A bombshell: 2027 Supersport World Championship to feature Suzuki, but without MV Agusta

After MV Agusta had been a regular contender for podium places in the Supersport World Championship for many years, things have become increasingly difficult over the past two years. After the team led by Andrea Quadranti from Ticino switched to Yamaha for 2026 and clinched the title straight away with Albert Arenas, the Motozoo team was the last to field the F3 800 this year – and endured a season to forget. Only in the rain-affected second race at Phillip Island did Andrea Giombini finish fourth to score points; in the other 23 races, he didn’t even manage to finish in the top 20.

For team manager Fabio Uccelli, the disastrous season was a compelling reason to rethink his project. The rider and the brand were put under the microscope and alternatives explored. It came as no surprise that the overwhelmed Giombini had to step aside. However, the fact that the Italian is moving to Suzuki – thereby helping the Japanese brand make a return to the middleweight category – is a bombshell.

“For us, this is much more than just a change of motorbike. It marks the start of a project we firmly believe in, and we are proud to bring a brand like Suzuki back into the Supersport World Championship,” explained Uccelli. “We’re talking about a manufacturer that has written extraordinary chapters in the history of motorbike racing and achieved some hugely significant successes in Supersport. Motozoo has been competing in this championship for several years and we’ve grown as a team in this paddock. In 2023, we won the World Supersport Challenge with Tom Booth-Amos and have continued to invest and gain experience ever since. Putting our knowledge to work today on a project with the Suzuki GSX-R750 is both an opportunity and a great responsibility for us. We know that a lot of work lies ahead, as a new project requires further development and a high level of commitment from the whole team. But that is precisely what makes this challenge so exciting.”

Suzuki was last represented in the middleweight class by guest rider Rhys Irwin at Donington Park in 2023. The Japanese manufacturer from Hamamatsu competed for a full season in 2013 with the Suriano team; since then, it has only taken part in parts of the championship. With ten wins and 42 podium finishes, Suzuki does not feature prominently in the statistics.

As for the rider line-up, Motozoo has brought a well-known figure back into the team in the form of Mattia Casadei. The 27-year-old is the 2023 MotoE champion and rode the second half of last season with what was then the MV Agusta team. With two pole positions and a fifth place at the season finale in Jerez, the Italian demonstrated his potential.

“Having Mattia on board is another key factor,” emphasised the team manager. “We know him well and are aware of just how fast he is and how important he can be for the further development of the bike. This fresh start with him, with Suzuki and such an important project has us looking forward to 2027 with great enthusiasm and ambition. We want to respect and honour the history of this brand, but above all we want to open a new chapter.”