Is Suzuki’s GSX-8R poised to become a dominant force?

There’s often been a narrative in racing, which is that a manufacturer, or in this case a particular bike needs years of experience behind it before winning. But that theory was well and truly debunked in 2025, and Suzuki’s GSX-8R was one of the motorcycles that proved that. 

The other was Yamaha’s R9 which won the WorldSSP championship this year, in what was its first season in the class. 

Saying all of that doesn’t mean experience isn’t a good thing, or needed, because having it certainly helps. However, since its launch in 2024, nothing has really stopped the GSX-8R. 

It’s become an award-winning model, and was the title-winning motorcycle in the 2025 Pirelli National Sportbike Championship (set to be rebranded as the Pirelli British Sportbike Championship in 2026), at the first time of asking. All of that makes us think the Suzuki GSX-8R is destined for further success. 

You might be interested in reading our Suzuki GSX-8R review.

When the GSX-8R first rolled off the production line it arrived as a clear rival to Yamaha’s R7, which it will do battle with in WorldSPB next season. It will also go up against Kawasaki’s ZX-6R 636, Kove’s 450RR, Aprilia’s RS 660 Factory, and the Triumph Daytona 660.

All of those brands will have the same idea which is to win the first-ever WorldSPB series, but here’s why Suzuki is best positioned to do so.

Firstly, the Japanese brand is bringing some serious pedigree to the championship with its rider line-up, as two-time World Supersport 300 winner Jeffrey Buis will be lining up on a GSX-8R. 

His team-mate will be Belgian rider Ferre Fleerackers, who finished runner-up in the 2025 Pirelli National Sportbike class. The rider he finished behind was Suzuki’s Kas Beekmans, who rounds out the list of Suzuki GSX-8R riders for the inaugural WorldSPB series.

While Fleerackers and Beekmans have departed the British Superbike support series to help spearhead Suzuki’s attack on the world stage, its competitiveness is unlikely to be diminished in the UK. That’s because Suzuki GB has revealed a new partnership with Powerslide, which means four GSX-8Rs will be raced domestically in 2026.  

But back to WorldSPB, and why you should keep an eye on the GSX-8R in 2026. You see, Suzuki doesn’t do things by halves, and by that I mean race to simply make up the numbers. 

Sure, no brand intends to do that, but Suzuki has a proven track record of being there or thereabouts when it comes to winning championships.

After several years of watching rivals Honda and Yamaha win titles in MotoGP, Suzuki, with less bikes on the grid, meaning less data to rely on and a smaller overall chance just by numbers alone, was able to win the MotoGP championship in 2020. 

It remained competitive after that, winning two out of the last three races during the 2022 season, before ultimately departing the series. 

If we turn to the FIM Endurance World Championship, then it's a similar story as Suzuki won the title in the 2019/20 season, 2021 and 2024 with the GSX-R1000R. Of course, these are simply previous results and instances where Suzuki has done well. 

However, recent success is something that is always worth remembering, as are examples of a brand winning races, and/or championships, especially when it has done so across multiple categories and with different machinery.

Powered by Suzuki’s 776cc, liquid-cooled parallel twin engine that produces 81.7bhp and 57.5 Ib ft of torque, the GSX-8R proved very difficult to beat in 2025 against the same opposition it will now race in WorldSPB.

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