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Suzuki Motor Corp.
Goes Boldly Into 2010
Dustin Wimmer
Josh Creamer |
Brea, Calif. - December 7, 2009 - American
Suzuki announced at the International Motorcycle
Show in Long Beach, California on Friday, its
significant racing agenda for 2010. The Rockstar
Makita Suzuki racing efforts won an
unprecedented six championships in 2009,
dominating the Supercross, Motocross, Road
Racing and ATV championship series, and Suzuki
has committed to putting the
competition-crushing GSX-Rs, RM-Zs, and
QuadRacer on top of the podium in 2010.
"Suzuki products are truly industry leading and
we stand behind them 100 percent," Senior
Advertising Manager Steve Bortolamedi explained.
"We proved that last year with our six titles.
For 2010, what better way to demonstrate this
again than by putting our reputation on the
line?"
Suzuki will commit to a larger racing effort
along with returning sponsors Rockstar Energy
Drink and Makita tools, which will be managed by
long-time partner Yoshimura R&D of America.
Yoshimura will house all of the Rockstar Makita
Suzuki racing teams under one roof.
"Yoshimura will be managing Suzuki racing
efforts in Supercross, Motocross, Road Racing,
and ATV Racing," Yoshimura R&D Senior Vice
President Don Sakakura said. "We hope to be able
to showcase the performance of the Suzuki line
of high-performance motorcycles and ATVs. Suzuki
is proud of their products and is ready for the
upcoming racing season. We at Yoshimura are
equally looking forward to 2010."
Suzuki revealed its impressive roster of racers
for the 2010 season.
Road Racing: Tommy Hayden and Blake Young are
both returning to take the championship-winning
GSX-R 1000 to the top of the AMA Pro Superbike
class.
Supercross/Motocross: Racing phenom Ryan Dungey
is returning to the team for 2010 aboard the
unstoppable RM-Z450. Australian Matt Moss, who
won the 2009 Australian National Pro Lites
Championship as well as the Australasian
Supercross Pro Lites Championship, will join
Dungey in the 450 class. Rounding out the team
will be Austin Stroupe, who's set to compete in
the Pro Lites East series aboard the RM-Z250.
ATV: Back-to-back AMA ATV Motocross champion
Dustin Wimmer will defend his number 1 plate
aboard the QuadRacer R450, and he will be joined
by racing up-and-comer Josh Creamer.
GNCC: Josh Strang will return to the XC1 class
to win with the RM-Z450.
When asked about Suzuki's chances for the 2010
season, Sakakura was optimistic, "With great
sponsors like Rockstar, Makita and the Suzuki
family of program partners, it really frees us
up to go out and win races. With team managers
like Roger DeCoster in MX, Pete Doyle in Road
Racing, and Kory Ellis and Kevin Mummah in ATV,
I'd say we are looking pretty good."
Suzuki's "Champions Choose Suzuki Tour" is
traveling to all the IMS motorcycle events,
allowing the public to get a close-up view of
Suzuki's numerous championship-winning machines.
The tour includes Mat Mladin's 2009 GSX-R 1000
superbike, which helped the legendary racer
capture his seventh AMA Superbike title.
Along with securing its championship race
pedigree for the upcoming 2010 season, Suzuki
also solidified its reputation for
industry-leading technology with the launch of
the new 2010 RMX450Z and RM-Z250 motorcycles, as
well as the updated RM-Z450. Suzuki unveiled
these highly anticipated machines at the show.
About American Suzuki
The Motorcycle/ATV Division of American Suzuki
Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., was
founded in 1963 by Suzuki Motor Corporation
(SMC). ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an
extensive dealer network throughout 49 states.
ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation,
based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified
worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs,
scooters, automobiles and marine engines.
Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has
120 distributors in 191 countries.
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