Thierry Chizat Suzzoni leads Kawasaki Racing Team Europe

Thierry,
a 48 year old businessman from Aix en Provence has been involved in
World motocross for six years but had previously remained in the
shadows: “I came into motocross in 2005, when Jean Jacques Luisetti and myself created the CLS Kawasaki team" 
For
2008 a new exciting opportunity arose together with Roger Pourcel, to
run team KRTE which meant a move into the premier MX1 class. The
factory Kawasaki effort could still be based out of former owner Jan De
Groot's famous workshop facility in The Netherlands. "We
prepared a multiple year programme and strategy together with Kawasaki
Motors Europe and the Kawasaki factory in Japan. This was not always
easy as we harmonized the differing habits and personalities within the
team, but after two years we now feel that we have secured the future
of the team and have a solid team structure,” explained Thierry who incidentally has not missed a Grand Prix throughout his six years of involvement in the sport.

The decision of his ex-partner will not alter anything in the team’s activity and future. “Since
we made the team some people have left the squad and others have joined
us, but that’s normal practice in a business which strives to be as
strong as possible and works within a competitive environment. François
Lemariey joined us in 2009 as team manager and gives the team a more
organised approach, then Yves Demaria joined in the winter as sport
director in order to help the riders find their best form in their
training and at the races and so I’m convinced that both of them have
helped us to be stronger, even if this has not yet shown itself
completely in the results this season. We had some bad moments with the
injuries to Sébastien Pourcel in 2009, and Jonathan Barragan last
season, and it was tough to recover the loss of such talented riders
within a short season; when we took the decision to sign a third rider
for 2010 in case of such injuries we made a good choice with Xavier
Boog as he secured the French title and finished seventh in the MX1
World Championship for the team. With two fit and healthy riders for
2011, obviously our expectations were very high but unfortunately the
first part of the 2011 season has not been as successful as we had
expected. We know that Jonathan has the potential to be on the podium
again as he was already on it in Bulgaria this year at the first round
and Xavier's time will come soon,” he surmised.

Now sole boss of the team, Thierry is confident for the future of the prestigious KRT team. “The
team members remain motivated, and will continue to work in their calm
and determined way. We try to offer the best surroundings to our
riders, and Kawasaki gives us outstanding technical and financial
support. A few weeks ago we received confirmation from Japan that both
riders will race the French Grand Prix aboard the all new 2012 KX450F -
SR model, and thus we are already working on these new bikes in
preparation for that. In addition to this, over the past few years we
have built a strong relationship with Kawasaki in the USA and they have
given the team great support and information during the US GPs. Now we
are impatient to see one – or both – of our riders on the GP podium at
the next rounds of the World Championship! That would be the best
reward for all our work and investment,” he concluded. 
  
Steve Guttridge from Kawasaki Motors Europe added “KRTE
has evolved substantially over the last few years and always with
Thierry at the helm but it has been far from easy to achieve a quick
success with key riders sustaining injuries, essentially finishing off
their seasons! Even so the team is constantly working hard, learning
and evolving as a team that is capable of fighting for in the MX1 World
title for Kawasaki. For the French GP our riders Jonathan Barragan and
Xavier Boog will be given an extra support as they will debut the all
new 2012 KX450F-SR. This I think can also mark a new beginning for the
team, so I encourage them to make the best possible results for the
remainder of this season and wish them all the best of luck to realise
this within their new structure.”