Suzuki confirm end of MotoGP participation after 2022, ending seven year stay as manufacturers
- Sean Fisher
- 14 July 2022
After hinting at it before the start of the sesaon, Suzuki have now confirmed their departure from MotoGP at the end of 2022.
Suzuki and Dorna announced on Wednesday that the manufacturers are set to end their participation in MotoGP at the end of 2022.
The Japanese brand joined MotoGP as manufacturers in 2002 until 2011, and then rejoined with a factory team starting in 2015. Their time in the World Endurance Championship is also coming to an end next year.
Suzuki confirmed the news via a statement earlier this week: "Suzuki Motor Corporation and Dorna have come to an agreement to terminate Suzuki's participation in MotoGP at the end of the 2022 season.
"Suzuki will also terminate its factory participation in the World Endurance Championship (EWC) at the end of the 2022 season.
ENDING MOTOGP™ AND EWC FACTORY PARTICIPATION AT THE END OF THE 2022 SEASON
— Suzuki Racing (@SuzukiOfficial) July 13, 2022
Suzuki Motor Corporation and Dorna have come to an agreement to terminate Suzuki’s participation in MotoGP at the end of the 2022 season: https://t.co/xnHwlWa5tk pic.twitter.com/eSLmLDNLMR
"We will continue to race in the 2022 MotoGP and EWC championships, maintaining our maximum efforts to win the remaining races. We aim to continue our support for our customers' racing activities through our global distributor network.
"We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all Suzuki fans who have given us their enthusiastic support and to all those who have supported Suzuki's motorcycle racing activities for many years."
The Japanese manufacturers stated that their reasons to pull out of MotoGP were financial, marking the second time in the last decade they've left the sport.
They won the MotoGP championship as recently as 2020 when Joan Mir topped the standings, but Suzuki's withdrawal has left the former champion and his teammate Alex Rins without a seat.
However, both Mir and Rins seem set to stay in MotoGP in 2023, with both riders agreeing deals to join Honda next season.
Suzuki's president, Toshihiro Suzuki, released a statement of his own about the decision.
"Suzuki has decided to end the participation of MotoGP and EWC in the face of the need to re-allocate resources on other initiatives for sustainability.
"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all our fans, riders and all stakeholders who joined us and enthusiastically supported us from the development stage since we returned to MotoGP racing.
"I will continue to do my best to support Alex Rins, Joan Mir, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR and YOSHIMURA SERT MOTUL to compete competitively until the end of the season."
