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Suzuki announced yesterday that it has increased its partnership with Yoshimura R&D of America, which now will house all the OEM’s racing efforts under one roof. Suzuki also revealed its 2010 riders.

“2009 was a record year for Suzuki,” the company’s Steve Bortolomedi said during a press conference at the Long Beach, Calif., stop of the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows. “The theme that you see here today, Champions Choose Suzuki, is designed to celebrate the fun, the excitement and passion that racing brings to us and our customers. Suzuki won virtually every professional racing category for motorcycle and ATV in 2009. And for 2010, we’re going to do exactly the same thing. Not only are we racing, but we’re going to ramp up our efforts this year.”

Bortolomedi then announced the expanded Yoshimura partnership and invited to the podium Don Sakakura (pictured), senior vice president of Yoshimura.

“For the upcoming 2010 season,” Sakakura said, “Yoshimura will manage all of Suzuki’s racing efforts: Supercross, Motocross, roadracing and ATV. We hope to be able to showcase the performance products of Suzuki, the ATVs as well as the motorcycles. … I would also like to announce today the great sponsors Rockstar and Makita will back for 2010.”

Sakakura listed the following racers for 2010:

• Superbike class: Tommy Hayden and Blake Young. “We have done a fair amount of testing already with GSX-R1000,” Sakakura said, “and the results are very, very promising. It’s a great platform for superbike racing. We are anticipating another fantastic season of racing. I think the competition is in trouble.”
• ATV racing: 2009 champion Dustin Wimmer returns, joined by Josh Creamer. “We expect our dominance to continue in 2010,” Sakakura said. “With the addition of Creamer, the team is stronger than ever.”

Sakakura then introduced Supercross/Motocross team manager Roger DeCoster. “I was very worried at the end of this year,” DeCoster said. “We had a fantastic year resultwise, and there was so many rumors about the industry being down, and particular rumors about Suzuki maybe not racing and not having a team. And I’m glad that Mr. Tanaka, our big boss, believes in racing. He believes in the sport. And he believes racing is an important vehicle to sell motorcycles, and I’m very thankful that he’s going to allow us to keep racing at a very high level.”

DeCoster announced the following racers:

• 450cc class: Ryan Dungey and Matt Moss, “who, by the way, won the Australian Supercross championship with two events to go, on the new 250,” DeCoster noted. “And that 250 was pretty much almost a stock bike.”
• Lites class: Austin Stroupe

“And I’m also very happy to walk even closer now with Yoshimura,” DeCoster said. “We already have been walking pretty much together. For the last six years we have been in their facilities, and this is only going to make things better.”

Bortolomedi then returned to the podium for some final announcements. “I’m also pleased to announce that Suzuki is going to continue our support in GNCC racing,” he said. “Returning in 2010 is Joshua Strang. Strang will give the new RMZ450 a good run as Suzuki looks to win another championship.

“In addition to the support the GSX-R1000 receives from Yoshimura,” Bortolomedi continued, “the GSX-R600 will be running the No. 1 and No. 2 plates with Danny Eslick and Martin Cardenas. American Suzuki is proud to continue our efforts with Suzuki M4. It’s been 30 years we’ve been working with them, and we’re glad it’s going to be another year. … M4 Suzuki will also in turn provide technical and logistical support for Richie Morris Racing’s 2010 Suzuki program with AMA Daytona Sportbike Champion Danny Eslick.

“In the next couple of weeks, we will announce our amateur support program and also our riding school program,” said Bortolomedi.