Earlier this week, Yamaha released the shocking news that this would be its last official year in the World Superbike series. Privateer Yamaha teams would still race in 2012, but there would be no official Yamaha team. It now looks like we could be seeing a similar move by Suzuki.
Suzuki, which currently only has one bike in the World Superbike series with the Alstare Suzuki team, could be pulling the plug soon. Rumors have been circulating that Francis Batta, the owner of the Alstare team, has been trying to find a new factory, namely Kawasaki, to partner with in 2012.
Batta came out earlier this week to dismiss these rumors.
"Francis Batta and Alstare have been involved with Suzuki for the best part of thirteen years and this tremendous relationship has given to everybody an immense amount of satisfaction. The strong relationship was forged right from the very beginning and has grown throughout the years and is one that Francis values very highly," the Alstare Suzuki team said in a statement.
"Francis has been a loyal supporter of Suzuki and it is for this reason that he would like to continue with them alone in the future. If Suzuki decides not to take part in the World Superbike Championship next year, Francis will also stop rather than continue with another manufacturer."
So if Suzuki goes, Alstare goes. Batta's statement kills the rumor that he'll be running a Kawasaki team next year, but it doesn't do much to stop people from speculation about Suzuki's lack of involvement in 2012.
I hope Suzuki hears Batta and awards him for his 13-years of work, which includes Suzuki's only World Superbike title, and gives the Alstare Suzuki team some more support in 2012. But if Suzuki does pull out entirely, let's hope that Batta moves on to bigger and better things in the World Superbike paddock.
