CONTACT INFORMATION

CONTACT INFORMATION
Jake Klingensmith
The Creative Works
714/501-6549
[email protected]
The 2012 racing season bodes extremely well for Team Yoshimura
Suzuki Racing. Last year marked the successful debut of both a
new rider and a new team manager, and the overall outcome
was a solid, unified team that performs outstandingly under any
circumstances. Now, with the mid-season addition of another new
team member – and not just any new team member, but one of
the most prolific race winners the sport has ever seen – and with a
full year of racing and winning under their respective belts, Team
Yoshimura Suzuki Racing and the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 are
back and better than ever for ’12.
The RM-Z450 remains one of the most dominant motocrossers in
the four-stroke arena and, with Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing’s
newly signed James Stewart at the helm, is a formidable competitor.
Embarking on his debut season with Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing,
Stewart is eager to race the 2012 model in the premiere 450 class in
the upcoming Motocross season as well as next year’s Supercross
series. Joining Stewart is Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing’s Brett
Metcalfe. This season marks Metcalfe’s sophomore season with
Yoshimura Suzuki, and he is likewise excited to race the 2012 RMZ450 in the premiere 450 classes in both Supercross and Motocross.
Stewart, Metcalfe and crew will again be led by returning Team
Manager Mike Webb, who already led Suzuki to 22 major OffRoad Championships as that team’s longtime manager. Webb
will also continue to work closely with Suzuki Racing Adviser Ricky
Carmichael, a legend who needs no introduction. Carmichael
has a lengthy and impressive history with Suzuki and, as the man
universally acknowledged as the best Supercross and Motocross
racer of all time, will help guide the team.
Finally, the team continues to evolve and benefit from its everincreasing partnership with Yoshimura, the performance giant
behind Suzuki’s amazing championship domination in AMA
Superbike racing. Yoshimura knows racing.
In an unprecedented mid-season move,
multi-time AMA Supercross and Motocross
Champion James Stewart recently joined
the ranks of Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing.
Although the last few race seasons have seen
Stewart sit out the Outdoors, he is looking
forward to returning to racing the AMA
Motocross National Series in 2012. Although
Stewart is new to the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450, he’s quickly
warming up to the bike and is chomping at the bit to race.
“The thing is, I want to win races,” said Stewart. “More than I want
to win races, I want to be competitive. Also, I just really like riding
the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450. I’ve spent some time testing the
production bike and the works bike, and I felt like it was the bike
for me. On top of that, I like Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager
Mike Webb and the rest of the guys on the team. I really feel like I
know what’s going on with the RM-Z. For how I move and work on
a motorcycle, I like the feel of the Suzuki. It suits my riding style.”
Stewart brings plenty of street cred to the Yoshimura Suzuki
table, and then some. Starting with his record-breaking 11 AMA
Amateur National titles to his 2002 debut as a Pro and multiple
AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross titles in all classes, Stewart
is almost without peer in the sport. Additionally, European
accolades and championships, as well as a host of sports
awards and honorifics barely scrape the surface of what Stewart
has accomplished in his relatively young life. Fortunately for
Yoshimura Suzuki Racing, Stewart brings all of these experiences,
along with his deep-seated desire to raise the bar wherever he
goes, to his new team.
Now heading into the 2012 AMA Motocross National Series,
Stewart is excited to aggressively campaign the series aboard
the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450. Equally enthusiastic about his new
team and new bike, Stewart is looking forward to getting back to
racing just for the love of racing.
Last year was Brett Metcalfe’s freshman year
with the Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team. To say
it was a success would be an understatement.
Not only did the Australian-born rider finish
a solid fourth-place overall in the 2011 AMA
Motocross Series, he also captured his firstever AMA Pro Motocross victory. And all this
occurred during his first season of racing the
Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450.
“I’m really excited about my second year with the Yoshimura
Suzuki Racing Team,” said Metcalfe. “Working with the same
people and the same bike is a big advantage. Also, the
Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 is tailored for me, which makes me
feel more confident and comfortable. Last year, I made some
mistakes that took me out of the Supercross championship, but
I learned a lot. We’ve made some advances with off-season
testing and I can’t wait to go race Supercross. I’m also excited
about the Motocross Championship. The way the 2011 season
ended for me – with getting a win and a lot of podiums after
that – that really gave me a big boost. I’m just looking forward
to getting out there, going for those race wins and putting the
Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 up front.”
Metcalfe joined the Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team with a world
of experience, having left his homeland at the age of 18 to
compete in the World Championship Motocross Series in Europe.
A year later, in 2003, he headed to the United States to begin
his AMA racing career, with the highlight coming in the form of
a win in the U.S. Open of SX in 2005. But that was well before his
breakout season of 2010, a season that got the Aussie noticed
and propelled him to the factory Suzuki team.
Now, heading into the 2012 season, Metcalfe will again race
the mighty Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 in both the premiere
Supercross class and the 450 Motocross class. He’s looking
forward to building on last year’s success and adding more wins
to the roster for Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing.
There isn’t enough space here to discuss Ricky
Carmichael’s racing career, so let’s just say he
truly is the Greatest Of All Time. And as the Suzuki
Racing Adviser, Carmichael has also excelled in
mentoring up-and-coming riders. From assisting
with off-season testing to providing post-race
critiques, Carmichael is crucial to the Yoshimura
Suzuki Racing Team.
“Ricky is an undisputable champion,” said Team
Manager Mike Webb. “I can’t think of a better
guy to help guide the Yoshimura Suzuki Racing
Team to another winning season, and I know we will all benefit from
having him on our side.”
Carmichael’s expertise and guidance should also help propel Metcalfe
to the next level and make him a championship contender in both series.
American Suzuki’s Mike Webb has been a staple in
off-road racing for nearly three decades. As team
manager for American Suzuki’s Off-Road program
since 1992, Webb led his crew to 22 major Off-Road
Championships, including six GNCC Pro Bike titles.
Last year saw Webb take over the reigns as the team
manager for the Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team’s SX
and MX efforts.
“We’re really excited to get going on this 2012
season,” said Webb. “Suzuki’s championship-winning
DNA combined with Yoshimura’s unrivaled expertise
in racing is kind of like the perfect storm. We’re also extremely happy to have
Brett Metcalfe as part of our team for 2012. Metty has shown he has the stuff to
win and is a great ambassador for the sport and a quality representative for
Yoshimura and Suzuki. We definitely have a lot to look forward to in 2012.”
An accomplished off-road racer himself, Webb still rides regularly and his
hands-on experience with the RM-Z450 has already proven extremely helpful
in testing and bike set-up. Webb’s passion for racing is strong and his years of
experience at Suzuki combine for a great recipe for success.
With the most 450cc class MX wins and the most 450cc class MX
championships in AMA history, the Suzuki RM-Z450 is used to being out
front. Not only does the Suzuki RM-Z450 possess this illustrious racing
pedigree, however, it also claims bragging rights for being the first-ever
fuel-injected production 450 motocross bike to claim both the AMA SX
and MX titles.
Most recently, the Suzuki RM-Z450 was updated to be a little quieter while
also producing more power. This refinement comes courtesy, at least
in part, to a higher compression ratio and refined intake and exhaust
timing. Suzuki has also made the RM-Z450 easier to maintain and tune by
slightly tweaking the electronic fuel injection settings.
But that’s not all; as in the past, the RM-Z450 comes equipped with the
best possible chassis, suspension and brakes to remain at the top of the
class. What you have with the 2012 Suzuki RM-Z450 is a cutting-edge,
open-class motocross weapon that’s more potent than ever. As a racer,
you want quick, laser-accurate steering and confidence-inspiring highspeed handling in one package. And you also want a high-performance
machine with a racing pedigree that enables it to be competitive right
out of the crate. The Suzuki RM-Z450 is that machine.
2012 SX SCHEDULE
January 7 Angel Stadium Anaheim, CA
January 14 Chase Field Phoenix, AZ
January 21 Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, CA
January 28 Oak-Alameda County Stadium Oakland, CA
February 4 Angel Stadium Anaheim, CA
February 11 Qualcomm Stadium
San Diego, CA
February 18 Cowboys Stadium
Arlington, TX
February 25 Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA
March 3 Edward Jones Dome
St. Louis, MO
March 10 Daytona Int’l Speedway
Daytona, FL
March 17 Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN
March 24
Rogers Centre Toronto, ON
March 31 Reliant Stadium Houston, TX
April 14 Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans, LA
April 21 Century Link Field Seattle, WA
April 28 Rice-Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT
May 5
Sam Boyd Stadium Las Vegas, NV
2012 MX SCHEDULE
May 19
Hangtown Motocross Classic
Sacramento, CA
May 26
Freestone Raceway
Wortham, TX
June 2
Thunder Valley Motocross
Lakewood, CO
June 9
High Point Raceway
Mt. Morris, PA
June 16
Budds Creek Motocross
Mechanicsville, MD
July 7
RedBud
Buchanan, MI
July 14
Spring Creek Motocross
Millville, MN
July 21
Washougal MX Park
Washougal, WA
August 11
Moto-X 338
Southwick, MA
August 18
Unadilla
New Berlin, NY
September 1
Steel City Raceway
Delmont PA
September 8
Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore, CA
About Yoshimura R&D of America: Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance”
and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and
passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust
industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary
performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than
five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of
performance products, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com.
About American Suzuki: Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) founded the Motorcycle
and ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, CA, in
1963. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network
throughout 49 states. ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation,
based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of
motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in
1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries. For more
information visit www.suzukicycles.com. Follow Suzuki Scoop on facebook for
exclusive team content www.facebook.com/suzukiscoopfans.