"Suzuki Motor Corporation has decided to suspend temporarily its participation in MotoGP from the 2012 season.”
Suzuki has confirmed that it will not compete in next year's MotoGP championship due to financial reasons.
The Japanese factory saw lone rider Alvaro Bautista finish 13th this season but have now ended their 37 year stay.
This has been on the cards for some time now. It is Suzuki who bankrolls the project, not their title sponsor, so finally it's their decision. Hopefully their goal of returning to the grid in 2014 is a sensible one and the impending changes to the sport in the meantime facilitate that, There should be a place for all the major motorcycle factories in MotoGP.
"Having an eye on returning to MotoGP in 2014, Suzuki is now focusing on developing a competitive new machine."
Bautista had already announced that he has joined Gresini Honda for next season as a substitute for the late Marco Simoncelli.
Suzuki's withdrawal leaves just Honda, Yamaha and Ducati as manufacturers with full factory teams on the grid for 2012.
"This suspension is to cope with tough circumstances mainly caused by the prolonged recession in developed countries, a historical appreciation of Japanese Yen and repeated natural disasters," Suzuki said.
Suzuki's world champions
• Barry Sheene (1976, 1977)
• Marco Lucchinelli (1981)
• Franco Uncini (1982)
• Kevin Schwantz (1993)
• Kenny Roberts Jr (2000)
Suzuki first competed in the top class of grand prix racing in 1974, and saw British legend Barry Sheene take two world championships in the 1970s.
Kenny Roberts Jr. was the last Suzuki world champion, taking the 500cc title in 2000.
Suzuki will continue to race in the World Super bike series.
