Grant Matsushima, co-owner of the Matsushima Suzuki AMA race team, is positioning his factory-supported team as a direct feeder to the Yoshimura Suzuki factory team. “My team will run on Full-kitted Showa Suspension — Showa fork cartridges and Showa shocks,” Matsushima told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday. “It follows along the line of my rider development program. I switched to Dunlops [in 2006] not only because that’s what people are winning on but that’s the tire that Yoshimura Suzuki uses, that’s the tire that the factory team uses. “And being where my program is at in Suzuki, I wanted to try and make my program more suitable towards my riders going to Yoshimura Suzuki. Being on Showa suspension was definitely the right way to go.” Matsushima will retain the services of Young Gun riders Danny Eslick and Blake Young in 2007 and will add Japanese racer Akira Tamitsuji. All three men will race in the AMA Supersport and Superstock classes on Showa-suspended, Dunlop-shod Suzuki GSX-Rs. In addition to its help in obtaining his Showa deal, American Suzuki has increased its support package to Matsushima’s team. Matsushima plans to use the increased support primarily to enhance his team’s presence in the AMA paddock by purchasing a new semi-truck, pit dress-up materials, uniforms, etc. “The upgrades were a necessity,” said Matsushima. “I’ve just been really hesitant on that stuff. Now I’ve got a little bit of money to spend on that stuff, and I’m gonna spend it.” The increased support from American Suzuki and new Southern California construction industry sponsors Hammer Down, Pave West and Garden Grove Electric has also allowed Matsushima to move from his 900-square-foot race and performance tuning shop in Chino, California, to a new, 3000-square-foot facility in Upland, California. The new location will also help Matsushima increase production of his own EKG line of performance exhaust systems. Matsushima Suzuki plans to continue its off-season testing program at California Speedway in January 2007.