CONTACT INFORMATION Jake Klingensmith The Creative Works 714/501-6549 jake@thecreativeworks.com
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 RM- Z450 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 Off- Road 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.