Suzuki Retrospective: The Last Dance

It's over: Suzuki leaves the world of Grand Prix. Here is the opportunity to look back at the major dates of the project since the return of the Hamamatsu firm in 2015. During its eight years of operation, the GSX-RR has experienced numerous successes. Great moments, suspended in time. You can find yesterday's episode by clicking on this highlighted sentence. Today, let's look at another golden episode of this epic; the 2022 Australian Grand Prix.

This episode will differ somewhat. Indeed, the Phillip Island round is still recent, and no one forgot her. However, it is impossible to omit it when we talk about the ultimate Suzuki program.

After the title of Joan Mir in 2020, the brand has maintained a good level of performance. The Majorcan had a great year in 2021, undoubtedly better than his sacred campaign a year earlier. A good third place in the championship, which eclipsed the catastrophic season of Álex Rins. Whether we want it or not, Rins is undoubtedly the flagship rider of the 2015-2022 period at Suzuki. Certainly, his nasty injury at the start of 2020 handicapped him in what should have been “his” year, but overall, he stood out quite significantly from his teammates. The Spaniard is fast, explosive and has a natural talent that leaves no one indifferent.

 

But we reiterate: His 2021 season was just catastrophic. Remember this series of four consecutive falls, resulting in an injury which prevented him from holding his place at Barcelona. The crazy year of 2020 had really upset Álex. Silverstone 2019, a race to which we devoted an episode, was far away. With only seven top 10 finishes this season (including a podium in England), he concluded one of his worst years in his career.

What to expect for 2022? At just 26 years old, was Rins already on the downward slope? The GSX-RR had made good progress over the winter. We all remember this image of the blue machine overtaking a Ducati on the straight under the Losail floodlights. The in-line four-cylinder engine was good, but some very sad news cut short the great momentum at the start of the season.

Indeed, Mir and Rins had started the year rather well. The two were hovering around the podium, until Suzuki said “stop”. If the rumors were rife even before the Spanish Grand Prix, the secret – open – was lifted in mid-July. Overall, this announcement had the impact of a blow to the liver for the drivers, but also the entire team. Rins fell back into his faults, and Mir, disconcerted, suffered a number of abandonments. The worst scenario happened for the 2020 world champion, who suffered a serious injury in Austria. His teammate also suffered bad luck, as if that wasn't enough: he knew he was injured some time earlier, mowed down by Nakagami approaching the first turn during the Grand Prix of Catalonia.

So, is it over? Suzuki will withdraw, without even a final celebration, and with total indifference? No way. First of all, and to the greatest surprise of the pilots, the Hamamatsu firm did not stop bringing new parts, even though their departure was already scheduled. The Thai GP finished in 12th place for Rins leaving no suspense for the last three games. However, the impossible happened.

The Phillip Island track, like Silverstone, is historically inline-four friendly. The long curves facing the sea had already brought luck to the Suzuki official, who felt at ease there. But he is not the only one to appreciate this jewel, and no one could have bet on him. Moreover, the free trials do not in any way suggest any achievement. Even the qualifications do not show anything abnormal, except the turn of Jorge Martín came from another world.

 

But as soon as the lights go out, the magic happens. We feel Rins calm, at ease, easy. Tire management and a fortiori from the rear is critical on the Australian island, and has been for a long time. At the start of the race, a rather slow and conservative pace sets in, which allows Rins to stay afloat in the good group. Its different handling offers it unique trajectories and lightning speed in curves. Never, in turn 2 Southern Loop, had we observed such a difference in speed in a single turn. Álex is simply astonishing. Marc Marquez et Francis Bagnaia, rather on the defensive, cannot compete. Marco Bezzecchi, who has nothing to lose, is a little too far away to try anything.

The group remains compact until the last lap and, moreover, less than a second separates the top 7 at the finish. But long before the checkered flag is presented, there is no longer any doubt: Rins will take it, it's written. This victory is both marvelous, because it concludes the Suzuki epic in the most beautiful way; at the end of an anthology fight. We did not yet know that the GSX-RR bearing the number 42 would once again achieve the feat in Valencia, but this triumph at Phillip Island is emotionally stronger because the storyline is only bigger.

But at the same time sad, because we will no longer see this historic builder, whose history was punctuated by heroes like Barry Sheene, Wil Hartog, Pat Hennen ou Kevin schwantz, cross swords with others. Likewise, Álex Rins will have difficulty repeating on the handlebars of a much less efficient Honda LCR. The 2022 Australian Grand Prix sounds like a farewell to flamboyance, but this performance that the Suz' team no longer hoped for is also a great moment in history. Once again, thank you for everything, and Sayonara !

What did you think of this epic race? More broadly, what will you remember from the Suzuki adventure (2015-2022)? Tell us in the comments!

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport