Suzuki was the last MotoGP team to reveal its challenger for 2021. His GSX-RR has now been sponsored by the new partner Monster Energy for world champions Joan Mir and Alex Rins.
The new paint scheme is very similar to last season. The only change is the addition of a black banner with the Monster Energy logo on the bottom of the machine, while the same design can be seen on the racing leathers of both pilots.
Suzuki is kicking off the 21s season, defending the drivers and teams’ titles after an outstanding 20s season in which the manufacturer took two wins and another nine podiums on Covid-19’s shortened 15-lap schedule.
I secured the driver’s crown with one lap left by finishing seventh at the Valencia Grand Prix, having scored his maiden premier class win just one race earlier at the same venue for Ricardo Tormo by Petronas SRT’s Franco Morbidelli.
The brand, which won the team award at the same time as Mir’s drivers ‘championship, ended a 20-year drought since their last premier class title, an achievement that came in 2000 after Kenny Roberts Jr. received the drivers’ award.
The Hamamatsu-based organization failed to win the Manufacturers’ title after being relegated to the post by both Ducati and Yamaha, though a strong third was still a good reward for the relatively small company.
Rins’ title offer was cut early after injuring his shoulder on the opening weekend of the 20s season in Jerez, which meant he was off the podium until round eight of the year in Barcelona.
A run of five top four results in the following seven – including a staunch win at the Aragon GP – led him to challenge his teammate from the outside, despite a tough final race in Portugal that just turned him on made 15th place, only finished 15th. In the end, he actually missed second place at Morbidelli.
Not only does Suzuki face the pressure to enter the new season as world champions, but also the loss of team manager Davide Brivio, a key element in the Japanese brand’s success since their re-entry into MotoGP for the ’15 season. after the Italian moved to the Formula 1 paddock in a new leadership role with the Alpine F1 Team.
Suzuki ultimately decided not to replace him directly, but decided to take advantage of the strong team. Brivio helped build from the inside rather than looking for a single new manager from the outside.