Suzuki to quit MotoGP - again!
In a shock to the FIM MotoGP grid community, Suzuki Motor Corporation has confirmed the rumours that it was planning to suspend its participation in the premier GP racing class at the conclusion of the 2022 season.
In a statement, Suzuki stated that it was "in discussions" with FIM MotoGP rights holder Dorna (Madrid, Spain) "regarding the possibility" of ending Suzuki’s participation in FIM MotoGP at the end of 2022.
"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 economic and human resources in developing new technologies.
"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".
Don't be fooled by the precise form of words in the Suzuki statement though. It is thought that expressing its plan as a "possibility" at this stage was more a question of limiting legal jeopardy from any contractual liability, rather than there being any real prospect that the decision could yet be reversed.
In common with other manufacturers who participate in FIM MotoGP, Suzuki has a multi-year contractual agreement with Dorna and had only just signed a new contract in 2021. That agreement would have extended its participation up to and including the 2026 season - continuing to race as Team Suzuki Ecstar - after conclusion of the 2022 series.
Suzuki's racing story began in 1960 with the Isle of Man TT. Last year it celebrated its 100th anniversary and 60 years in racing by winning the Riders' World Championship with Joan Mir.
Suzuki withdrew from competition at the end of the 2011 season, announcing in June 2013 that it would return to MotoGP with a factory team in 2015. This latest withdrawal comes against a background of poor financial results and a sluggish recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic recession. A recent 'Mid-Term' management plan made no mention of motorcycles.
The move leaves Suzuki MotoGP riders Joan Mir and Alex Rins looking for seats in 2023 and opens up two grid spots for another manufacturer to take. It is thought that Mir's management had already been in dialogue with Honda Racing before the latest news - as a possible replacement at Repsol Honda for Pol Espargaro - but there are other MotoGP spots also available for the 2023 season.
Like Mir, fellow Spaniard Alex Rins had been due to sign an extension with Suzuki, but is now also "on the market". In his case there have been (unlikely) rumours of a switch to Yamaha.
For its part, Dorna released a statement reminding Suzuki that "the conditions of their contract to race in MotoGP do not allow for them to take this decision unilaterally. However, should Suzuki depart following an agreement between both parties, Dorna will decide on the ideal number of riders and teams racing in the MotoGP class from 2023".
That appears to hold open the possibility that Dorna will simply look to bank compensation from Suzuki and reduce the present 24 grid spots by two. However, they also went on to say that they continue "to receive high levels of interest from a number of both official factories and independent teams looking to join the MotoGP grid as the sport continues to set a global example of close competition, innovation and entertainment, reaching hundreds of millions of fans around the world".
There has been speculation straight away that a likely beneficiary could be Aprilia - in the form of a new satellite team. It is the only manufacturer, other than Suzuki, who is currently only running a two-bike factory effort, without any satellite support. Lepard Racing are reported to be among a slew of teams interested in stepping up from Moto2 and 3.
