Yoshimura & Suzuki Announce 2012 Plans
Yoshimura Racing and American Suzuki together have built a long history of dominating US racing in AMA Superbike and now AMA Supercross and Motocross. Yoshimura has led the factory Suzuki Superbike team to claim 10 of the last 13 AMA Superbike Championships as well as the sweep of the 2010 AMA Supercross and Motocross Championships. While Suzuki’s factory supercross and motocross team has been based at the Yoshimura race shop in Chino, CA for over seven years, the team is now fully operational under the direction of Yoshimura with the continued full factory support from Suzuki.
“We’re really excited to get going on this 2012 season,” said team manager, Mike Webb. “Suzuki’s championship-winning DNA and their full factory support combined with Yoshimura’s unrivaled expertise in racing is kind of like the perfect storm. Yoshimura has offered great support to this team over the last couple years, which has led to great success for this program. I only see it getting better going forward with this new organizational structure. We’ve been very strong over the last several years but I believe we’ll be even stronger now as we’re in a better position to focus on racing, promoting our sponsors and promoting the sport.”
As previously announced, at this time plans for the 2012 campaign include returning Suzuki rider, Brett Metcalfe (Metty). The 27-year-old Australian joined Suzuki at the beginning of the 2011 season with solid credentials and has demonstrated strength, determination and the ability to win aboard the Suzuki RM-Z. Although injuries shortened his 2011 supercross season, Metcalfe has shown his ability during the current motocross season, scoring an overall win, as well as two podiums and three top-five finishes. Metcalfe finished the season a solid fourth in points in the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross series.
“We’re extremely happy to have Brett as part of our team for 2012,” added Webb. “Metty has shown he has the stuff to win and is a great ambassador for the sport and a quality representative for Yoshimura and Suzuki. In addition to Metty, we’re also actively pursuing a second rider, which would really help round out our team. We definitely have a lot to look forward to in 2012.”
Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing’s season kicks off Saturday, January 7th, at the first round of the 2012 AMA/FIM Supercross Championship at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.
About Yoshimura R&D of America:
Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com.
Suzuki:
Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) founded The Motorcycle and ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, CA, in 1963. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries. For more information visit www.suzukicycles.com.
