2013 Fixi Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 Debuts with Less Engine-Building Support from Yoshimura

We must be getting close to the 2013 World Superbike season-opener at Phillip Island, because a bevy of teams are debuting their 2013 bikes and riders for the media this week. Returning for the 2013 season, Paul Denning’s Fixi Crescent Suzuki team is ready to race its venerable stead against the other factory teams. For Fixi Crescent though, the battle will be tough-fought, with little support coming in from Suzuki Motor Co., and also with the news that Yoshimura will not be building the team’s GSX-R1000 race engines.

Instead, riders Leon Camier and Jules Cluzel will ride machines whose engines have been built in-house by the Crescent Racing crew, while Yoshimura continues its R&D with the GSX-R1000 and does long-term development for the team. Taking a private test at Phillip Island February 14-15th, and then having the official WSBK test at the same venue later that week on February 18th and 19th, Fixi Crescent Suzuki’s mettle will finally be tested with World Superbike’s first race on Sunday, February 24th.

“The most important first step towards the 2013 season was Leon Camier pledging his future to the FIXI Crescent Suzuki team and the GSX-R,” said Team Manager Paul Denning. “In my opinion Leon is the most under-rated rider in WSBK and a huge talent with winning potential. After John Hopkins was forced to take 2013 out due to his injuries, we have been very lucky to draw Jules Cluzel to the team. We are really pleased to have him onboard, he has already settled in really well and from first impressions he will definitely be very exciting to watch!”

“Our working relationship with Yoshimura has also altered, so that we at Crescent are now building and maintaining the engines at race headquarters in Verwood and Yoshimura is working on the long term fundamental development of the engine’s performance,” added Denning. “These split duties are working well, Yoshimura now has more capacity to concentrate on the development side and we work very closely with them on a day to day basis.”