Dorna ‘reminds’ Suzuki of contract following MotoGP exit rumours
In the statement, Dorna reiterates that Suzuki has signed to remain in MotoGP (until 2026), having joined the other five manufacturers in agreeing a new five-year term early last season.
However, the commercial rights holder acknowledges that Suzuki could yet depart early 'following an agreement between both parties'.
Dorna adds that it continues to receive 'high levels of interest' from official factories and Independent teams looking to join the MotoGP grid:
"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."
Suzuki team members are understood to have been informed of the factory's shock decision to quit, which is assumed to be for financial reasons, during Monday's post-race Jerez test.
The last time an official manufacturer left MotoGP was when Suzuki previously withdrew from the sport, from 2012-2014. That was titled as a 'temporary suspension', on financial grounds, and coincided with the completion of the MSMA contract with Dorna.
Suzuki returned to MotoGP in 2015, with Maverick Vinales then handing the new GSX-RR its first win in 2017. That was followed by further victories for Vinales' replacement Alex Rins, before another young Spanish star, Joan Mir, won the world championship in 2020.
Although unable to win a race last season, Mir and Suzuki still finished third overall behind Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati). Rins and Mir are currently fourth and sixth respectively in the early 2022 standings.
An official statement from Suzuki Motor Corporation is yet to be made.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
