Suzuki confirm MotoGP withdrawal until at least 2014

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Page last updated at 09:13 GMT, Friday, 18 November 2011

Alvaro Bautista Bautista scored a best finish of fifth for Suzuki in the 2011 MotoGP championship

Suzuki has confirmed that it will not compete in next year's MotoGP championship for financial reasons.

The Japanese factory saw lone rider Alvaro Bautista finish 13th this season but have now ended their 37-year stay.

Analysis

Matt Roberts,
BBC MotoGP presenter

This has been on the cards for some time now. It is Suzuki who bankroll the project, not their title sponsor, so ultimately it's their decision. Hopefully their goal of returning to the grid in 2014 is a realistic one and the impending changes to the sport in the meantime facilitate that. There should be a place for all the major motorcycle factories in MotoGP - it is where they belong.

A statement read: "Suzuki Motor Corporation has decided to suspend temporarily its participation in MotoGP from the 2012 season.

"Having an eye on returning to MotoGP in 2014, Suzuki will now focus on developing a competitive new machine."

Bautista had already announced that he has joined Gresini Honda for next season as a replacement for the late Marco Simoncelli.

Suzuki's withdrawal leaves just Honda, Yamaha and Ducati as manufacturers with full factory teams on the grid for 2012.

"This suspension is to cope with tough circumstances mainly caused by the prolonged recession in developed countries, a historical appreciation of Japanese Yen and repeated natural disasters," Suzuki said.

Suzuki's world champions

  • Barry Sheene (1976, 1977)
  • Marco Lucchinelli (1981)
  • Franco Uncini (1982)
  • Kevin Schwantz (1993)
  • Kenny Roberts Jr (2000)

Suzuki first competed in the top class of grand prix racing in 1974, and saw British legend Barry Sheene take two world championships in the 1970s.

Kenny Roberts Jr was the last Suzuki world champion, taking the 500cc title in 2000.

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