Kiwi Rider February Vol.2 2023 | Page 105

SUZUKI WITHDRAWS FROM BRITISH RACING

Suzuki has confirmed its withdrawal from the British Superbike Championship , ahead of the 2023 season . Aligning with its global racing strategy – which saw the termination of its MotoGP project as well as a scaling back of factory support in the Endurance World Championship last year – and

following the departure of the current GSX- R1000R model from European markets , Suzuki has suspended its official involvement in the premier British superbike series . Over the past six seasons – in partnership with Hawk Racing – the Suzuki GSX-R1000R has won superbike and superstock races with the likes of Bradley Ray , Richard Cooper , Sylvain Guintoli , Kyle Ryde , Gino Rea , Tim Neave , Billy McConnell , and Charlie Nesbitt behind the ‘ bars . And in 2019 Cooper also helped steer Suzuki and Hawk Racing to the National Superstock 1000 Championship title . There have also been successes on the roads , with Cooper taking podium finishes at the North West 200 , while Michael Dunlop raced the GSX-R to victory in the 2017 Senior TT , the bike ’ s first appearance at the prestigious Isle of Man TT races . Suzuki says it will continue to support racers campaigning GSX-R machinery at all levels via its Race Parts Programme .
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