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Suzuki's 2008 racing activities |
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Posted by Staff
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Tuesday, 12 February 2008 |
Suzuki Motor Corporation is pleased to announce its motorcycle racing activities
for 2008. Through its racing participation across the globe, Suzuki will
publicise the superiority of its motorcycle products to the world market and
reaffirm its racing heritage to the public.
ROAD RACING
1) MotoGP World Championship:
Class:
MotoGP. Machine: GSV-R. Team: RIZLA SUZUKI MotoGP.
Riders: Loris Capirossi,
Chris Vermeulen.
In 2007, the factory RIZLA SUZUKI MotoGP team
participated in this class with two riders, John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen,
aboard the 2007 GSV-R, a machine whose engine capacity had been reduced from
990cc to 800cc in accordance with regulation changes. The newly-developed 800cc
engine was the perfect match for its finely honed chassis, inherited from the
2006 model. Making the most of this harmony of handling and power, Hopkins
achieved four brilliant podium finishes and ended the season in fourth position
in the world championship, an outstanding improvement on his previous
championship standing of 10th. His team mate Chris Vermeulen also rode
excellently and achieved a maiden win for himself and the GSV-R at the French
GP. Vermeulen's fine form continued as he clinched podium finishes in the UK,
San Marino and in the US, which culminated in a series ranking of sixth. The
team achieved one double podium at the San Marino GP, where Hopkins finished
second and Vermeulen third. The GSV-R claimed eight podium finishes during the
2007 season, representing great success for the RIZLA SUZUKI MotoGP
team.
For 2008, the team is sponsored once again by RIZLA, and Chris
Vermeulen is joined by experienced Italian star Loris Capirossi. Needless to
say, the bolstered RIZLA Suzuki MotoGP team will be vying for the championship
win.
2) Superbike World Championship:
Class: SBK.
Machine: GSX-R1000. Team: Team ALSTARE SUZUKI.
Riders: Yukio Kagayama, Fonsi
Nieto, Max Neukirchner.
In 2007, Max Biaggi finished third overall, which
was an outstanding achievement in what was his debut season in this
ultra-competitive championship.
In 2008, Team ALSTARE SUZUKI will
comprise three riders - the hot-blooded Japanese star Yukio Kagayama, Spanish
newcomer Fonsi Nieto and newly-appointed German rider Max Neukirchner. They will
race aboard the refined 2008 GSX-R1000 in an attempt to win back the
championship title.
3) World Endurance
Championship:
Class: EWC. Machine: GSX-R1000. Team: SERT (Suzuki
Endurance Racing Team).
In 2007, the Suzuki France-supported SERT
(Suzuki Endurance Racing Team) claimed its third successive Championship title.
Furthermore, at the third round of the series, the Suzuka eight-hour Endurance
race, the Yoshimura Suzuki team pairing of Yukio Kagayama and Kousuke Akiyoshi
won the race, claiming Yoshimura Suzuki Team's first win of this prestigious
race for 27 years and Suzuki's first win for 24 years.
In 2008, SERT will
aim to reclaim the championship and take its tally to four straight
wins.
4) AMA Superbike championship:
Class: SBK.
Machine: GSX-R1000. Team: ROCKSTAR MAKITA YOSHIMURA SUZUKI.
Riders: Ben
Spies, Mat Mladin, Tommy Hayden.
In 2007, ROCKSTAR MAKITA YOSHIMURA
SUZUKI riders Mat Mladin and Ben Spies had a close contest from the beginning of
the series. Spies claimed his second consecutive championship title with a lead
of just one point over his team mate, giving Suzuki its fifth consecutive
championship title.
In 2008, the team will continue to participate in the
championship with the title-holder Spies, Mladin and Tommy Hayden. Together they
will seek to renew the record of six consecutive wins for the
team.
5) British Superbike championship:
Class:
BSB. Machine: GSX-R1000. Team: Team RIZLA SUZUKI.
Riders: Atsushi Watanabe,
Tom Sykes.
For the 2008 British Superbike championship, Team RIZLA SUZUKI
will participate with the 2007 Japan Superbike champion Atsushi Watanabe and
British contender Tom Sykes. It has been four years since a Japanese rider
fought for this championship with Suzuki - when Yukio Kagayama participated in
2003/ 04.
6) Japan Superbike championship:
Class:
JSB1000. Machine: GSX-R1000. Team: Team YOSHIMURA SUZUKI.
Riders: Kousuke
Akiyoshi, Daisaku Sakai.
In 2007, YOSHIMURA SUZUKI rider Atsushi Watanabe
won the championship title while his new team mate Daisaku Sakai finished in
third position in what was his debut year in the series. It was Watanabe's
second title win and the first for Yoshimura in 18 years, since Doug Polen won
his title in 1989 (TT-F1/F3 double wins).
In 2008 Sakai and Suzuka
eight-hour endurance race winner Akiyoshi will participate in this class, aiming
for the second consecutive win for YOSHIMURA
SUZUKI.
MOTOCROSS
Motocross World
Championship:
Class: MX1. Machine: RM-Z450. Team: Team SUZUKI
WMX Grand Prix.
Riders: Steve Ramon, Ken De Dycker.
In 2007, Suzuki
participated in the World Motocross MX1 class with Kevin Strijbos and Steve
Ramon aboard the RM-Z450, fighting for the championship title. Ramon achieved
sterling podium finishes from the beginning of the series, bringing the World
Title back to Suzuki after an interval of five years. Meanwhile, Strijbos
claimed a total of 14 podiums, including double wins at the Czech GP, ranking
second overall in the series. This combined dominance meant the RM-Z450 claimed
the top two positions and brought Suzuki the manufacturer title as
well.
In 2008, with the champion Ramon and newly-appointed 2005 Germany
MX championship title-holder Ken De Dycker, Suzuki will aim to retain the
title.
2) AMA Supercross:
Class: Supercross.
Machine: RM-Z450. Team: ROCKSTAR MAKITA SUZUKI TEAM.
Riders: David Vuillemin,
Mike Alessi, Michael Byrne.
For 2008, the ROCKSTAR MAKITA SUZUKI TEAM
will see Michael Byrne and newcomers David Vuillemin and Mike Alessi contest the
class aboard the RM-Z450.
3) All Japan Motocross
championship:
Class: IA1. Machine: RM-Z450. Team: Team
SUZUKI.
Riders: Youhei Kojima, Yoshiki Kitai, Kuraudo Toda
In 2007,
Youhei Kojima consistently earned points from the beginning of the series and
overcame an injury suffered during the last part of the series to rank third
overall. Yoshiki Kitai attained fifth position overall, the best of his career,
while Toda suffered from injury mid-season and finished in 10th
position.
For 2008, endeavouring to build on the success of last season,
the three talented Team SUZUKI riders will continue to run in the IA class. The
team will strive for the title by making careful use of the precious data
acquired in 2007.
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