SUZUKI MOTOGP: GRINS FROM RINS

It was a dark day in motorsport when Suzuki announced it would be exiting the MotoGP scene at the end of 2011. After 10 years of four-stroke action, continually developing and impressing with the brand’s iconic GSV-R, the decision was taken to pull the plug and walk away from the sport we love the most. How could they? Why would they? Was this really the end of premier class racing for a manufacturer that’d won six rider championships and had accrued more silverware than you’d find in a royal palace? If it was tough on the fans, it must have been even tougher on the riders, the engineers and head honchos that utilised this platform to showcase their abilities and ingenuity. And then there was the question of pride. Just like opting for the bargain meal deal at an exclusive, top-end restaurant, Suzuki’s disappearance was interpreted by