Suzuki has announced that it is effectively merging its two factory-backed 450cc teams into one for the 2017 AMA Supercross and 2017 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series.
Suzuki issued a press release this afternoon about the changes to its 450cc effort, and the information leaves a lot of questions yet to be answered, as no riders have been confirmed to the team for 2017. With James Stewart at the end of his Yoshimura Suzuki contract and Blake Baggett already linked to a KTM team, it would seem that there may not be a rider from the current Yosh team in the new RCH/Yosh stable for 2017. The same could be said for RCH, as Ken Roczen’s move to Honda is emminent though not yet official, and Broc Tickle has not been re-signed to RCH, at least not yet.
The press release mentions that the merger is being done in an effort to expand the team, and while the Suzuki factory 450cc effort could be shrinking by one or two bikes–or not; remember that RCH has fielded three bikes for supercross in the past, when Jake Weimer came aboard to fill-in for injured RCH riders and then was kept on the team after they returned–the term “expansion” hinges upon what Suzuki plans to do in other areas.
For instance, the press release mentions a new 250cc effort but does not mention whether or not this effort will be conducted in-house or will be more on the order of the Motorcycle Superstore 250cc team. With the announcement that Kyle Bentley would be managing the RCH/Yoshimura team, it would seem that current (former?) Yoshimura Suzuki team manager Mike Webb is either out of a job as a team manager or could be helming this new, as-of-yet-unannounced 250cc effort. Suzuki also mentions expanding its grassroots motocross effort, although this would do little to directly impact its professional racing efforts in the immediate future.
DirtBikes.com placed a call to Suzuki immediately after receiving the press release. Suzuki officials responded at 4:33 PDT and told us that no further comment could be made at this time but that more news will be forthcoming.
Here is the official press release by Suzuki:
BREA, Calif. (September 1, 2016)–Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) today announced the formation of RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing as its premier 450 motocross and supercross team. This newly established effort combines SMAI, RCH Racing, and Yoshimura Racing & Development into a singular entity competing in the AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross championships.
“Suzuki has supported RCH Racing since its inception,” said Carey Hart, co-founder of RCH Racing along with 15-time AMA Champion Ricky Carmichael, “and Yoshimura has been an important factor in our success as well. Having just clinched the 2016 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, we have proven that we can win titles. We are excited to bring our strengths to the new RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team.”
“Everyone at RCH is excited about the opportunity ahead of us and the partnerships we’ve created,” added Carmichael. “RCH always strives to be the best team in the paddock and this relationship positions all parties involved to do exactly that. It all starts with hard work, determination and uncompromised support from Yoshimura and Suzuki. With everyone working together focusing on the same goals, we expect to race for wins and championships for years to come.”
RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing will be led by Kyle Bentley as team manager. The new team will make its debut at the 2017 AMA Supercross opener on January 7, in Anaheim. Riders will be announced later.
“Yoshimura and Suzuki have been racing partners for more than 40 years, both in the US and in Japan,” said Don Sakakura, president of Yoshimura Racing & Development, “and over the past few years, we have developed a strong relationship with RCH Racing as well. Everyone at Yoshimura is excited to be a part of this new factory effort and we look forward to building an even stronger racing presence.”
This move by SMAI is a continuation of the expansion the company is making in racing.
“Combining RCH and Yoshimura into a single team is part of our goal of strengthening the Suzuki brand in supercross and motocross,” said Kerry Graeber, SMAI’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Simultaneously, we are growing our grass roots programs, developing a new 250 effort, which will be announced shortly, and establishing RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki as the recognized top rung of the ladder. All of this is being done to increase sales of Suzuki motocross and off-road products.”
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