Rizla Suzuki’s blue bikes will see a repeat of riders in 2009 with Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi signing on for another season with the factory outfit. The duo have been involved in a number of hectic negotiations over the past few weeks and once agreed upon, team manager Paul Denning was happy to sign them on for another complete season.
“We are of course pleased to have finalised the rider agreements for 2009 and to move forward with Loris and Chris,” said Paul Denning, Suzuki’s team manager.
“Loris’ experience, knowledge and determination are a valuable asset to any team, but on top of that you get his incredible and infectious passion for racing - plus he’s a really nice guy as well! He settled in to the team very quickly and now it feels like he has been with us for a long time, not less than a year! He still has a great desire to be the best and Suzuki will be doing all it can over the forthcoming months and throughout 2009 to help him achieve that goal. His input in the development of the GSV-R has been a big factor this year and I am sure this contribution will help both Loris and Chris to see Suzuki fighting with the best riders in the 2009 World Championship.
“Chris has improved as the Suzuki GSV-R has improved, and has now become an integral part of the development process of the bike. He has been with the team for three years and has become Suzuki’s most successful four-stroke racer yet, as well as being an ultra-professional sportsman. I don’t think we have seen Chris’ true potential yet - the whole factory and the team are convinced the he can go on to bigger and better things with Suzuki, and we are delighted to have him with us again.”
the riding duo were both equally pleased to be part of the team for another year, with Loris Capirossi going into his 20th season in Grand Prix.
“I have enjoyed working with Paul and my whole crew has been fantastic all season, whatever I have asked for they have delivered and they are probably the hardest working guys in the paddock. I still have unfinished business in MotoGP and on the Suzuki, I still have podiums, pole positions and race wins in me and I believe that I can achieve that with this team. I want to finish my career with Suzuki and I want to do that in style!”
Capirossi’s Australian teammate Chris Vermeulen has been the teams most recent race winner and since 2006, has always been their with the team.
“Suzuki was my entry into Grand Prix racing, I have been here for three years and won a GP, and been on podium many times, so I am really pleased to be continuing this relationship. I had offers from other teams, but I always felt that I wanted to stay with Suzuki if we could get the terms agreed so that everyone was happy. Luckily we were able to do that, so now I can get on with trying to win more races and help Suzuki get to a World Championship challenging level.”
