Team Suzuki has had much to celebrate in motocross in 2006 with a trophy cabinet filled to overflowing, and now the squad's accomplishments have been recognised at a special reception in Japan as it looks forward to continued success in 2007.

In the USA, Ricky Carmichael retained both the AMA Supercross and Motocross titles on-board his RM-Z450 production-based racer, while in Japan Yohei Kojima dominated the IA2 class of the All Japan Motocross Championship on his Team Suzuki RM-Z250.

In the World MX1 Championship, meanwhile, the outfit's young Belgian stars Kevin Strijbos and Steve Ramon claimed second and third positions overall, marking themselves out as definite stars of the future on their RM-Z450 factory machines.

The managers of Team Suzuki's official motocross teams from America, Japan and Europe were all praised by Suzuki Motor Corporation President & COO, Mr Hiroshi Tsuda, at a ceremony held at the company's headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan. Mr Tsuda welcomed American Suzuki's MX team manager Roger De Coster, Team Suzuki World MX1 team manager Sylvain Geboers and Team Suzuki All Japan MX team manager Taichi Yoshimura to the special celebration.

“The continued worldwide success of Team Suzuki at the highest levels of motocross and supercross competition is a clear indication of Suzuki's position as leaders in off-road motorcycle technology and performance,” he asserted. “These championship victories are the Olympic gold medals of off-road motorcycle sport and serve to enforce and promote Suzuki's strong sporting image around the world.”

“We go racing with the aim of winning races and championships and this can only be achieved if we are given the tools to do the job,” added De Coster. “The dedication and commitment of the Suzuki factory to continually design, develop and produce the best racing machinery is what makes the difference and what helps us to produce the results in terms of these race and championship victories.”