Team Suzuki Press Office – July 9.
Team SUZUKI ECSTAR and Suzuki Motor Corporation celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Suzuki GSX-R machine this weekend at the Sachsenring MotoGP™ World Championship race in Germany.
Riders Aleix Espargarò and Maverick Viñales will race with a special livery on their GSX-RR machines, matching rider leathers and new team clothing, both this weekend and also at the GP of Indianapolis. The graphics are based-on the iconic blue and white colour scheme from the 80s that was also debuted on the race track by Kevin Schwantz.
Launched in 1985, the Suzuki GSX-R has become an iconic model-range in the road motorcycling market, as well as on the racetrack, introducing version-after-version, technological advancements and styling innovations.
Satoru Terada – Team SUZUKI ECSTAR MotoGP™ Project Leader:
“When we started developing the MotoGP™ machine we clearly had in mind that it would be named the GSX-RR, therefore keeping a very strong connection with the GSX-R. This name at Suzuki means a lot, because it has a very strong heritage both in road machines and in racing machines. This direct connection between the race version and the road version is something Suzuki has always believed in and we as Team SUZUKI ECSTAR strongly wanted to respect this view. GSX-R and RR are real sisters, not only because of their design, but also because the technical innovations that we develop and test in racing have a direct application also on series production models. This is our way to stay in touch with our fans, may they be supporting our riders in a MotoGP™ Grand Prix, or riding their GSX-R machines on the roads of the world.”
Aleix Espargaro:
“Racing with Team SUZUKI ECSTAR makes me very proud that I’m part of such an emotional and ambitious project coming back to MotoGP™. Now I have the chance to wear the colours that made the Suzuki brand famous all over the world. The white-blue theme recalls many successes from the past and I hope that it will bring to me and our team even more chances to celebrate again.”
Maverick Viñales:
“Racing with these new colours is unbelievable and I feel like I’m dressed like the great Champions that in the past made the Suzuki brand so famous. We are part of a company that has a fascinating heritage. The name of our machines itself reflects bikes that have become real icons in the racing world. We hope that our fans and Suzuki GSX-R customers worldwide will identify with this and hopefully support us even more.”
