Suzuki has confirmed that it has finally come to an agreement to terminate its involvement within MotoGP at the end of the current 2022 campaign.
The Hamamatsu-based marque made the shock announcement that it was to quit MotoGP just after the Spanish Grand Prix in early May, though Dorna series organizers soon hit back at its decision due to the brand having last year signed a deal to remain as part of the championship until 2026.
Suzuki revealed in a press release on Wednesday morning though that it had finally managed to work out a deal with Dorna to bring an early end to its shared contract, leaving it clear to quit the series at the end of the year after seven years of continual involvement – the brand also announcing it will bring its factory Endurance World Championship superbike program to an end at the conclusion of the year.
The manufacturer cited the decision to “allocate resources on other initiatives for sustainability” as the key reason for its impending exit from international motorsport, Suzuki Director and President Toshihiro Suzuki insisting he will “continue to do his best to support” everyone within the respective operations across the remainder of the year.
“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,” Suzuki’s statement began.
“Motorcycle racing has always been a challenging place for technological innovation, including sustainability, and human resource development.
“This decision means that we will take on the challenge to build the new motorcycle business operation by redirecting the technological capabilities and human resources we have cultivated through the motorcycle racing activities to investigate other routes for a sustainable society.
“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.
“Thank you for your kind support.”
Suzuki currently sit fifth and sixth in the teams and constructors standings respectively after the opening 11 rounds of the season having not scored a victory so far, while riders Joan Mir and Alex Rins reside eighth and ninth in the riders points table – the latter scoring Suzuki’s only two rostrum results of the campaign to this point.
The duo look set to join Honda’s ranks for next year, Mir likely to join Marc Marquez within manufacturer’s factory team while Rins will replace Alex Marquez at LCR on what will effectively be a third factory RC213-V.