Suzuki quitting MotoGP at the end of 2022

mylexicon said:

If you look at the tire pressure document, Rins is implicated as well. I doubt Suzuki are worried about other manufacturers breaking the rules.

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OK, so how about, Rins got caught doing it and Dorna gave Suzuki a telling off... when Suzuki complained that Ducati are doing the same and Dorna not doing anything about it... Dorna told them to just do as they are told.

So Suzuki said, stuff that!!! We are off!

I could easily see that happening.

#22 said:

Suzuki finally release an official statement:

So basically as some of us said, they need to redirect finances into automotive R&D.

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Definitely part of it. The other unspoken part is that motorcycle racing is not making enough money. Every series from MotoGP to WSBK to MotoAmerica is still leaning on shareholders to prop up their industry.

AMA SBK was the canary in the coal mine. They relied most heavily on the manufacturers, and on the notion of endlessly expanding supersport sales.

To be fair to Dorna and the FIM, they cut costs immensely with the 1000cc formula, and they essentially did what DMG recommended 15 years ago for World Superbike, but it hasn't ended the manufacturer charity.

It will be interesting to see where motorcycle racing goes from here. They have so much promotional work to do. Suzuki bailing makes things much more complicated.

mylexicon said:

Definitely part of it. The other unspoken part is that motorcycle racing is not making enough money. Every series from MotoGP to WSBK to MotoAmerica is still leaning on shareholders to prop up their industry.

AMA SBK was the canary in the coal mine. They relied most heavily on the manufacturers, and on the notion of endlessly expanding supersport sales.

To be fair to Dorna and the FIM, they cut costs immensely with the 1000cc formula, and they essentially did what DMG recommended 15 years ago for World Superbike, but it hasn't ended the manufacturer charity.

It will be interesting to see where motorcycle racing goes from here. They have so much promotional work to do. Suzuki bailing makes things much more complicated.

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Yes, it is essentially a folly/vanity project for the manufacturers in a world moving not only away from fast bikes/sports bikes but also petrol engines in general. I would imagine bike racing is a hard sell to the bean counters and mandarins at the manufacturers just now. If Suzuki is in trouble over cheating with their diesel engines and with the current world economic situation that likely adds to it.
In F1 I guess they can at least claim they are making some sort of technical advances, and they have a much bigger income stream. I don't understand the economics of either, but in GP bike racing it would seem the manufacturers essentially pay for the sport while Dorna makes most of any money which is around. As I understand it one aspect of the control tire was for them to be provided to all the teams free while Dorna had to subsidise the tires for the satellite teams in the tire war days. They have saved the manufacturers from themselves in terms of expenditure as well though I guess.

I’m sure the manufacturers make technical advancements.

But, it’s yesterday’s tech. And the road bikes are already so far beyond what a normal rider can “handle” anyway.

It used to be yeah I want more horsepower. Now there is so much horsepower, most people don’t know what to do with it.

Bern1 said:

I’m sure the manufacturers make technical advancements.

But, it’s yesterday’s tech. And the road bikes are already so far beyond what a normal rider can “handle” anyway.

It used to be yeah I want more horsepower. Now there is so much horsepower, most people don’t know what to do with it.

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Yes, that is what I meant. More power, particularly from petrol engines, is probably not the priority it once was. I guess the fuel economy aspect still holds, but not if you don’t intend to keep building petrol engines beyond the short to medium term.

mylexicon said:

Definitely part of it. The other unspoken part is that motorcycle racing is not making enough money. Every series from MotoGP to WSBK to MotoAmerica is still leaning on shareholders to prop up their industry.

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Yep, and as I said earlier, Suzuki haven't had a title sponsor since their return in 2015.

Bern1 said:

I’m sure the manufacturers make technical advancements.

But, it’s yesterday’s tech. And the road bikes are already so far beyond what a normal rider can “handle” anyway.

It used to be yeah I want more horsepower. Now there is so much horsepower, most people don’t know what to do with it.

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It is yesterday's tech, but the insanity of the transportation is more down to institutional inertia.

Emissions regs are going to drive down specific power output, rev ceilings, and performance in motorcycles. These things are the pillars of the manufacturers halo products and much of their marketing.

It's incredibly easy to meet the emissions regulations. The trouble is that the manufacturers have created this monster within their own company and in the public that feeds off of spec sheets and street cred, and they don't know how to deal with it. So they must make new bikes with even more power and less consumption, at even more eye-watering prices. Obviously, no one can afford these things, but better not to think about that. We'll print more Covid relief.

Same thing is happening in the auto industry. Many international companies are predicated on selling cars with wine coolers and air-conditioned couches to credit-worth Americans. Emissions regulations are putting the powertrain people back in charge, and the auto companies have no idea how to pitch this realignment. So they ignore it. They promise investors and the public that cars will get even more plush and more efficient all the time. Obviously, no one can pay for this anymore, but you can't say that out loud or the regulators might hear. Their polls will NOT sag because cars have gotten worse after fuel economy regs. The company will make something more luxurious and more efficient!

In this sort of cuckoo land, dropping all of your motorsport marketing activities almost makes sense.

Yes, quite spot on IMO. Prices of new vehicles are insane. It’s no longer sufficient to produce a simple vehicle to get from A to B.

Lobbyists write legislation for their corporate masters and the public pays. And pays.

The advent of electric vehicles “should” bring about a market with lower cost vehicles than their ICE counterparts. An electric motor is much less expensive than an ICE. Granted, batteries are expensive but should come down as production problems are solved. I’m not holding my breath.

I’ll add, this has happened with housing as well. There are so many mandates driving the cost up and up, with ordinary people becoming incapable of putting a roof over their heads at anywhere near a reasonable portion of their income.

Is anybody rooting for Suzuki this weekend?

Bern1 said:

The advent of electric vehicles “should” bring about a market with lower cost vehicles than their ICE counterparts. An electric motor is much less expensive than an ICE. Granted, batteries are expensive but should come down as production problems are solved. I’m not holding my breath.

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If EV vehicles become the mainstream, Gas tax will have to com from somewhere.

#22 said:

If EV vehicles become the mainstream, Gas tax will have to com from somewhere.

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True dat

PRS717 said:

Is anybody rooting for Suzuki this weekend?

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I always root for Rins! He’s generally good in the wet so he might have a chance.

Bern1 said:

I always root for Rins! He’s generally good in the wet so he might have a chance.

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This didn't age well....

Ha ha. Yeah, he either makes it or breaks it.

It wasn’t raining so I have a cover for my prediction!

Bern1 said:

Ha ha. Yeah, he either makes it or breaks it.

It wasn’t raining so I have a cover for my prediction!

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And he lead for about 2 seconds!

Now confirmed, with Dorna and Suzuki reaching an 'exit deal'

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/suzuki-dorna-exit-motogp-deal/10337527/

Sad news.

Imagine a MotoGP without Repsol Honda...they cant possibly take a few more years of these results.

Came out yesterday that factory Suzuki is also exiting the EWC - Endurance World Championship. Anything news coming from them re: WSBK?

Looks like Suzuki is generating its own click bait - "we will return to the race and we will do it to win. But for that, We must first solve our problems in the market "