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Wedge said on MEC review sounds definitely like Amart and Joey
Also strong rumours of Suzuki get’n back into MXGP
The Shop
“What the heck is going on with JGR Suzuki has been one of the biggest questions in the industry. This podcast I did with Chad Reed about his 2020 plans with JGR didn't sound good nor was the fact they have one rider under contract for 2020 (Alex Martin) and haven't signed anyone else. From what I understood things were moving in a positive direction for JGR to have a title sponsor next year in a casino but one would think that would be done by now, right? The team was on a hold from testing or riding the last little while, because of Suzuki's inability to move forward with their end of the deal, but slowly JGR is coming back to Reed's moved on by getting a Honda and racing the MEC, then maybe Anaheim 1 as a privateer. JGR guys have been cleared to ride now and Joey Savatgy is heading out there this week or next to ride the bike. It's expected that Savatgy and the team will be able to work out a deal and it may just be him and Martin in a really small-scale operation in 2020. From what I've been told 2020 is the last year of Suzuki’s deal with JGR and they will honor it at the most basic level and then be done with racing at a high level in 2021.
You have got to feel for JGR who have tried to do everything right in the sport but cannot get a title sponsor, cannot hit home runs on the big money riders they have signed, had one solid guy suffer a career-ending injury [Weston Peick] and have Suzuki cutting back or pulling out of just about everything. Yet owner Coy Gibbs is there employing people and trying to go racing. I'd look for JGR to be on a different OEM in 2021 and go with two riders for 2020 (Savatgy and Martin), but there is still a chance I'd say that they just cease operations totally. Yikes.“ -Steve Matthes
All you can hope for is that they will put a small amount of that effort in dirt bikes.
The 250 effort was mostly a Yosh backed deal, if I recall.. sounds like that's off the table too??
Matthes made a comment (which seemed more insight than opinion) about JGR switching to a different OEM after the 2020 season... which, if true, furthers the "Suzuki pulling the plug on off-road racing efforts" narrative..
Suzuki's rich history in the sport aside - can anyone honestly say they'd be shocked by Suzuki pulling out of pro moto? They're clearly just mailing it in on bike technology... and if they were serious about funding a factory effort, the onus wouldn't be on JGR as much to have to find a title sponsor just to go racing without draining their bank account..
Great job Weege.
Ok I actually have a lot of empathy for those blokes trying to stay positive!!
Hanging waiting not really knowing if you have a job or not long term.. we’ve all been there..
I really truly hope they get to go racing and have some security in their jobs.
Best of luck JGR I hope you guys see some success
The off season crash of Peick was a bad deal as well. He really was on fire that evening in Paris. Just a real big bunch of bad luck events that happened to the team. Hopefully they can have a decent year with Savatgy and Martin and bring some new sponsors for the upcoming years. Just1 for example is investing heavily into the sport. Perhaps they can bring something to the table? They already signed Savatgy.. just brainstorming a bit.
Pit Row
Post a reply to: crickets : JGR / JS17 / AMART26