Suzuki Announces 2009 Roadracing Plans

Monday, January 26, 2009

RSS

Font:

Email a Friend

*Email Addresses (up to 5):

Personal Message:

*Your Name:

*Your Email Address:

Send me a copy of this email

* Indicates a required field

Email addresses will only be used to send this message. They will not be used for promotional purposes. See our Privacy Policy.

Yoshimura Suzuki rider Mat Mladin claimed his 64th career victory in the AMA Superbike final at Daytona.

American Suzuki will compete in the 2009 AMA Pro American Superbike class with riders Mat Mladin, Tommy Hayden, and Blake Young.

American Suzuki Motor Corporation announced today that the Rockstar Makita Suzuki Racing team will compete in the AMA Pro Racing Superbike series for 2009. After extensive discussions with AMA Pro Racing, American Suzuki has received clarification of the AMA rules that will see the Suzuki GSX-R1000 sportbike on the racing grid beginning with the opening round in Daytona, Fla., in March.

Road racing is an important activity for Suzuki at the professional and amateur levels. The manufacturer uses it as much for testing and development as for sales and marketing. Its championship winning heritage and class-leading sales prove that this competitive activity is beneficial for Suzuki as well.

Mat Mladin, six-time AMA Superbike Champion, will race his No. 7 Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the premier AMA Pro American Superbike class for Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki. Tommy Hayden will race his No. 22 Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the same class. New team member Blake Young will round out the three-man Rockstar Makita Suzuki team in the AMA Pro American Superbike class.

Recent Sportbike Headlines

View all articles by Press Release
View all articles in AMA Pro Road Racing 2009 News

Comments

Jerry -Funny March 10, 2009 03:17 PM
It's funny how these fools who are brand loyal suzuki says the gixxer 1k rules hahaha that's a good one, if the gixxer 1k is such a dominating bike, why is it getting it's tail kicked all over the place in world superbike racing last year, the year before last year and this year? Nobody gives a rats arse about AMA superbike racing, world superbike racing is the pinnacle of sportbike racing next to MOTOGP and last i checked, the yamaha's were ruling both those classes.

Phil -Mladin February 19, 2009 11:15 AM
I know a lot of people hate on Matt and Suzuki, but what do you expect? It is a winning combination (best rider with best bike). DMG has changed the rules, but what makes me laugh is if the goal of evening out the playing field is going to make it better. Get a clue DMG! Why penalize a manufacturer for putting more R&D (money) into a series. If the other manufacturers would step up they would have more competitive bikes. Suzuki is not the largest manufacturer of motorcycles. Yamaha and Honda have way deeper pockets then Suzuki so make them pay to play IMHO. I think Matt has a very good chance at his 7th title this year. He has proven over and over again that even with inferior equipment (remember those 750 days against the liter bikes?) that he is able to make it on the podium. Don't get me wrong..the Bostroms are good as well as Hacking and Hayes, but they have not proven anything yet.

Boo Hoo Honda -Tail Between Their Legs February 15, 2009 12:35 PM
No doubt that Mat is the man to beat. Although Suzuki and Yosh have proven their dominance year after year, it was Mat and Ben (i.e. the riders) that have won the races. Team Yosh/Suzuki put the best riders on their bikes and developed them to the point of total dominance. No other riders have had the balls to go as fast nor put in the commitment that these two have. You can't hate them for doing it better than everyone else. For example, Honda has been making horrible choices. Like NOT putting their fast guys (Josh Hayes) on a Superbike and keeping slower riders, like Miguel, on the team. Because of poor management, they have fallen well below the curve in development and have not been able to compete. They know they can't win so they leave with their tails between their legs...boo hoo for Honda! I praise Yamaha and the other manufactures who are competing this year for NOT giving up. But if they and their riders want to a chance at beating Mat and Suzuki, they had better step up their game.

Gregasaurus -Mat Maldin February 12, 2009 10:22 PM
Mat Mladin is a professional racer, not a clown and pony show who is out there to make friends like the Bostrom brothers, nice guys they are but didn't do too well against Mladin or Spies. Give Mladin Props for domnating and even when Spies came into the m ix and won 3 a row he still made him work for 2 of them down to the last race and won more races than Ben Spies in those 3 years which was his spoken goal all along. As for the comment above that it was all the bike, it was the best bike with the best riders , but you could put anybody else in the paddock on the Suzi and they couldn't win ne race, theyre not that good. Another thing, Mladin turned down a WSB ride twice in the early 2000's as they would not let him take his crew with him to WSB, being loyal and liking the USA he stayed and won ,Neil Hodgson even said after his first year in AMA that Mladin would Win the Title in WSB if he were to race over there , he is that good. This coming f rom the World Champion himself. Don't hate the best riders for being the best and developing the best bikes hell Mladin won 2 titles on the underpowered 750 that was down 6-8 mph to the Ducati and Hondas. Spies will Win the WSB this or next year then head off to GPs and Mladin will win #7 against an unsdermanned field, not his fault. Nobody works and trais harder than Mladin, Nobody. And he was cool to me in Fontana the last few years. Just don't mess with him when he's working and all is cool

acecycleins-guy -You three guys are so off base January 28, 2009 06:04 AM
First, I have no doubt that Mat can be a gentleman. But he does not alway project that image. His choice, but that's why the majority of people think he's an a$$. Second, Yosh technology helped make that team. Not Mat's skills. If he had riding skills to be a "world elite racer" he would be racing in WSBK. Third, Yosh did not (until this year) release proprietary equipment to the public- meaning the Yosh bikes used parts that helped make those bikes powerhouse winners. Forth, Mat is NO better of a racer than the following: Ben Bostrom, Jamie Hacking, Aaron Yates, Neil Hodgeson and Josh Hayes. The new rules will not allow Mat to capture his seven title this season. I expect the title to go to Bostrom, Hayes or Yates this season. Losing the American Honda or Kawaski brand will have no effect on the end result. Honda will back Corona on liter bikes and Erion on 600s without spending big bucks. Kawi decided to run only 600s this year. Odd move, but understandable. Attack will do just fine with Kawi backing and maybe next season someone will run the liter bikes and Kawi will effectively do what Honda is doing this season. Our AMA Pro Racing series is NOT WSBK. It will never be. That's why DMG is shifting the rules. Privateers (which make up most of the grid) cannot pay the money it takes to be on the world level. But they can compete with America's best talent now that DMG inacted it's rules changes. WSBK believes that the AMA series is just club racing with more money. They treat BSB series better than ours and we certainly have more talent than the BSB series. So, it is what it is. DMG decided to change the direction of American roadracing and when WERA and CCS modify their rules to mimic AMA rules then all these privateers can race in any series with the same bike. More racing equals more contingency money and contingency is how many of the privateers live. DMG is doing the right thing. Some will scoff, but most will appreciate the changes when the racing becomes closer and more exciting.

wllrjstn -And the winner is... January 27, 2009 04:54 PM
Mladin. Unless the new bike rules do something to make the Suzuki inferior, Mladin has everyone covered. I know alot of people don't care too much for Mladin, but he is a total class act, very professional. I was at the podium celebrations at Road America last year and everyone was trying to get some sort of souvinier from all the racers. I got covered by Hacking's and Mladin's champagne. Hacking and Spies threw their caps out to the crowd and people dove for them. Mladin just walked up to a young little boy (who was probably just there with his dad) and placed his cap on the boy's head. Made that kid's day, no doubt. My head tells me Mladin will win because he is the best rider. My heart wants Mladin to win because he is real.

Sam-i-am -No Honda? Who's next? January 27, 2009 11:45 AM
Having major motorcycle manufacturers pulling out of racing series is a statement to how pathetic major motorcycle racing in the U.S. has become! Let's face it, the last couple of years has been a BORING affair. The outcome was predictible with only which Suzuki rider being unanswered. Losing Honda is just a reflection of manufacturers' impression of our racing on a high-dollar level. On any grid there were only maybe 8 riders with a chance to win and all others were there to simply fill the grid. The new promoters of stateside racing would do well to follow the example of World Superbike. Now that's racing that's exciting with lots of teams and riders!!

Machoo Monchero -Mat and Suzuki in 09 AMA Superbike January 26, 2009 08:33 PM
I predict his 7th AMA Superbike Title. I see no one close in his level, Hacking might have been a threat but I dont think he has a ride yet. With Honda pulling out, this I beleive makes things much easier for Mat and his team mates. However I would not count out the the new 09 R1 with Bostrom as the pilot and I sure would enjoy to see the "Georgian" Yates steals one from everyone. I'm excited for 09 AMA Superbike, but my money is still on the second baddest rider of all time.....GO MAT !!!!