2014 Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP spied testing

Although cross-plane crank inline four will put paid to the V in GSV-R

A PROTOTYPE Suzuki has been spotted testing at Sugo in Japan.

The bike, thought to be the test-bed for Suzuki's 2014 1000cc MotoGP return, was being put through its paces by former MotoGP rider and veteran Suzuki development rider, Nobuatsu Aoki.

We don't have the pictures of the bike, however it's thought to be using an inline-four GSX-R engine, meaning the GSV-R title won't apply. Factory insiders say the bike isn't using a conventional firing order and is likely to be using a cross-plane crank, similar to what Yamaha used on their 990cc YZR-M1 and now their road-going YZF-R1.

Back in February, we ran a story where Nobuatsu Aoki revealed Suzuki's hope to return to MotoGP in 2013, possibly entering a wildcard before the full 2014 season.

A Suzuki-powered CRT MotoGP bike will wildcard this year at Indianapolis MotoGP, however it's thought the bike will use a GSX-R1000 engine, with a conventional firing order.