World Grand Prix Road Racing History
2007 Suzuki entered the series with John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen on the new GSV-R machines with engine displacement minimized from 990cc to 800cc to meet the changed regulations. The newly developed 800cc engine was well matched to the mature body inherited from the former model.John Hopkins put himself on the podium 4 times and placed fourth in the overall ranking of the series making great progress from the 10th in the last year.
Meanwhile, Chris Vermeulen secured the first victory for the Suzuki GSV-R in the France GP, and achieved podium finish in England, U.S.A. and San Marino GPs placing sixth in the overall series ranking. In the San Marino GP, Chris and John placed second and third respectively and stood 8 times in total on the victory podium on their GSV-Rs. The 2007 season was a significant leap forward for RIZLA SUZUKI MotoGP.
2006 Suzuki participated in the MotoGP series with newly joined Chris Vermeulen and John Hopkins. John Hopkins scored his best ever MotoGP finish with a superb fourth place both in the fourth round China GP and the seventh round Catalunya (Spain) GP and finished the 2006 season in the tenth place overall constantly adding points. While, Chris Vermeulen steadily racked up the points with outstanding performance including the second place in his first MotoGP appearance in the fourteenth round Australian GP and ended the season in the eleventh place overall.
2005 The GSV-R, given a big power boost while retaining its high cornering speeds from the year before, is piloted, as last season, by Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins. Kenny Roberts Jr. made a great showing by taking a podium-finish 2nd place in rainy weather at round 9 British GP, but ranked only 13th for the season. John Hopkins rode to a 5th-place finish at the Japanese GP, but ranked only 14th for the season.
2004 Suzuki fields 2004-spec GSV-R (project code no. XRE2), developed with a review of engine-braking control and torque characteristics and improvement of machine controllability, and piloted by Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins. New Bridgestone tires replacing Michelin tires proved a fine match with the machine, which demonstrated greatly enhanced competitiveness. Kenny Roberts Jr. takes the pole position at the Brazilian GP, while John Hopkins qualified 2nd at Japanese GP. However, due to setbacks including repeated rider injuries and unfortunate accident at the Japanese GP, best result was no higher than 6th marked by Hopkins at the Portuguese GP. Season rider points standings fall short of expectations, with Hopkins at 16th and Roberts Jr. at 18th.
2003 Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins pilot 2003-spec GSV-R (XRE1), powered by a newly designed engine featuring changes including modified V-angle. John Hopkins comes in 7th at the Spanish GP. However, with setbacks including Kenny Roberts Jr. missing out three races due to a crash in round 5, season rankings fall short of expectations, with Hopkins at 17th and Roberts Jr. at 19th.
2002

In accordance with regulation changes, Suzuki enters the new 4-stroke 996cc machine GSV-R. Wildcard entrant Akira Ryo takes 2nd place in the opening round. Kenny Roberts Jr. takes a 3rd-place podium finish at round 12 Brazilian GP.
2001 Sete Gibernau wins GP round 12, while Kenny Roberts Jr. finishes 3rd. Gibernau is ranked 9th for the season, Kenny Roberts Jr. 11th. Moving up the schedule a year, Suzuki announces entry of 4-stroke machine in the 2002 World GP season.
2000 Kenny Roberts Jr. wins 2-year consecutive victory in the Malaysian GP, the season's 2nd round. With a total of four victories, Roberts Jr. becomes the champion, which for Suzuki is the sixth world title, and the first in seven years since 1993.