After leaving MotoGP at the end of 2011, Suzuki targeted their return in 2014 and when Cycle World published last May the first images of the brand new prototype machine (with a redesigned engine) testing at Sugo, hopes were raised even higher.
There was much speculation that the Hamamatsu manufacturer would use some MotoGP wildcard entries in 2013 to test their competitiveness, and when Ben Spies announced that he was leaving Yamaha, his name was also linked with Suzuki.
At Brno, Spies in an interview with Bikesportnews.
com that he was in talks with Gresini, but he also added, “The Suzuki offer is something that is on the table but I want to race so it depends on what their plan is and how quickly they decide to do wildcards and whether they decide to race in 2014 for the full season or move ahead in 2013.
” In an interview with Italy’s Motosprint magazine, Suzuki’s MotoGP project leader Satoru Terada confirmed that the manufacturer is working on a return to MotoGP in 2014, but has completely ruled out they would be entering any races as a wildcard next year.
Terada however also added, “I must say that we haven’t been given definitive confirmation yet, because the final decision is up to top management, as that’s where the budget comes from.
These decisions are made at the top level: the people working in the racing departments can’t do anything.
However, after a year of reflection, the top management, too, has now understood we can start over.
Suzuki has a long history in grand prix racing, it has practically always raced, and nobody liked the decision to suspend the MotoGP project at the end of 2011.
”Hopefully by 2014 the global economic woes will finally stop its downward spiral and Suzuki can jump successfully back into MotoGP and field at least a one-rider team.