Suzuki Racing
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP rider Álvaro Bautista and former Rizla Suzuki BSB Champion John Reynolds wowed the crowds who lined the Brands Hatch circuit in England last weekend, as they put on a demonstration of the awesome sound and power of the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP machine.
Bautista and Reynolds upped their pace during the two demonstration sessions – held on Saturday and Sunday – on their Rizla Suzuki GSV-Rs around the 3.7km Kent circuit.
The pair lapped the track at close to race speeds, swapping positions and thrilling the 52,000 fans at trackside with the sound of a full-blown MotoGP bike.
The Rizla Suzuki pair were also joined on-track by the Alstare Suzuki WSB duo of Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli, who put their respective Suzuki GSX-R Superbikes through some demo laps in-front of a thrilled crowd, as the Suzuki celebrations to celebrate 50 years of racing continued at the famous English circuit.
Rizla Suzuki ended the celebrations at Brands Hatch in style as Worx Crescent Suzuki’s Tommy Hill joined Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Team Manager Paul Denning on track for some closing laps onboard the sensational MotoGP GSV-R800 four-stroke machines.
Álvaro Bautista says: “I have had a fun weekend; I was pleased to be able to ride the Rizla Suzuki at Brands Hatch and it has been a new experience for me at a special circuit. The first laps on Saturday were good, but I had to learn the track as there are several blind sections and then on Sunday I could go faster. I wanted to put on a good show for the fans, but I had to also take it a bit easy as we race again next weekend at Brno.”
“Everyone has been great this weekend and the atmosphere has been amazing, Brands Hatch is a really special place and I certainly had a good time here and enjoyed the track very much.”
John Reynolds says: “That was such an unbelievable experience for me, I haven’t ridden that many laps for some time and I definitely feel it now! The Rizla Suzuki was always 30 yards ahead of me and the speed and braking gave me slight arm pump towards the end of the demonstration, but it was just fantastic.”
“I need to thank everyone involved for getting the Rizla Suzuki out on track and to all the fans that have come down to watch and join the Suzuki celebrations this weekend.”
Tommy Hill says: “That was just amazing, you feel the whole time like you can push harder and keep going – it is just a dream to ride this bike around my home track at Brands Hatch. The whole package is just so responsive; the brakes, the engine braking and the acceleration are just so different to the Superbike and I definitely would have liked to stay out there until it got dark!”
“The riding position is higher than on the Superbike, but it didn’t take long to adjust and with every lap I was getting faster and wanting to try and push that bit harder. It was the best way for me to end the weekend and now I want to have another go! I have to thank Rizla Suzuki and the team for giving me the opportunity to ride it.”
Paul Denning (team manager) says: “We were happy to be here this weekend and we have to thank Suzuki GB and MotorSport Vision for giving us the chance to join the Suzuki celebrations. Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli added to the spectacle on their World Superbikes alongside the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP bikes and it really added to the excitement for the knowledgeable and enthusiastic crowd.”
“I have been working with Suzuki for six years and have never had the chance to ride the MotoGP bike, and it is always exciting to ride the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on any bike, but this experience for me has been a dream come true.”