It’s Suzuki’s turn to show their colors for the 2017 MotoAmerica season. The Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing GSX-R1000 looks pretty similar to their MotoGP bikes, and Roger Hayden and Toni Elias will swing their legs over at the upcoming season opener at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX.

Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing unveiled the new racing livery of the 2017 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike and race team the day before the upcoming preseason test at Circuit of The Americas. On Monday evening, March 27, the team was part of the MotoAmerica 2017 unveiling at the Container Bar in downtown Austin.

On hand were Roger Hayden and Toni Elias, as well as members of the Yoshimura Suzuki race team. It was a great opportunity for enthusiasts to see up close, the newly redesigned 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000. The newest generation of the iconic machine is certain to add to the rich legacy of the GSX-R line of sporting motorcycles.

Yoshimura Suzuki was thrilled to be able to make this public presentation of its new Superbike. “We were excited to have the opportunity to present to the public for the first time our new 2017 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbikes,” said Don Sakakura, Senior VP of Yoshimura R&D of America.

“This color scheme is new and striking, but in keeping with the long tradition of Suzuki road-racing machines. As excited as we are about the new livery, we’re even more thrilled with the new generation of GSX-R1000.

“With the new GSX-R1000, Suzuki has delivered us a high-technology, high-performance motorcycle platform to start with. It gives the best of both worlds. With the characteristics of the engine, the suspension, and the balance of the chassis, it’s going to give our riders maximum confidence. Ultimately, we believe that this will produce great results.”

Overwhelmingly positive early reports of the new GSX-R1000 have sportbike enthusiasts eager to swing a leg over the improved machine. “Suzuki engineers packed major innovations into the new GSX-R1000,” explained Kerry Graeber, Suzuki Motor of America’s Vice President MC/ATV Sales and Marketing. “The result is a motorcycle worthy of our racing DNA.

“The Suzuki GSX-R line has been the most dominant sportbike of its era ,and we believe this new motorcycle will keep Suzuki on the cutting edge of technology. We have high expectations for this motorcycle, both on the race track as well as the showroom floor.”

This season marks the 41st year of MotoAmerica’s Superbike Championship. Yoshimura Suzuki is proud to have been part of the history of this championship from its inception. The Suzuki GSX-R line is the leader in nearly every category throughout the decades-long tradition of America’s premier road-racing series.

The edgy and clean GSX-R styling incorporates fairing and bodywork details aimed at reducing turbulence and drag. The new livery should allow fans and TV viewers to instantly distinguish the bikes as Suzuki. The 2017 MotoAmerica season kicks off at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas on April 20-23.

You can keep up with the team’s progress by visiting yoshimura-racing.com and suzukicycles.com/racing and via YouTube.

(Story from MotoAmerica press release; photo from MotoAmerica/Brian J. Nelson)