Return of the GSX-R? Suzuki president hints at a new range of sportsbikes to be revealed in 2025

President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Toshihiro Suzuki, has spoken exclusively to MCN about the future of the firm’s motorcycling line-up – hinting that we could see a return to more focused sportsbikes in the near future.

At present, Suzuki’s fully faired sporting line-up in the UK consists of an A1 licence friendly GSX-R125 single, and 776cc parallel-twin GSX-8R (pictured below) – designed to go up against the likes of the Yamaha R7, and Triumph Daytona 660.

The Japanese brand no longer produce any of their trackorientated GSX-R models for Europe, having pulled the plug on their last remaining GSX-R1000 superbike at the arrival of Euro5 emissions regulations in 2022.

Prior to this, both the GSX-R600 and 750 supersport models had already left the continent – with all three four-cylinder families now only found in select markets, including the USA.

However, despite the current landscape, recent comments made by the brand’s president suggest a more positive picture for the future – with many European and Japanese brands now re-introducing mid-size focused metal to their range for 2025.

“We cannot tell you the detail, but we think it’s important to bring supersport motorcycles to the market, adapting to the new regulations,” the Suzuki boss said.

“We think it’s important, because it’s Suzuki’s heritage.”

When pushed a little further, he added the closing remark: “Please enjoy the next EICMA” – implying we could see something new in less than a year’s time, at the 2025 international trade show in Milan.

Healthy competition

Despite almost going extinct a few years ago, the supersport class is now in the best shape it’s been  in for a long while, with 2025 set to welcome a new Yamaha R9 triple, KTM 990 RCR twin, reimagined Ducati Panigale V2, and an even fruitier MV Agusta F3 RR.

Add to this Honda’s CBR600RR (pictured below) – which came back to Europe in 2024 after leaving in 2017 – and Kawasaki’s ZX-6R and you’ve got yourself one hell of a line-up.

Sales have been promising too, with the £10,529 CBR600RR topping British charts for bikes of 501-750cc across June of this year, according to figures released by the Motorcycle Industry Association.

Their data showed a recorded 162 registrations for the period, and further revealed it to be the best-selling ‘road sport’ model the following month, with an additional 71 registrations.

Racing ahead

Despite the talk of sporting models, Mr Suzuki was keen to establish that this wouldn’t necessarily  mean a full-scale return to racing, with the factory no longer investing in MotoGP, World Superbikes, or even World Endurance – where the French-based Yoshimura SERT Motul team won the  championship again in 2024 using a GSX-R1000R.

“The most important thing, we think, is to bring motorcycles to the customers, by meeting all the regulations,” he continued.

“Of course, racing is important, but we prioritise bringing motorcycles for customers – including considering carbon neutrality.”

To this end, the brand boss confirmed Suzuki will continue to invest in their Team Suzuki CN Challenge project, which saw them compete in this year’s Suzuka Eight Hours endurance race aboard an experimental GSX-R1000R running on 40% bio-sourced fuel from Elf, as well as engine oil from  Motul, made from a bio-sourced base.

With the project part of a wider open-source approach to the future of production motorcycles, Yoshimura chipped in to produce a full system race exhaust complete with a catalytic converter, and Bridgestone supplied tyres with an increased volume of recycled material.

The Suzuki team finished the endurance race just four laps down on the winners, Team HRC.