MotoGP World Championship
Rizla Suzuki Team
| Rizla Suzuki Manufacturer's name: Suzuki Motor Headquarters: Verwood - Dorset, England Current Owner: Hiroshi Tsuda, President & COO First Year Racing: 1960 Team Colors: Blue, Red, White Riders: 7 - Chris Vermeulen - Australia 65 - Loris Capirossi - Italy MotoGP World Championships: 1976 - Barry Sheene 1977 - Barry Sheene (107 pts) 1982 - Franco Uncini (103 pts) 1993 - Kevin Schwantz (248 pts) 2000 - Kenny Roberts, Jr. (258 pts) |
The Suzuki team has been part of the Motorcycling racing world since the early 1960’s and has also been a leader in the bikes top designing technology ever since. Two of the most accomplished Suzuki riders have been Barry Sheene and Roger De Coster who won two world championships during the 1970’s.
Later on in 1987 Suzuki re- entered the competition world with riders Takumi Itoh and Kevin Schwantz who captured several record places in 1988 8th place, 4th in 1989, 2nd in 1990, 3rd in 1991, 4th in 1992, 1st in 1993, 4th in 1994 but the following year he decided to retire and Daryl Beattie took his position.
More recently in 2004 the Suzuki team made a change in tires supplier and welcomed Michelin as part of the racing group.
One of Suzuki’s top rider John Hopkins managed a 4th place during the 2007 season with a total of 189 points while his partner Chris Vermeulen managed a 6th place. For the present 2008 season Loris Capirossi became the new rider and he is actually holding the sixth position in the overall standings.