Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1467308
Dorna: "Suzuki Can't Quit Without Our Permission" M otoGP Commercial Rights Holder Dorna has released a statement on Suzuki's intention to quit MotoGP at the end of the 2022 season, reiterating they cannot make the decision to quit on their own. Suzuki is contracted to com- pete until the end of 2026, hav- ing signed a new five-year deal with Dorna which began at the start of 2022 alongside Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM. Dorna says should Suzuki in- deed leave the championship af- ter coming to a mutual agreement with Dorna, there are multiple teams looking to take its place as well as "official factories," but stops short of naming them. Here is the official statement from Dorna: "Following recent rumors of Suzuki departing MotoGP at the end of 2022, Dorna Sports has officially contacted the (Suzuki) factory in order to remind them that the conditions of their con- tract to race in MotoGP do not allow for them to take this deci- sion 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 num- ber 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 hun- dreds of millions of fans around the world. "Interest from these parties has been re-confirmed in the past 24 hours." Suzuki is yet to formally clarify the rumors of their impending departure from MotoGP. CN IN THE WIND P28 Dorna says Suzuki cannot make the decision to quit MotoGP racing without its consent.