Suzuki getting out of motorcycles? MotoGP?

[Grumpy Goat]

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.

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?