Suzuki

For its second quarter in 2020 (the three months to September 30) Suzuki announced that net sales in its motorcycle division decreased by 37.4bn yen (-29.6%) to 89.1bn yen year-on-year, with an operating loss of 3.6bn yen due to the decrease in sales during the April-June large motorcycle sales season, and the impact of a decrease in sales of small motorcycles in markets such as India and the ASEAN zone.
Motorcycle unit sales in Europe were up by +17.4% at 13,000 units for the quarter, but down by 12.1% for the six months from April to September inclusive at 23,000 units. North American unit sales were +36.5% for the quarter at 12,000 units and +49.6% for the six months YTD at 31,000 units.

Among model range updates for 2021, Suzuki has added a new V-Strom 1050XT Tour Edition with increased luggage capacity. A comprehensive suite of electronics includes two modes of lean-angle sensitive ABS, a three-mode traction control system (that can be switched off), three engine power modes, cruise control, hill hold assist and slope and load dependent linked brakes that optimise brake pressure to maintain control when braking downhill, or when equipped with luggage or a pillion.

Total global motorcycle and ATV unit sales were -5.3% for the quarter at 401,000 units and -23.2% for the six months YTD at 675,000 units. Asian unit sales were -9.6% for the quarter (314,000 units) and -28.5% for the six-month period (514,000 units).
Meanwhile, better news for Suzuki on the racetrack. When 23-year old Spaniard Joan Mir won the MotoGP title for the first time by finishing seventh in the penultimate race of the season in Valencia, he became the first Suzuki rider to win the championship since American Kenny Roberts Jr. in 2000.

Joan Mir - the first Suzuki rider to win Motorcycle Racing's premier class since Kenny Roberts Jr in 2000.

In the United States Suzuki has announced a restructuring of its operations and the end of a Race Team partnership. Suzuki Motor of America is to reorganise its Motorcycle/ATV and Marine divisions into two separate companies, with the Motorcycle/ATV business co-located at Brea, California with the parent company head office.
Meanwhile, Suzuki has concluded its partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing. "The combined efforts of Suzuki and JGRMX were able to deliver solid results and raise the level of performance of each of the team's riders.
"Together, Suzuki and JGRMX demonstrated the potential of the Suzuki RM-Z250 and RM-Z450 motocross machines over several successful racing seasons".