Suzuki has expressed a strong desire to return to MotoGP in the future but has made it clear that it needs to first set up the right conditions within the company to make a successful return. Suzuki quit the series for good at the end of the 2022 season, breaking a four-year deal it had made with Dorna, the company that put on the series.
Even though MotoGP is interested, there is still no set date for the return. The Japanese giant in motorbikes said that its first goal was to sell a lot of different bikes to customers before focusing on getting into the top level of motorcycle racing.
But Suzuki would have to think about the upcoming rule changes in 2027. Those rules will change the engines on MotoGP bikes to 850cc and make big changes to the chassis rules. So, if they wanted to get back into the sport, they would have to start over with their teams. When asked about the increased interest in MotoGP, Toshihiro Suzuki, CEO of Suzuki Motor, told Corriere dello Sport, as reported by Autosport:
“We knew that the MotoGP wins were very important to us.”
“But we can’t accomplish our goal if we don’t have a wide range of models for all motorcycle fans, and I don’t believe we have that right now.”
“It’s important that we quickly offer a full line of products that meet the needs of riders today.” We’ll go back to racing and win again if everything goes well.
Another problem for Suzuki would be that there are only so many spots on the MotoGP grid. Dorna has made it clear that it wants to keep the number of entries at 22 through 11 teams. For a new manufacturer to come back, they would probably have to work with one of the current satellite teams, like Stackhouse, Pramac, Gresini, Tech 3, VR46, or LCR, instead of getting their entry. Speaking to Relevo, Carlos Ezpeleta, Dorna’s sports director, said:
“I believe the championship is a very exciting time from a sporting point of view.”
“Maybe it would be better if there were more companies.
“Maybe we don’t know; it depends on how well that brand does, how much money it spends, and how much it promotes itself.”
“What we know for sure is that the door is open, but it has to be agreed upon by the teams that are already there. Our goal is to keep the number of riders and teams at 22 and 11.
“There are 11 teams, and each one has a value. If someone wants to join, they have to make a deal with one of those teams.”
“We have tried to set up a technical regulation so that a new factory can make, say, a reasonable investment that will affect its business in the future. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Source: MotoGP: Suzuki Reveals Strong Interest In Racing Return But Conditions Apply
