RCH/Yoshimura Becomes Sole Suzuki Factory 450 Effort

Much of this year's silly season rumors stem from the limbo of Suzuki's factory racing efforts, which in 2016 consisted of both the Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John's/RCH Factory Suzuki and Yoshimura Suzuki racing teams, and four total riders (Ken Roczen, Broc Tickle, James Stewart and Blake Baggett). The  yellow brick silly season road went in all directions for next year, from rumors both teams would be back, to rumors of both shutting down, or just one team surviving. In all, four valuable factory 450 slots hung in the balance, which is critical since there's a glut of 450 free agents on the market.

Today, Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) announced that the RCH and Yoshimura teams would now combine under one banner next year, dubbed  RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing. According to the press release, "This newly established effort combines SMAI, RCH Racing, and Yoshimura Racing & Development into a singular entity competing in the AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross championships."

Ostensibly, this is RCH Racing becoming the lone Suzuki 450 factory effort, although we believe members of the existing Yoshimura Suzuki team will end up working with the team as well. The real question: Which riders and how many? The PR only says that will be announced at a later date. We know Baggett is expected to join BTOSports.com-WPS-KTM, and Roczen is linked with Honda HRC. Tickle and James Stewart are free agents at the moment.

Meanwhile, this is yet another rung on the ladder for RCH's climb to the very top echelon of the sport.

“Suzuki has supported RCH Racing since its inception,” said Carey Hart, co-founder of RCH Racing along with 15-time AMA Champion Ricky Carmichael, “and Yoshimura has been an important factor in our success as well. Having just clinched the 2016 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, we have proven that we can win titles. We are excited to bring our strengths to the new RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team.”

“Everyone at RCH is excited about the opportunity ahead of us and the partnerships we’ve created,” added Carmichael. “RCH always strives to be the best team in the paddock and this relationship positions all parties involved to do exactly that. It all starts with hard work, determination and uncompromised support from Yoshimura and Suzuki. With everyone working together focusing on the same goals, we expect to race for wins and championships for years to come.”

RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing will be led by Kyle Bentley as team manager. The new team will make its debut at the 2017 AMA Supercross opener on January 7, in Anaheim.

“Yoshimura and Suzuki have been racing partners for more than 40 years, both in the US and in Japan,” said Don Sakakura, president of Yoshimura Racing & Development, “and over the past few years, we have developed a strong relationship with RCH Racing as well. Everyone at Yoshimura is excited to be a part of this new factory effort and we look forward to building an even stronger racing presence.”

It appears there will also be additional RM-Z250 factory support next year, which we think might be in the form of an upgrade for Team MotorcycleSuperstore.com Suzuki.

“Combining RCH and Yoshimura into a single team is part of our goal of strengthening the Suzuki brand in supercross and motocross,” said Kerry Graeber, SMAI’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Simultaneously, we are growing our grass roots programs, developing a new 250 effort, which will be announced shortly, and establishing RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki as the recognized top rung of the ladder. All of this is being done to increase sales of Suzuki motocross and off-road products."