Suzuki is pleased to announce that it has agreed terms with Rizla to continue with their sponsorship for a further season in MotoGP, following on from the successful two-year partnership the pair has already enjoyed in the premier class of motorcycle racing. Rizla the world’s premier rolling paper brand has agreed a one-year extension to its title sponsorship of the Suzuki Grand Prix motorcycle race team in the 2008 MotoGP World Championship, which will see the Suzuki GSV-R prototype race bike sporting the distinctive Rizla blue for a further season around the world’s Grand Prix circuits. This is the second positive step for Suzuki as it plans its assault on 2008 championship, after Chris Vermeulen pledged his future to the Japanese manufacturer shortly after last month’s US GP, where the ever-improving Australian star took a superb second place. Rizla and Suzuki have already created a successful on-track partnership in MotoGP, with the pairing scoring Suzuki’s first four-stroke MotoGP victory at Le Mans in France earlier this year, along with three more podiums this season. Suzuki has had a racing relationship with Rizla since the 1980’s in Grand Prix and Kevin Schwantz made his GP debut on a Rizla-backed RG500 in 1986. Fumihiro Oonishi – Suzuki Racing Department Group Leader: “Suzuki is delighted to be entering into another year’s partnership with Rizla, we have had a good relationship over the past two seasons and Suzuki has benefited from Rizla’s strong marketing activity during that time. The Rizla ‘blue’ has become a unique colour in MotoGP and is now also instantly recognisable as a part of the Suzuki image as well. Suzuki is very excited to be renewing its sponsorship agreement and we look forward to further success together.” Graham Blashill Imperial Tobacco Group Sales & Marketing Director “When we entered MotoGP with Suzuki in 2006 we were confident of and looking forward to a successful and exciting partnership in the battle for points, podiums, and awareness at the very pinnacle of motorcycle sport. Since then we have been very impressed by the drive for success shown by Suzuki. This continuous improvement resulted not only in very positive race results but also enhanced Rizla’s global brand awareness. This is something which we are justifiably proud to be part of and look forward to supporting Suzuki for the 2008 MotoGP season in the fight for the World Championship.”