Suzuki just announced they are leaving MotoGP. It makes you wonder about their long-term commitment to bikes. Dean Adams took the time to read the Suzuki annual report. Based on his reading, the future doesn't look great for Suzuki motorcycle fans.

https://www.superbikeplanet.com/interest...al-report/

(05-03-2022, 06:14 AM)TriangleRider Wrote: Suzuki just announced they are leaving MotoGP. It makes you wonder about their long-term commitment to bikes. Dean Adams took the time to read the Suzuki annual report. Based on his reading, the future doesn't look great for Suzuki motorcycle fans.

https://www.superbikeplanet.com/interest...al-report/

Various manufacturers have cycled in and out of racing over the years. Excluding the folks interested in racing, I'm guessing it has minimal impact on sales or profits.

(05-03-2022, 06:14 AM)TriangleRider Wrote: Suzuki just announced they are leaving MotoGP. It makes you wonder about their long-term commitment to bikes. Dean Adams took the time to read the Suzuki annual report. Based on his reading, the future doesn't look great for Suzuki motorcycle fans.

https://www.superbikeplanet.com/interest...al-report/

Interesting read. Leaving MotoGP does not necessarily mean leaving motorcyles, however, since MotoGP is very expensive to get into and stay in. If sales are down then leaving MotoGP is a first place to cut costs. Kawasaki and BMW have so far elected to not enter MotoGP because of cost. World Superbike is cheaper and they are there.

(05-03-2022, 09:07 AM)Grumpy Goat Wrote:

(05-03-2022, 06:14 AM)TriangleRider Wrote: Suzuki just announced they are leaving MotoGP. It makes you wonder about their long-term commitment to bikes. Dean Adams took the time to read the Suzuki annual report. Based on his reading, the future doesn't look great for Suzuki motorcycle fans.

https://www.superbikeplanet.com/interest...al-report/

Interesting read. Leaving MotoGP does not necessarily mean leaving motorcyles, however, since MotoGP is very expensive to get into and stay in. If sales are down then leaving MotoGP is a first place to cut costs. Kawasaki and BMW have so far elected to not enter MotoGP because of cost. World Superbike is cheaper and they are there.

True, but they are leaving behind a significant investment seven years after returning and two years after winning a world championship. This suggests a major change in direction. Also, as the article says, Kawasaki left but continued to develop new engines and motorcycles. We haven't seen any sign of this from Suzuki.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see what happens. Normally, teams are not allowed to just pick up and leave the top racing series.

(05-03-2022, 10:33 AM)TriangleRider Wrote: True, but they are leaving behind a significant investment seven years after returning and two years after winning a world championship. This suggests a major change in direction.

I agree that it would have to be a result of a change in strategic direction for the Company. Companies often (typically?) use motorsports as a development test-bed for their mainstream business, and as is the case with Kawasaki and BMW, this does not tie them to MotoGP. They could focus on World Superbike, but see this article here from Webbikeworld.com - Suzuki Will Stop Racing ‘Temporarily’ - which also suggests that things are tight at Suzuki.

(05-03-2022, 10:33 AM)TriangleRider Wrote: Also, as the article says, Kawasaki left but continued to develop new engines and motorcycles. We haven't seen any sign of this from Suzuki.

I agree ... Suzuki motorcycle development appears to be slower than most, especially on the engine side where they keep using old engines. That said, these engines and transmissions have been refined to the state where maybe they don't need to be changed and if the bikes continue to sell with the existing excellent engines then why spend money to change just for change's sake? All comes down to top level strategy which is not necessarily made public. Yet still, at the same time they just released the new GSX-S1000 GT which could compete on the street. Mixed messages or a different strategy?

Following recent rumours of Suzuki departing Motogp at the end of 2022, Dorna Sports has officially contacted the factory in order to remind them that the conditions of their contract to race in Motogp do not allow for them to take this decision unilaterally.

E bikes could be the only show in town soon.

More to the story?

https://newsbeezer.com/switzerlandeng/su...al-motogp/

(05-12-2022, 11:45 AM)TriangleRider Wrote: More to the story? 

https://newsbeezer.com/switzerlandeng/su...al-motogp/

Heh! Now that's interesting ... sounds plausible but if they are "accused" then there is no fine yet ... maybe it is part of a settlement. Gotta keep an eye on this. I follow MotoGP on YouTube and other channels are recommended so I will keep an eye on that possibility.