Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Jeff Wilson is leaving American Suzuki’s Sports Promotion Department to become a Suzuki and Kawasaki dealer in his hometown of Yuma, Arizona.

Wilson, 41, was in charge of Suzuki road racing support programs, road racing contingency programs and the Suzuki Cup Finals. Wilson also managed drag racing support and contingency and oversaw Suzuki’s dirt track support programs.

His official title was Sports Promotions Senior Specialist, On-road Manager.

Wilson said that he grew up in a Suzuki-Kawasaki dealership owned by his father in Yuma, and continued to work at the dealership for several years after his father sold the business. Wilson went to work for American Suzuki in January, 1989.

When the shop went out of business in May of this year, Wilson seized the chance to open up an entirely new Suzuki and Kawasaki dealership in Yuma.

Wilson started at American Suzuki as a Technical Service Rep, then became a Quality Research Supervisor in the Technical Department. Wilson moved to the Sports Promotion Department in August of 1998.

Wilson’s new dealership is called Wild West Motorsports, located at 2500 East 16th St.,
Yuma, AZ 85365. The phone number is (928) 783-8282.

Wilson is married and he and his wife, Meredith, have a son, Dylan, 4.

Wilson said October 11 that the highlight of his Sports Promotion career at American Suzuki was “Watching Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki move into the AMA series and win, taking the 750cc Supersport Championship last year and the biggest Championship the Sports Promotion Department competes in, Formula Xtreme this year, both with John Hopkins.”

Wilson is officially leaving his post at American Suzuki at the end of the month and may or may not be at the 2001 Suzuki Cup Finals, scheduled for October 24-28 at Road Atlanta. Wilson will complete Suzuki support deals for 2002 before leaving the company.

“I loved doing what I was doing at American Suzuki, but this was an opportunity that would come up only once in a lifetime,” said Wilson. “It was a great opportunity to come back home where my family is and where a lot of my friends are, and to have my own business.”