Suzuki aims very high in BSB. The manufacturer based in Hamamatsu strongly believes in new GSX-R 1000 R and while their comeback to World Superbike has been postponed again, a very interesting project has been created for Bennetts BSB. After struggling in 2017 season with current MotoGP test rider Sylvain Guintoli, the year after Suzuki scored a bunch of wins thanks to Bradley Ray (and not only). Ray scored 3 wins and made it to BSB ShowDown. However, these results are not sufficient anymore, as aims are even higher for 2019…
DEVELOPMENT – In order to reach the front in BSB, Suzuki started in 2017 an important collaboration with Hawk Racing. The small, but strong team directed by Stuart Hicken had scratched 2014 BSB title with Ryuichi Kiyonari (as BMW private team) and then they had achieved some other great results in the following seasons. Currently known as Buildbase Suzuki, Hawk Racing started this strong relationship with Suzuki in 2017. The first year was very difficult: brand new GSX-R 1000 R initially couldn’t get all its power down and this made them struggle very much, since power has become incredibly crucial in BSB due to common ECU (provided by MoTeC) and the absence of traction control and anti-wheelie. Forks, tanks and many other parts were changed during the year, and the only circuits where GSX-R 1000 R was in the front are Assen and Silverstone, the “least British” tracks in BSB calendar.
YOSHIMURA – 2018 was much better. Bradley Ray kickstarted the season with historic double win at Donington Park and then he occasionally led the championship standings. Ray scored some more remarkable results during the season, but he also made some mistakes due to heat or, sometimes, lack of feeling. “I don’t feel my bike anymore and I don’t know why“, had said the 21-year-old from Ashford, before rising again at Cadwell Park. In any case, Buildbase Suzuki can be very happy with how 2018 went, also thanks to the surprising win scored by Richard Cooper in Race 3 at Brands Hatch and, in particular, a stronger support from the factory. For 2019 season, Buildbase Suzuki have further strengthened their collaboration with Yoshimura and this was proven by the positive test they had in Cartagena with Bradley Ray.
RAY – It seems like the heart of this new project is Bradley Ray himself. Suzuki likes the young Brit very much and they even invited him to join Yoshimura for Suzuka 8 Hours (where he performed very well) and the last 2018 All Japan Superbike round (where he was even faster than Takuya Tsuda and Kazuki Watanabe in the first practice sessions). In the latter case, Ray was followed from the pits by part of Buildbase Suzuki crew, as an example of the strong partnership between the team and Suzuki…
Photo: Bradley Ray’s Suzuki GSX-R 1000 with 2019 Winter Test livery
Translated by Alessandro Palma