Suzuki to race RM-Z450

Suzuki has announced that its new RM-Z450 crosser will debut at the All-Japan Motocross series in October and then go on to compete in the World MXGP series in 2004.

The new four-stroke off-roader, featured in MCN this week, is the company’s first 450cc four-stroke motorcross bike and the first of Suzuki’s off-road range to use an aluminium beam frame.

The four-valve liquid-cooled motor has been developed in-house by Suzuki and makes use of technology from both the GSX-R road bikes and the RM motocross development programme.

Racing in the two series will allow Suzuki to develop the bike further before it goes into full production for its expected launch next August.

The firm also hopes it will help Mickael Pichon win back the MXGP title in 2004.

Pichon won the title in 2001 and 2002 but the introduction of four-stroke 450cc bikes to compete against the 250cc two-strokes this year saw rival Stefan Everts take the title last weekend in the Czech Republic on his Yamaha YZF450.

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