Following last weekend’s 1/2 finish of riders Mike Kiedrowski and Steve Hatch aboard the DR-Z400s at the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix in the prestiguous Hamel 100, Suzuki will support three factory DR-Z400s for the 2001 World Off-Road Championship Series. In addition to Kiedrowski and Hatch, Rodney Smith will ride a DR-Z400 in that series.
The DR-Z400, which we tested on January 17, 2000, has been very well received by the worldwide press. Suzuki is anxious to build on its reputation as an off-road racer in addition to its role as an enduro/trail bike with customers.
Interestingly, I cannot recall Rodney Smith ever riding a four-stroke. Smith is a very capable two-stroke rider who has been the USA’s top finisher at the ISDE.