Suzuki Live returns to Cadwell Park for bumper weekend of fun

Hundreds of bikers from across Europe descended on Lincolnshire’s Cadwell Park race circuit for a weekend of on- and off-track action at Suzuki Live.

The two-day event took place between 15-16 July, with fans of the brand arriving in droves to take on the challenging 2.2-mile circuit, as well as sample the latest models in on-road test rides – plus a seven kilometre off-road course for the current V-Strom range.

“Our ultimate dream was always to do a full weekend and we couldn’t do it last year because Covid happened, and then everyone was booking up trackdays,” Suzuki Marketing Communications Manager, Tim Davies told MCN. “There’s so many nice bikes out, and we’ve had a guy come over from Holland, there’s one from Belgium, and one from France – just to come over and do the trackday. That’s unheard of for me! The love for the brand still blows me away.”

This year’s event grew to two days, following its post-Covid return in 2022. Tickets were available for £12 on the day to spectate, with bikes available to test ride including the Suzuki GSX-8S middleweight naked and Suzuki GSX-S1000GT sports tourer.

The Suzuki GSX-S1000 super naked was also available, or those with an appetite for more power could choose a Suzuki Hayabusa. Full weekend track sessions were available for £229.

“Cadwell Park is my favourite place, apart from home,” visitor Barry Wood from Mablethorpe said. “I think it’s a great event and there’s a nice array of bikes. I should’ve bought my kit for a ride out on one of the bikes!”

Contrasting these modern machines were swathes of iconic two- and four-stroke Suzukis of old, which lined the paddock like a lottery winner’s dream garage. From RG500 special builds, to XR69s, and modern-day Suzuki GSX-R1000s, to Katanas it was the place to be for the Suzuki fan.

“It’s interesting to see the old bikes and look at them throughout the years,” Rachel Ogden from Lincoln added. “It’s interesting to come to a different event because normally we come for the British Superbikes at the end of August. It’s been good to see the bikes going round the track.”

On top of the machinery, there were also a number of past and present Suzuki racing stars in attendance, who spent the weekend spinning laps aboard past competition motorcycles – including Barry Sheene’s last grand prix bike, the DAF Trucks-sponsored 1984 Harris-framed XR45 RG500. They were also on hand to meet with fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

Racers included three-time British Superbike champion John Reynolds, National Superstock 1000 champion Taylor Mackenzie, former 500 Grand Prix racer and British champion Steve Parrish, plus World Endurance and World Superbike champion Sylvain Guintoli.

“I came last year, and I was surprised to see that many people, because when you do an exclusive day, it can be difficult to get numbers,” Guintoli said. “But there’s loads of people here, loads of different bikes, loads of different classic stuff and new stuff, and everybody’s very passionate about the brand.”

Found on the Suzuki stand during the day, they then took part in a Q&A session on the Saturday evening joined by ex 500GP racer Rob McElnea. This was before a live performance from band, the High Rollers, that ran late into the evening.

“It’s great – especially because I’ve bumped into people that I used to race against,” Steve Parrish added. “You’ve only got to start one of these [two strokes] up and a crowd of people turn up.

“It’s just special. Even younger people want to see the two strokes, probably because their parents have told them about them.”

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Suzuki Live returns to Cadwell Park for bumper weekend of fun

First published 4 April 2023 by Dan Sutherland

Suzuki Live will return to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire in summer 2023, for a full weekend featuring track sessions, an adventure bike zone, trade stands and displays, plus special guests.

Spread over both Saturday-Sunday, July 15-16, the track sessions will see classic and modern bikes take to the 2.19-mile circuit, with novice, intermediate, and experienced groups available for pre- and post-2000 Suzukis. There will also be classic race bike parades across the two days.

The new adventure bike zone will give Suzuki V-Strom owners the chance to take their bikes off-road, as well as test riding the new 800 and 1050 models released for 2023. The zone – free to enjoy over the weekend – will include tuition, a skills area, and a loop through woodland.

Out on the roads visitors will be able to test ride Suzuki models including the new Suzuki GSX-8S, Suzuki GSX-S1000GT, Suzuki GSX-S1000, and the current Suzuki Hayabusa.

Special guests include three-time British Superbike champion John Reynolds, former National Superstock 1000 champion Taylor Mackenzie, and ex-500 GP racer and British champ Steve Parrish.

Suzuki GB’s head of motorcycle marketing, Ian Bland, said: “Last year’s Suzuki Live event took place in glorious sunshine and was a spectacular day out for us and for everyone that joined.

“So much so, we couldn’t wait to extend it to a full weekend of track activity, parades, displays, and entertainment.”

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Sheene to star at Suzuki live

First published 1 June 2022 by Gareth Evans

Barry Sheene’s son Freddie will ride one of his late father’s Grand Prix race bikes at a Suzuki Live event at Cadwell Park on Friday 10 June. 

Freddie will ride the 1984 ‘DAF’ XR45, the last bike his dad raced in GPs, and will be joined by Stuart Graham on the RT67 125, which Barry bought to race the ’71 season. 

Three further Sheene bikes will take part – the ’76 and ’77 title-winning XR14s and the quirky 652cc XR23A big-bore RG500. 

Suzuki Live includes track day sessions for classic and modern machines and road tests of new Suzukis. Spaces cost £135 and should be pre-booked online. 

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Suzuki Live kicks off on June 10 at Cadwell Park

First published on 31 May 2022 by Gareth Evans

Suzuki Live kicks off on Friday 10 June at Cadwell Park, offering owners and enthusiasts the chance to ride the latest models and see some iconic classics, as well as take part in a three-tiered track day.

Furthermore, the event will feature a parade lap of five of Barry Sheene’s race bikes, and there will be celebrity appearances from the likes of three-time BSB champion John Reynolds, WSB and EWC champion and MotoGP test rider Sylvian Guintoli, and Danny Webb, who’ll be out on the RG500 he rode at the Classic TT.

The bikes available on the test ride fleet include the new GSX-S1000GT, the GSX-S1000, and the latest Hayabusa. To have a go, simply bring your driving licence along with a DVLA check code or your National Insurance number.

The classics on display will be a GSX-R750F, the TL1000s Suzuki built a brand new in 2014, a ’91 GSX-R1100L and the Team Classic Suzuki Katana endurance racer.

If you fancy joining in with the on-track action, expect track sessions split into three groups – Classic Novice, for those new to riding on circuit or new to heritage bikes, Classic Intermediate for those more familiar, and Open Advanced, which will feature top riders on the latest Suzuki bikes.

Tickets are available via the MSV website right here.