From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

RM-Z450 TO MAKE ALL-JAPAN MX DEBUT



Suzuki’s all-new RM-Z450 four-stroke motocross machine is to make its world debut at this weekend’s final round of the All-Japan MX Championship series.

The development program on the prototype RM-Z450 machine will continue throughout the winter and then make its international debut in the World MXGP class next year in the hands of multi-world champion Joel Smets.

The new RM-Z450 features an all-new, high-tech DOHC, four-valve, 449cc, liquid-cooled motor, housed in a new-concept aluminium frame, utilising various race and championship-winning technologies from the ultra-successful GSX-R development program. New technologies from the multiple-world championship winning RM motocross development program have also been incorporated.

The production version of the new RM-Z450 will become Suzuki’s flagship model in its expanding four-stroke motocross range and will be ready to hit Suzuki showrooms in August 2004.

Team Suzuki’s All-Japan MX Champion, Akira Narita, will debut the new RM-Z450 at this weekend’s final round of the 2003 series. Narita secured his second title in a row at the previous round of the series and is aiming to give the new machine a winning debut.