2009 Suzuki Boulevard M50 on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Suzuki Confirms MotoGP Departure – Hope of 2014 Return

As expected, Suzuki has officially announced its withdrawal from MotoGP racing, though the Japanese manufacturer says it plans to return to the world championship in 2014. Suzuki cites the recession, the value of the Japanese Yen and a series of natural disasters as reasons for suspending its MotoGP program for at least two years. Reports of Suzuki’s withdrawal began circulating earlier this week with some staff members reportedly receiving notice late last week, but signs of Suzuki’s impending withdrawal have been around for over a year.

Yoshimura Suzuki USA Signs Blake Baggett

From a Suzuki press release: Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing has signed former AMA Pro 250 Motocross Champion Blake Baggett to the team today during the 2015 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) Dealer Meeting at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Baggett will join Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart in the premier class for the 2015 AMA Pro Supercross and Motocross seasons, but his first race on the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 will be Las Vegas’ Monster Energy Cup later this month.

Monster Energy Track Day of Legends with Schumacher, McGuinness, Espargaro and Flint – Video

Last week, we wrote about retired Formula One racer Michael Schumacher taking part in a track day at France’s Paul Ricard circuit on a Ducati 1199 Panigale. The event’s sponsor, Monster Energy, has released a video offering a behind-the-scenes look at the event. The seven-time F1 champion was joined by TT racer John McGuinness, retired MotoGP racer Randy Momola, Moto2 racer Pol Espargaro and Keith Flint, a musician from the group Prodigy and a racer in the U.K.’s  Hottrax Endurance Championship.