RC for RM!
By TMX Archives on 8th Apr 04
AMERICAN HONDA'S Ricky Carmichael has yet to hit the race-track so far this season but the wheels are already in motion for a surprise move to Team Suzuki for 2005 and beyond. AMERICAN HONDA'S Ricky Carmichael has yet to hit the race-track so far this season but the wheels are already in motion for a surprise move to Team Suzuki for 2005 and beyond. The all-time winningest rider in AMA history has announced that he's signed a 'multi-year' deal with the yellow brand."This is a very exciting time for me. The agreement is multi-faceted and Suzuki will be extremely supportive of me from a racing, marketing and business standpoint," says Carmichael."I'm looking forward to working with Roger De Coster and will do my best to help put Suzuki back on top. I'm not sure which bike I'll be racing but I know that I'll have the option to test both the two and four-stroke bikes. I know Suzuki has a quality bike and is very committed to winning."De Coster is equally as excited about working with the 24-year-old Floridian winning machine. "Ricky is such a talented rider with tremendous work ethic," says the Suzuki team-manager. "He'll be a great example for Team Suzuki's young riders. I realise it won't be easy for him to come back and win after being off due to injury but I have confidence in Ricky and in how much effort I know that he's going to put into winning."In an open letter posted on racerxill.com Ricky states... "I have a really good relationship with Team Honda. The race team has done everything possible to put me on the best equipment available. My original intention was to finish my career at Honda. The bottom line is that Honda chose not exercise its right to keep me for the remainder of my career."This past Thursday I got back on a motorcycle for the first time in months and it feels great. I am already focused on the outdoor season and winning another title riding a Honda. Please understand that my undivided attention will be with Honda until my contract is up. When I begin with Suzuki I will show them the same respect."With RC leaving Honda, speculation increases as to who will fill Ricky's ride. The most popular theory at present is that Honda will either try to poach James Stewart from his current Chevy Trucks Kawasaki team or take Chad Reed away from Team Yamaha as both riders' contacts are up at the end of the year.