Sorry, MotoGP fans, but the grid isn’t about to get bolstered by Suzuki in 2014, as the manufacturer has announced a delay in their return.
Ever since Suzuki left MotoGP competition, fanboys have been eagerly awaiting their return, especially once things like the CRT bikes started showing up. Everybody wants the MotoGP grid to grow, not shrink, and Suzuki’s return would go a long way towards reversing the shrinking trend MotoGP’s seen lately.
Originally, the plan was for Suzuki to return in 2014, and some hopefuls even whispered there might be wild card entries as early as 2013, especially since we’d seen photos of the prototype undergoing testing. Suzuki announced that’s not the case, though – they’re not planning to return to competition until 2015, now.
Here’s what their press release had to say:
Suzuki Motor Corporation will return to FIM Road Racing Grand Prix MotoGP in 2015.
After two years suspension since 2012, Suzuki Motor Corporation has organised its test team to undergo more practical running tests at its advanced development stage and will participate in the official joint testing to be held at the Catalunya circuit in Spain. Through continuing running tests at the circuits inside and outside Japan for further development and refinement, Suzuki Motor Corporation will participate again in MotoGP racing from 2015.
Suzuki Motor Corporation will feed back advanced technology to be derived through MotoGP racing activity to develop further attractive production models.
The outline of testing team and racing machine to be developed are as follows:
Chief members of Europe testing team in 2013:
– Team manager: Davide Brivio
– Development rider: Randy De Puniet
MotoGP machine to be developed:
– 1000cc In-line four GP racer
Is it just me, or is the best way to develop a ‘racing’ motorcycle, is to go and race it?
They had DePuniet run the thing at a MotoGP test and he did very very well. Only a second off Lorenzo’s pace, I think, which is good for a bike that’s under development, etc…
Looking forward to it. The more the merrier.