Open letter from RIcky Carmichael

GuyB
Posts
35722
Joined
7/10/2006
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
Edited Date/Time 8/28/2020 7:02am
To all of my fans and everyone in our motorcycle community,

After 15 years with Suzuki, I wanted to take this time to say thank you and express my gratitude to the entire staff at Suzuki of America, Suzuki Japan and to all of the other regions I have been fortunate enough to work with over the years. We were able to accomplish some great things together, both as a rider, and as a team owner and I am very fortunate to have made many great friendships along the way.

As times change, I have been looking at other opportunities within the motorcycle industry and exploring options where I feel my experiences can best be applied to help grow our great sport. As everyone knows, I also enjoy challenges and seeing what a team of people can do to produce a great result when working together on new projects. As I continue to build upon my years of experience as a racer, I am now transitioning to enjoy other aspects of the motorcycle community.

This hasn’t been an easy decision, but the future is exciting for me. My love of bikes has grown beyond just off-road riding and I am looking forward to exploring those opportunities more in the future. I will forever work to promote our sport and continue to give back to the up and coming riders who hope to see their dreams realized, just as I did many years ago.

With that, I want to wish everyone at Suzuki continued success in the future. Friendships go well beyond working relationships, I am fortunate to have many of you as friends, and look forward to seeing you at the races and on the road!

My warmest regards,
RC
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8tensolutions
Posts
3512
Joined
11/15/2009
Location
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
8/26/2020 4:15pm
Gas Gas Brand Ambassador?
4
8
8/26/2020 4:31pm
Team manager or assistant somewhere?
After owning a team, I'm sure hes over that part of racing. Peeking at his instagram, looks like hes gearing more towards adventure/road riding,
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The Shop

resetjet
Posts
2551
Joined
3/16/2012
Location
Tampa, FL, USA
8/26/2020 4:31pm
Honda brand ambassador....
1
5
JWACK
Posts
2582
Joined
8/7/2009
Location
USA
8/26/2020 4:33pm
Triumphant news!
12
resetjet
Posts
2551
Joined
3/16/2012
Location
Tampa, FL, USA
8/26/2020 4:34pm
Last part of letter should read.....its been a great ride but you guys are falling behind, i need a brand that will push ahead.....
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33
8/26/2020 4:40pm
resetjet wrote:
Last part of letter should read.....its been a great ride but you guys are falling behind, i need a brand that will push ahead.....
aka

I’m too old to keep kicking that damn bike. After all I’ve done over my career, I deserve the magic button.
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4
aeffertz
Posts
12661
Joined
7/16/2015
Location
La Crosse, WI, USA
8/26/2020 4:45pm
resetjet wrote:
Last part of letter should read.....its been a great ride but you guys are falling behind, i need a brand that will push ahead.....
SEE ARE125 wrote:
aka

I’m too old to keep kicking that damn bike. After all I’ve done over my career, I deserve the magic button.
aka

I'm not going to promote you guys for free.
19
gerg
Posts
1545
Joined
10/29/2014
Location
AU
8/26/2020 4:52pm
RC and CR to MotoGP.
5
3
CM_84
Posts
764
Joined
8/3/2018
Location
AU
8/26/2020 4:56pm
That is a classy way to finish up a relationship that has obviously been mutually beneficial to both parties.
All good things come to an end, I’m looking forward to seeing what is next.
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Lurk Ing
Posts
192
Joined
3/13/2015
Location
AU
8/26/2020 4:58pm
I hate to see it, but the Suzuki coffin sure is taking some nails the past couple of years.
5
7
8/26/2020 5:02pm
resetjet wrote:
Last part of letter should read.....its been a great ride but you guys are falling behind, i need a brand that will push ahead.....
Or the check bounced. Blush
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2
gt80rider
Posts
7145
Joined
4/19/2008
Location
Boulder, CO, USA
8/26/2020 5:15pm
After owning a team, I'm sure hes over that part of racing. Peeking at his instagram, looks like hes gearing more towards adventure/road riding,
Adv is the hottest segment in motorcycles right now....
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gt80rider
Posts
7145
Joined
4/19/2008
Location
Boulder, CO, USA
8/26/2020 5:17pm
CM_84 wrote:
That is a classy way to finish up a relationship that has obviously been mutually beneficial to both parties. All good things come to an end...
That is a classy way to finish up a relationship that has obviously been mutually beneficial to both parties.
All good things come to an end, I’m looking forward to seeing what is next.
Ya, but .. shouldn't this have been released before rc being seen as a brand ambassador for triumph to be "classy"?
5
ACBraap
Posts
1169
Joined
2/10/2012
Location
Seattlish, WA, USA
Fantasy
8/26/2020 5:19pm
I think they should have kept him, he has had just as many race wins as JGR for lower cost.
2
Dimblewambie
Posts
1528
Joined
1/28/2017
Location
Murrieta, CA, USA
8/26/2020 5:46pm
Gunna turn the competition green with envy!
2
Chris_Buehler
Posts
8501
Joined
7/21/2019
Location
PORTLAND, CT, USA
8/26/2020 5:48pm
I'm prob in the minority but when I picture RC in my head it's always on a Zook
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2
8/26/2020 5:59pm
I'm prob in the minority but when I picture RC in my head it's always on a Zook
I see RC and Stewart on Kawasaki, McGrath on Honda, Dungey on KTM or Suzuki , RV on a Kawasaki , Hannah on a Yamaha and DeCoster on a Suzuki. but I am old Blush
20
EngIceDave
Posts
2431
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Merritt Island, FL, USA
8/26/2020 6:23pm
RC4 will return when BB4 hangs up his spurs

1
7
Teej317
Posts
893
Joined
4/30/2010
Location
Colstrip, MT, USA
8/26/2020 6:28pm
resetjet wrote:
Last part of letter should read.....its been a great ride but you guys are falling behind, i need a brand that will push ahead.....
Yes, Suzuki is "behind" but I think they are still an outstanding brand. I mean, they've been milking the same engine pretty much since 2008 with tons of results. No championships to speak of in recent years but just look at this past weekend....lots of yellow up front early. Anstie about won a moto on a non factory bike. Eliminate some weight, electric start...boom...no longer last in shootouts.
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1
daemon616
Posts
2025
Joined
2/19/2012
Location
Euless, TX, USA
8/26/2020 7:23pm
Gotta get that cheddar!
captmoto
Posts
5888
Joined
4/22/2009
Location
Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA
8/26/2020 7:28pm
Teej317 wrote:
Yes, Suzuki is "behind" but I think they are still an outstanding brand. I mean, they've been milking the same engine pretty much since 2008 with...
Yes, Suzuki is "behind" but I think they are still an outstanding brand. I mean, they've been milking the same engine pretty much since 2008 with tons of results. No championships to speak of in recent years but just look at this past weekend....lots of yellow up front early. Anstie about won a moto on a non factory bike. Eliminate some weight, electric start...boom...no longer last in shootouts.
And we are off and running on another 25 page Suzuki thread.
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2
JAFO92
Posts
5733
Joined
3/21/2016
Location
BFE, TX, USA
8/26/2020 7:37pm
Its ALL about the benjamins. Not updates, electric starts or anything else. RC knows he needs to maximize his brand to the highest bidder while he can. And apparently he is.

Good luck RC, hope you make bank on your new opportunities.
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duboiz
Posts
178
Joined
7/8/2019
Location
West Hills, CA, USA
8/26/2020 7:43pm
Rockstar Energy Makita Triumph, see y'all at A1
5
8/26/2020 7:53pm
I'm prob in the minority but when I picture RC in my head it's always on a Zook
lostboy819 wrote:
I see RC and Stewart on Kawasaki, McGrath on Honda, Dungey on KTM or Suzuki , RV on a Kawasaki , Hannah on a Yamaha and...
I see RC and Stewart on Kawasaki, McGrath on Honda, Dungey on KTM or Suzuki , RV on a Kawasaki , Hannah on a Yamaha and DeCoster on a Suzuki. but I am old Blush
I see McGrath on both Honda and Yamaha.
4
ML512
Posts
16998
Joined
12/28/2008
Location
Wildomar, CA, USA
Fantasy
8/26/2020 7:58pm
His next dirt bike is a color he’s very familiar with...it’s already built and waiting.
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1
Goofy Foot
Posts
297
Joined
5/1/2018
Location
SoCal, CA, USA
8/26/2020 8:01pm
ML512 wrote:
His next dirt bike is a color he’s very familiar with...it’s already built and waiting.
Same color as your avatar
2
8/26/2020 8:11pm
Honda.
Dungey exit stage left.
1
kiwifan
Posts
9802
Joined
10/31/2009
Location
USA
8/26/2020 8:27pm
ML512 wrote:
His next dirt bike is a color he’s very familiar with...it’s already built and waiting.
well that narrows it down to Kawasaki or Honda, toss a coin?

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