3718th
32 Flag of Spain.svg Gregorio Lavilla 16170NC
71 Flag of Japan.svg Yukio Kagayama 1114723rd
Team Suzuki Test32 Flag of Spain.svg Gregorio Lavilla RetRet0NC
2005 Team Suzuki MotoGP

Red Bull Suzuki (Rd. 8)

Suzuki GSV-R B SPA POR CHN FRA ITA CAT NED USA GBR GER CZE JPN MAL QAT AUS TUR VAL
21 Flag of the United States.svg John Hopkins 14Ret71611Ret14811Ret1459171015136314th1268th1005th
10 Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Roberts Jr. Ret12Ret13151516142111187116313th
9 Flag of Japan.svg Nobuatsu Aoki 16Ret0NC
2006 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R B SPA QAT TUR CHN FRA ITA CAT NED GBR GER USA CZE MAL AUS JPN POR VAL
21 Flag of the United States.svg John Hopkins 9Ret174151046810676121261111610th2145th1514th
71 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Vermeulen 12Ret7Ret1014610167512112119Ret9811th
Team Suzuki Test64 Flag of Japan.svg Kousuke Akiyoshi 13321st
2007 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R B QAT SPA TUR CHN FRA ITA CAT GBR NED GER USA CZE SMR POR JPN AUS MAL VAL
21 Flag of the United States.svg John Hopkins 4196375455715236107831894th3683rd2414th
71 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Vermeulen 791171873161125213118761796th
Team Suzuki Test64 Flag of Japan.svg Kousuke Akiyoshi 17Ret0NC
9 Flag of Japan.svg Nobuatsu Aoki 13325th
2008 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R B QAT SPA POR CHN FRA ITA CAT GBR NED GER USA CZE SMR IND JPN AUS MAL VAL
7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Vermeulen 17108Ret51078733659Ret159131288th2485th1814th
65 Flag of Italy.svg Loris Capirossi 859977RetWD71537166107911810th
11 Flag of the United States.svg Ben Spies 142 (20)19th
Team Suzuki Test11 Flag of the United States.svg Ben Spies 8618 (20)19th
64 Flag of Japan.svg Kousuke Akiyoshi Ret0NC
9 Flag of Japan.svg Nobuatsu Aoki 170NC
2009 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R B QAT JPN SPA FRA ITA CAT NED USA GER GBR CZE IND SMR POR AUS MAL VAL
7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Vermeulen 710106101158131311119101161510612th2166th1334th
65 Flag of Italy.svg Loris Capirossi Ret768559Ret1111575Ret129141109th
2010 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R B QAT SPA FRA ITA GBR NED CAT GER USA CZE IND SMR ARA JPN MAL AUS POR VAL
19 Flag of Spain.svg Álvaro Bautista Ret10DNS1412145RetRetRet88875121198513th1296th1086th
65 Flag of Italy.svg Loris Capirossi 9RetRet10Ret1371110Ret11RetRetRetDNS13Ret4416th
2011 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R B QAT SPA POR FRA CAT GBR NED ITA GER USA CZE IND SMR ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL
19 Flag of Spain.svg Álvaro Bautista DNS131212511137RetRet686RetRetCRet6713th738th734th
21 Flag of the United States.svg John Hopkins 10DNSC621st
YearTeamMotorcycleTyresNo.Riders1234567891011121314151617181920PointsRCPointsTCPointsMC
2014 Team Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSX-RR B QAT AME ARG SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER IND CZE GBR SMR ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL
14 Flag of France.svg Randy de Puniet Ret0NC0NC0NC
2015 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR B QAT AME ARG SPA FRA ITA ESP NED GER USA CZE GBR SMR ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL
25 Flag of Spain.svg Maverick Viñales 1491011976101111Ret111411Ret68119712th2025th1374th
41 Flag of Spain.svg Aleix Espargaró 11877RetRetRet91014991061197810511th
2016 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR M QAT ARG AME SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER AUT CZE GBR RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL
25 Flag of Spain.svg Maverick Viñales 6Ret463649126915433652024th2954th2084th
41 Flag of Spain.svg Aleix Espargaró 11115569RetRet14RetRet7Ret74Ret1389311th
2017 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR M QAT ARG AME SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER CZE AUT GBR RSM ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL
29 Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Iannone Ret167Ret1010169Ret1911RetRet12461767013th1306th1004th
42 Flag of Spain.svg Álex Rins 9RetDNS17211116981758DSQ45916th
12 Flag of Japan.svg Takuya Tsuda 170NC
50 Flag of France.svg Sylvain Guintoli 151717127th
2018 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR M QAT ARG AME SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER CZE AUT GBR RSM ARA THA JPN AUS MAL VAL
29 Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Iannone 9833Ret41011121013C8311Ret2RetRet13310th3024th2334th
42 Flag of Spain.svg Álex Rins Ret3RetRet105Ret2Ret118C44635221695th
50 Flag of France.svg Sylvain Guintoli Ret19210NC
2019 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR M QAT ARG AME SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER CZE AUT GBR RSM ARA THA JPN AUS MAL VAL
36 Flag of Spain.svg Joan Mir 8Ret17Ret1612687Ret8147851079212th301 (304)5th2344th
42 Flag of Spain.svg Álex Rins 45121044RetRet461Ret9579552054th
50 Flag of France.svg Sylvain Guintoli 13201220725th
2020 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR M SPA ANC CZE AUT STY RSM EMI CAT FRA ARA TER EUR VAL POR
36 Flag of Spain.svg Joan Mir Ret5Ret24322113317Ret1711st3101st2023rd
42 Flag of Spain.svg Álex Rins DNS104Ret65123NC1224151393rd
2021 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR M QAT DOH POR SPA FRA ITA CAT GER NED STY AUT GBR ARA RSM AME EMI ALR VAL
36 Flag of Spain.svg Joan Mir 4735Ret3493249368Ret252083rd3073rd2403rd
42 Flag of Spain.svg Álex Rins 64Ret20RetRet1111714211Ret468Ret9913th
2022 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR M QAT INA ARG AME POR SPA FRA ITA CAT GER NED GBR AUT RSM ARA JPN THA AUS MAL VAL
9 Flag of Italy.svg Danilo Petrucci 20030th2606th1995th
36 Flag of Spain.svg Joan Mir 6644Ret6RetRet4Ret8RetRetDNS181968715th
42 Flag of Spain.svg Álex Rins 7532419RetRetRetDNS107879Ret121511737th
85 Flag of Japan.svg Takuya Tsuda Ret0NC
92 Flag of Japan.svg Kazuki Watanabe 21031st

References

  1. 1 2 Duncan, Lewis (6 November 2022). "Rins was 'crying on the grid' before taking Suzuki's farewell MotoGP win". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 Jack Findlay obituary - The Telegraph
  3. "MotoGP Milestones". crash.net. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Suzuki Motorcycle History: Racing History 1970s". Global Suzuki. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  5. 1 2 Noyes, Dennis; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN   1-874557-83-7
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Suzuki Motorcycle History: Racing History 1980s". Global Suzuki. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Suzuki Motorcycle History: Racing History 1990s". Global Suzuki. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  8. "Kenny Roberts Jr, Biography and Information". highrevs.net. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Suzuki Motorcycle History: Racing History 2000s". Global Suzuki. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  10. "Suzuki MotoGP Team Makes Choice Of Bridgestone Tires Official". Road Racing World. 17 November 2003. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  11. "Paul Denning, Suzuki Team Manager". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 6 August 2005. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  12. "Vermeulen Signs Two-year Deal With Suzuki MotoGP Team". Roadracing World. 28 October 2005. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  13. "Suzuki to suspend MotoGP operation due to 'tough circumstances'". The Guardian . Guardian Media Group. Press Association. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  14. Ramsey, Jonathon (18 June 2013). "Suzuki back in MotoGP for 2015". Autoblog. AOL . Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  15. "Suzuki return to MotoGP™ with Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales in 2015". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  16. "SUZUKI ANNOUNCEMENT". www.suzuki-racing.com. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  17. Dorna contacts Suzuki to remind it of contract conditions the-race.com, 3 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022
  18. Duncan, Lewis (16 October 2022). "MotoGP Australian GP: Rins wins last-lap thriller, Quartararo crashes out". www.autosport.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022.