Notable Accomplishments of Suzuki Racers

The Suzuki Motor Corporation has a long and storied history in motorsport, with many of its racers achieving some truly impressive feats. From the early days of Grand Prix racing to the modern era of Formula 1, Suzuki racers have consistently shown that they are among the best in the world. The accomplishments of Suzuki racers are many and varied, ranging from championship titles to race wins and podium finishes. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the most notable achievements of Suzuki racers throughout the years.

Notable Accomplishments of Suzuki Racers

Suzuki has a long and illustrious history of success in motorsport, with its racing teams and drivers achieving remarkable results. From world-famous racers to record-breaking titles, Suzuki racers have made an indelible mark on the world of motorsport.

This article will look at some of the most notable accomplishments of Suzuki racers over the years. One of the most impressive achievements of a Suzuki racer was the 1990 MotoGP World Championship title. American legend Kevin Schwantz rode his Suzuki RGV 500 to victory in the 500cc class, cementing his name in motorcycle racing history. In the same year, fellow Suzuki rider, Australian Mick Doohan, won the 250cc class on his Suzuki RGV 250. This was the first time a Japanese manufacturer had won both titles in the same year. In Superbike racing, Suzuki has enjoyed much success over the years.

Since its first championship title in 1977 with Sheene riding a GS1000, Suzuki has gone on to win nine more championships in both the World Superbike and British Superbike Championships. In 2017, Jonathan Rea won his third consecutive World Superbike Championship title on a Suzuki GSX-R1000R. In Rally racing, Suzuki has also achieved great results. The iconic Group B rally car, the Suzuki Swift GTi, was driven by legendary driver Ari Vatanen to win the 1985 Rally of New Zealand. In 2006, Suzuki driver Toni Gardemeister and co-driver Jakke Honkanen achieved an impressive second-place finish in the Rallye Monte Carlo in their Suzuki SX4 WRC. Some of the most successful Suzuki racers over the years include Kevin Schwantz, Mick Doohan, Carl Fogarty, Troy Corser, and Jonathan Rea.

Schwantz and Doohan are remembered for their achievements in MotoGP, while Fogarty won four World Superbike championships on a Suzuki GSX-R750 between 1994 and 1999. Troy Corser is one of the most successful riders in British Superbike history with three championships on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 between 2000 and 2007. Rea is the most recent success story for Suzuki and has dominated World Superbike for the past three years. Suzuki’s success in motorsport over the years is testament to its commitment to high performance and quality engineering. With its impressive list of championship titles, race wins, and records set, it’s clear that Suzuki racers have made an indelible mark on the world of motorsport.

MotoGP Success

Suzuki's success in MotoGP is no small feat. Over the years, Suzuki riders and teams have achieved remarkable results, winning races, titles and setting records. Some of the most successful Suzuki MotoGP riders and teams include Kevin Schwantz, Kenny Roberts, Loris Capirossi, John Hopkins, Chris Vermeulen and Álex Rins.

Kevin Schwantz was one of the most successful Suzuki riders in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the 1993 500cc World Championship with Suzuki. Kenny Roberts also had a successful career with Suzuki in the 1980s, including a win in the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix. Loris Capirossi had an illustrious career with Suzuki in the 2000s, winning races and setting lap records at numerous circuits. He was also a part of the team that won the 2003 Constructors' Championship.

John Hopkins also had great success with Suzuki in MotoGP, with a win in the 2005 USA Grand Prix and a podium finish at the 2006 Australian Grand Prix. Chris Vermeulen was another successful Suzuki rider in MotoGP, winning his first race at the 2007 Dutch TT. His best finish was third at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix. Álex Rins also had great success with Suzuki in MotoGP, winning his first race at the 2016 British Grand Prix and finishing second at the 2017 Dutch TT.

Rally Championships

Suzuki has achieved great success in rally championships throughout its history, with its teams and drivers claiming numerous individual race wins and overall title victories.

One of the most successful Suzuki rally drivers is Tommi Makinen, who won the World Rally Championship four times between 1996 and 1999. He drove for the factory team, winning seven races in total. Makinen also won the Finnish Rally Championship three times. Another notable Suzuki racer is Juha Kankkunen, who was one of the first non-Scandinavians to win a World Rally Championship race. He was part of the team that won Suzuki’s first world championship title in 1993, and also won the Finnish Rally Championship three times.

The Japanese driver Kenjiro Shinozuka has also been successful in Suzuki rally racing, winning three World Rally Championship races and two Finnish Rally Championship titles. More recently, Suzuki has been successful in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), winning the overall title in 2010 and 2011 with driver Guy Wilks. Wilks was a part of the Ralliart team that also won two individual race victories in the IRC.

Superbike Championships

Since its first foray into World Superbike Championships in 1987, Suzuki has been an ever-present force in the sport. Over the years, Suzuki riders have claimed multiple titles, notably John Kocinski in 1990, Pierfrancesco Chili in 1998, Troy Corser in 2005 and Max Biaggi in 2007. In addition to these world titles, Suzuki has also secured multiple podium finishes, including two runner-up titles for Chili in 1999 and Biaggi in 2006. Suzuki teams have also achieved success in the World Superbike Championships.

The Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki team won the title in 1998 with rider Chili and the Alstare Suzuki Corse team secured a runner-up position in 1999 with Chili again. In addition, the team secured a record 15 wins from 21 races in the 2005 season with rider Troy Corser. In recent years, Suzuki has continued to make its mark on the sport. For example, in 2017, the Rizla Suzuki Racing Team achieved a 1-2 finish at the Dutch round of the championship with riders Alex Lowes and Leon Camier. This was followed up by another 1-2 finish at the Spanish round of the championship with Lowes again and Sylvain Guintoli. Overall, Suzuki's successes in World Superbike Championships are impressive and have seen them become one of the most successful teams in the sport's history.

From world titles to multiple podium finishes, Suzuki racers have achieved remarkable results over the years. In conclusion, Suzuki has a long history of success in motorsport that stretches back decades. Its teams and drivers have achieved impressive results in different disciplines all over the world, from MotoGP to Superbike Championships and Rally Championships. Suzuki racers have consistently proven their prowess on the track, with notable accomplishments including world-famous titles and record-breaking victories. These achievements are a testament to the dedication and skill of Suzuki racers.