Suzuki Shuts down it's Race Team.

[Guest Crusty]

From MXA

YES, IT IS TRUE—SUZUKI SHUTS DOWN ITS RACE TEAM

Although most people in the industry knew the news five days ago, Suzuki has kept mum about what happened last Friday. So, what happened? Suzuki had another round of layoffs (not their first)...and they let the Suzuki race team go (Aki Goto, Ray Tetherton and Mike Webb). Reportedly Pat Alexander and Chris Wheeler didn’t get the ax, but who knows what's around the corner.

Obviously this throws Suzuki’s 2012 racing plans up in the air, especially given that every team and rider who was unhappy with Honda (Chad Reed) or Yamaha (Joe Gibbs) or life (James Stewart) were all making happy talk with Suzuki.

Rockstar will find a new team to sponsor (we would assumed Chad Reed’s team) and word on the street was the Makita was leaving anyway.

Brett Metcalfe has a contract and Suzuki will find a way to support him—most likely through Yoshimura. And, for all of you doom and gloomers out there, this is not the end of Suzuki, Suzukis being raced or Suzuki-backed teams (any more than Yamaha dropping out was the end of Yamahas on the circuit...although Bultaco never made a comeback when they quit). All of this will shake out and Tetherton, Webb and Goto will find new positions very fast (and Suzuki could be back in time). Our sympathies go out to the lesser knowns at Suzuki, who were laid off and are now looking for jobs.

[Zenosan 2]

Times have really changed.

Back in the late 70's when desert racing was still king, my brother got picked up and was sponsored by Suzuki. This entailed them giving him three new desert bikes a year to use in his races. That was it. He paid all his own expenses. They also made him agree to not be seen riding another brand of bike. We had both been Husky riders for some time. He could not part with his beloved 78 Husky 390 OR so he hid it with me at my place here in Escondido. I have been bringing it out to the desert for him on our private family rides ever since. He is long since retired and gave away the Suzukis to friends. His Husky is still going strong.

[robertaccio 413]

Aki no moto? That guy has been a fixture with Suzuki US for almost ever. He is a nice guy, hope he continues to be in the MX game some how or some way. last meet we had with him he indicated small budget for more involvment with outside sponsors, it looks like zero budget now, that's too bad. It sure looks like Mr.DeCoster made the correct departure move for sure with this news.

[daijones 0]

More than a bit of shock and a shame, but if as reported KTM is paying Dungey $5M the cost to win at MX/SX has stepped up a bunch and if you can't afford to buy one of IMO only 4 probably contenders (Dungey/Villo/Barcia/Reed) other than another overseas contender then not much point throwing more money after bad without any real hope of winning (even though Metcalf is great he's in general a step back from top 4, similar to Windham, Alessi, Short etc.).

Wonder what if anything this means to Josh Strang and off-road team?