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/1470676
Jarvis could empathize. "Are we in some similarly difficult situ- ations? Yes, for sure," he said of Yamaha's situation. "We have the same problems with delivery of motorcycles, availability of spare parts and components. Markets have changed. But we don't have an automotive business. We don't make cars, we [only] make some engines. Maybe this is affected by their automotive business." "The need to concentrate" the factory's "effort on the big changes that the Automotive world is facing" referred to in Suzuki's official statement relates to a significant change it is making. As recently as March, the Associated Press indicated how Suzuki Motor is investing $1.4 billion of its funds in electric vehicles at its Indian plant. This hints at the company's future planning, as it claims to have been "forced" to "shift cost and human resources to develop new technologies." A source within the team con- firmed no one there was on a contract beyond this year. Even Suppo, hired in March, had a one-year-plus-one deal. With riders poised to renew commit- ments for next year, it appears the factory was aware it had to act now, otherwise further penal- ties for breaking contracts would be incoming. One could conclude there is good reason to pull out, espe- cially as it appears Suzuki Motor is also under investigation for potentially fitting a number of its four-wheeled diesel fleet with an emission device that provided fake readings. However, reports in German paper Süddeutsche Zeitung stated this could affect 22,000 vehicles Suzuki has sold—hardly a jot on the 11 mil- lion vehicles that were recalled in Volkswagen's "Dieselgate" scandal that cost the German firm somewhere in the region of $40 billion (USD). Also, financial results released on the eve of the French GP showed the company to be in rude health. Net sales increased by 12.3% from April 2021 to March 2022. Its operating profit decreased by 1.5%, a statement read, "owing to increase in raw material prices," but ordinary profit was up by 5.9%. Even the net sales of its motorcycle operations increased by 14.1%, albeit with a greatly reduced operating profit. With little in the way of official communication, one is left to speculate. The take of Paco Sanchez, Mir's personal man- ager, was, "this is a big multi- national competition. There is RINS COULD DO LITTLE OTHER THAN BREAK DOWN . "IT WAS SUPER-HARD," HE SAID. "I WAS FULLY CRYING BECAUSE I'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING TO THIS TEAM SINCE 2017." Alex Rins was admittedly devastated when he heard the news. FEATURE I SUZUKI'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DEPARTURE P110