YOSHIMURA Racing And AMERICAN SUZUKI Announce Plans For The 2012 Supercross And Motocross Seasons

CHINO,
CA (October
12, 2011) – Yoshimura
Racing and American Suzuki Motor Corporation are proud to announce
plans for the upcoming supercross and motocross seasons. For 2012,
Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing will be aggressively campaigning the
championship winning Yoshimura-prepared Suzuki RM-Z450 in the 2012
AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross series’.

Yoshimura
Racing and American Suzuki together have built a long history of
dominating US racing in AMA Superbike and now AMA Supercross and
Motocross. Yoshimura has led the factory Suzuki Superbike team to
claim 10 of the last 13 AMA Superbike Championships as well as the
sweep of the 2010 AMA Supercross and Motocross Championships. While
Suzuki’s factory supercross and motocross team has been based at
the Yoshimura race shop in Chino, CA for over seven years, the team
is now fully operational under the direction of Yoshimura with the
continued full factory support from Suzuki.

“We’re
really excited to get going on this 2012 season,” said team
manager, Mike Webb. “Suzuki’s championship-winning DNA and their
full factory support combined with Yoshimura’s unrivaled expertise
in racing is kind of like the perfect storm. Yoshimura has offered
great support to this team over the last couple years, which has led
to great success for this program. I only see it getting better going
forward with this new organizational structure. We’ve been very
strong over the last several years but I believe we’ll be even
stronger now as we’re in a better position to focus on racing,
promoting our sponsors and promoting the sport.”

As
previously announced, at this time plans for the 2012 campaign
include returning Suzuki rider, Brett Metcalfe (Metty). The
27-year-old Australian joined Suzuki at the beginning of the 2011
season with solid credentials and has demonstrated strength,
determination and the ability to win aboard the Suzuki RM-Z. Although
injuries shortened his 2011 supercross season, Metcalfe has shown his
ability during the current motocross season, scoring an overall win,
as well as two podiums and three top-five finishes. Metcalfe finished
the season a solid fourth in points in the 2011 AMA Pro Motocross
series.

“We’re
extremely happy to have Brett as part of our team for 2012,” added
Webb. “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. In addition to Metty, we’re also actively pursuing a
second rider, which would really help round out our team. We
definitely have a lot to look forward to in 2012.”

Team
Yoshimura Suzuki Racing’s season kicks off Saturday, January 7th,
at the first round of the 2012 AMA/FIM Supercross Championship at
Angel Stadium in Anaheim, 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.

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.