Statement from Dorna Sports regarding Suzuki
Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Following recent rumours of Suzuki departing MotoGP™ at the end of 2022, Dorna Sports has officially contacted the factory in order to remind them that the conditions of their contract to race in MotoGP™ do not allow for them to take this decision unilaterally.
However, should Suzuki depart following an agreement between both parties, Dorna will decide on the ideal number of riders and teams racing in the MotoGP™ class from 2023.
Dorna continues to receive high levels of interest from a number of both official factories and Independent Teams looking to join the MotoGP™ grid as the sport continues to set a global example of close competition, innovation and entertainment, reaching hundreds of millions of fans around the world.
Interest from these parties has been re-confirmed in the past 24 hours.
More, from Editor-At-Large Michael Gougis:
Dorna: Other Companies Interested If Suzuki Leaves MotoGP
Dorna says Suzuki’s decision to leave MotoGP will come at a cost, as the company recently signed an agreement to race in the class until 2026.
However, Dorna also says it has other factories lined up to take Suzuki’s place starting in 2023, as well as independent teams that want the Japanese firm’s two grid slots.
Dorna issued a statement early today following widespread media reports – confirmed by Suzuki MotoGP team members – that the company has decided to shut down its racing operation at the end of the season. Team members were told of the decision at a meeting Monday, May 2 during the post-race tests at Jerez.
Companies contract with Dorna to race in MotoGP, but must commit to participating for a period of time as part of that contract. If a company wants to leave early, it can face significant financial penalties unless it brokers an exit strategy.
When Suzuki wanted to pull out of MotoGP in 2010, the company struck a deal with Dorna to run only a single bike for 2011 before leaving entirely for three years. Similarly, when Kawasaki withdrew from MotoGP racing, it reached an agreement with Dorna to run a single machine under the Hayate banner for a season before departing completely.
Currently, there are 24 grid slots available in MotoGP, with Suzuki – one of only two factories not to run a satellite team – occupying two of them. Dorna says if Suzuki leaves, it will decide on what to do with the final two spaces. Currently, the grid includes eight Ducatis, four Hondas, four KTMs, four Yamahas, two Aprilias and two Suzukis.
Dorna’s official statement reads as follows:
Following recent rumours of Suzuki departing MotoGP™ at the end of 2022, Dorna Sports has officially contacted the factory in order to remind them that the conditions of their contract to race in MotoGP™ do not allow for them to take this decision unilaterally.
However, should Suzuki depart following an agreement between both parties, Dorna will decide on the ideal number of riders and teams racing in the MotoGP™ class from 2023.
Dorna continues to receive high levels of interest from a number of both official factories and Independent Teams looking to join the MotoGP™ grid as the sport continues to set a global example of close competition, innovation and entertainment, reaching hundreds of millions of fans around the world.
Interest from these parties has been re-confirmed in the past 24 hours.
