Former MotoGP manufacturer Suzuki has hinted at a potential return to motorsport, including the premier class. Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki, reignited discussions about the brand’s possible reentry after its exit from MotoGP at the end of 2022.
At that time, the team had just renewed its five-year agreement with Dorna Sports until the end of 2026, only to break it a couple of months later in order to shift the company’s priorities to their consumer-level range of bikes.
The decision also ended all of Suzuki’s factory motorsport efforts globally, despite the team being highly competitive in its final MotoGP season.
With Alex Rins securing the team’s second win of the season at the 2022 Valencia Grand Prix, the Japanese manufacturer left MotoGP on a high note. Still, Toshihiro Suzuki made it clear that at the time their racing success would be meaningless without a robust range of motorcycles on a consumer level.
“The victories in MotoGP were, of course, very important for us. However, it doesn’t matter much if we don’t have a complete and diverse range of models for all motorcycle enthusiasts.”
“It is important for us to quickly offer a complete product range that satisfies today’s riders. If everything goes well, we will then return to racing – and win again.”
While Suzuki’s return to MotoGP would be a great addition to the grid, several obstacles could hinder a quick comeback. Following Suzuki’s withdrawal, Dorna initially left the team’s slots open for a potential new manufacturer.
However, Dorna’s chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpeleta confirmed in August that any new manufacturer must now partner with an existing team to enter the series. With most current teams maintaining a strong tie to their manufacturer, finding a new slot on the grid would be a challenge in itself for Suzuki.
Another significant hurdle to clear will be MotoGP’s 2027 regulation changes. As the class transitions to 850cc four-stroke engines powered by 100% sustainable fuels, manufacturers will have to develop entirely new prototypes.
For Suzuki, this means starting from scratch after the company scrapped its 2022 GSX-RR prototypes and reportedly sold technical data to BMW after its exit.
For now, Suzuki will continue to focus on revitalizing its product lineup. Many of its models are considered outdated, and a lack of innovation in the past has left Suzuki struggling against more affordable competitors from China. Addressing this gap is the brand’s immediate priority before committing to motorsport again.
In this context, a return to MotoGP could serve as a strategic move to boost Suzuki’s global profile. FIM president Jorge Viegas noted last year that racing plays a critical role in motorcycle sales, saying, “They cannot sell bikes if they are not in competition.”
