Suzuki warned on MotoGP return plans

Suzuki has been told to forget plotting a MotoGP return unless it is willing to commit to running a new factory effort until the end of the 2016 world championship at least.
The Japanese factory temporarily suspended its MotoGP project at the end of last season, citing the impact of the global economic crisis for its decision to withdraw.

Suzuki management though confirmed its intention to return with a new 1000cc project in 2014 when a delegation met MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta at the Brno round in the Czech Republic in late August.

Suzuki though intended to only agree a one-year deal for 2014 before assessing whether it was viable to race on.

But Ezpeleta has confirmed to MCN recently that a one-year commitment is not acceptable and if Suzuki did return, he would insist on a minimum three-year agreement to bring them in line with current five-year contracts in place with Honda, Yamaha and Ducati that expire at the end of 2016.

Ezpeleta said: “They want to come back in 2014 but there will be a minimum period they will have to commit for. They asked about the possibility of coming back for one year and we said no. We have an agreement with the existing manufacturers for the next five years. If Suzuki wants to be back they will have to commit for ’14, 15 and ’16 and be in line with the other factories.”

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