MotoReview

Suzuki have announced today a two year partnership with the Rizla rolling papers brand, for sponsorship of their MotoGP team. The Rizla liveried bike will be unveiled at the Catalunya IRTA test which begins at the end of this week.

Rizla and Suzuki already have a relationship through the British Superbikes series where they have won more than 30 races as well as the manufacturer and rider titles in 2004.

The official unveiling of the new livery and 2006 GSV-R will be in a presentation on Thursday evening at the Catalunya circuit.

Paul Denning - Team Manager

"This is an exciting and significant step forward for Suzuki in MotoGP, and for the Rizla Suzuki partnership. Rizla is a colourful and exciting brand that fits in well with Suzuki's racing ethos and identity. The added pressure of a sponsor to support Suzuki's racing programme will also bring a welcome impetus to improve performance both on and off the track.

"Suzuki has been working with Rizla since 2002 in the British Championship and we are now very pleased to be extending the association to the worldwide stage in MotoGP. Rizla and Suzuki also have historical links, which include Kevin Schwantz making his Grand Prix debut aboard a Rizla-backed RG500. Our dynamic and ambitious 2006 racers take to the track aiming to replicate the level of excitement and success that developed from there. I know that with the dedication and commitment of Suzuki and the support of Rizla and everybody involved, we can now take the team to a much-improved level throughout 2006."

Graham Blashill - Rizla Group Sales & Marketing Director

"We are entering a new phase in our Sponsorship of Motorcycle sport. For the last four years in the UK, Rizla has sponsored the Suzuki British Superbike Team creating Rizla Suzuki, which won Championship honours in 2004, at which time Paul Denning was managing the team. We have decided to compliment this initiative and roll out our successful partnership with motorcycle racing and Suzuki at the very pinnacle of its sport - MotoGP. Just as Rizla is a premium rolling paper with a Global distribution, MotoGP is a championship that has a global reach and appeal, with international flare and highly sophisticated technological advances, with a friendly, approachable and competitive nature that personifies the Rizla brand.

"We are looking forward to the 2006 season and working with Suzuki over the next couple of years as they strive to get back to winning ways. "

Hirotaka Ono - Suzuki Board Member & Director, America/Europe Motorcycle Marketing

"Suzuki is delighted to be entering into this new partnership with ITL and its Rizla brand. This marks a new and exciting stage in the history of Suzuki as it sets out to take great steps forward to further success in MotoGP.

"Rizla is the number one brand in its market worldwide. We are excited to work with such a reliable partner and all members of the Suzuki team - both in the factory and at trackside - are very motivated by this new partnership.

"We all now look forward to the new challenge of enhancing the Rizla Suzuki brand at a world racing level and seeing the distinctive blue machines fighting for success."

For larger copies of these images, see our Suzuki gallery.

(0) Comment on this article in our forums