Suzuki Announces 2010 Racing Plans

Courtesy of American Suzuki
Brea, Calif. - American Suzuki announced at the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, California on Friday, its significant racing agenda for 2010. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki racing efforts won an unprecedented six championships in 2009, dominating the Supercross, Motocross, Road Racing and ATV championship series, and Suzuki has committed to putting the competition-crushing GSX-Rs, RM-Zs, and QuadRacer on top of the podium in 2010.

"Suzuki products are truly industry leading and we stand behind them 100 percent," Senior Advertising Manager Steve Bortolamedi explained. "We proved that last year with our six titles. For 2010, what better way to demonstrate this again than by putting our reputation on the line?"

Suzuki will commit to a larger racing effort along with returning sponsors Rockstar Energy Drink and Makita tools, which will be managed by long-time partner Yoshimura R&D of America. Yoshimura will house all of the Rockstar Makita Suzuki racing teams under one roof.

"Yoshimura will be managing Suzuki racing efforts in Supercross, Motocross, Road Racing, and ATV Racing," Yoshimura R&D Senior Vice President Don Sakakura said. "We hope to be able to showcase the performance of the Suzuki line of high-performance motorcycles and ATVs. Suzuki is proud of their products and is ready for the upcoming racing season. We at Yoshimura are equally looking forward to 2010."

Suzuki revealed its impressive roster of racers for the 2010 season.

Road Racing: Tommy Hayden and Blake Young are both returning to take the championship-winning GSX-R 1000 to the top of the AMA Pro Superbike class.

Supercross/Motocross: Racing phenom Ryan Dungey is returning to the team for 2010 aboard the unstoppable RM-Z450. Australian Matt Moss, who won the 2009 Australian National Pro Lites Championship as well as the Australasian Supercross Pro Lites Championship, will join Dungey in the 450 class. Rounding out the team will be Austin Stroupe, who's set to compete in the Pro Lites East series aboard the RM-Z250.

ATV: Back-to-back AMA ATV Motocross champion Dustin Wimmer will defend his number 1 plate aboard the QuadRacer R450, and he will be joined by racing up-and-comer Josh Creamer.

GNCC: Josh Strang will return to the XC1 class to win with the RM-Z450.

When asked about Suzuki's chances for the 2010 season, Sakakura was optimistic, "With great sponsors like Rockstar, Makita and the Suzuki family of program partners, it really frees us up to go out and win races. With team managers like Roger DeCoster in MX, Pete Doyle in Road Racing, and Kory Ellis and Kevin Mummah in ATV, I'd say we are looking pretty good."

Suzuki's "Champions Choose Suzuki Tour" is traveling to all the IMS motorcycle events, allowing the public to get a close-up view of Suzuki's numerous championship-winning machines. The tour includes Mat Mladin's 2009 GSX-R 1000 superbike, which helped the legendary racer capture his seventh AMA Superbike title.

Along with securing its championship race pedigree for the upcoming 2010 season, Suzuki also solidified its reputation for industry-leading technology with the launch of the new 2010 RMX450Z and RM-Z250 motorcycles, as well as the updated RM-Z450. Suzuki unveiled these highly anticipated machines at the show.