Suzuki GSX-8R wins its first UK title
Suzuki’s GSX-8 platform has celebrated title success in the UK for the first time, after winning the Pirelli National Sportbike series.
Suzuki’s GSX-8R is now a title-winning motorcycle in the UK after dominating this year’s Pirelli National Sportbike Championship, in the hands of Dutch rider Kas Beekmans.
The GSX-8R achieved its maiden UK title success during last weekend’s season-finale at Brands Hatch. Winner on seven occasions with Beekmans at the helm, the award-winning GSX-8R was one of two Suzuki bikes to clinch a championship win.
You might like to read our Suzuki GSX-8R review.
That’s because the Japanese company’s GSX-R750 was also piloted to success in the British Supersport Championship by Rhys Irwin. A victory in the penultimate race allowed Irwin to have breathing room heading into the finale, as he ultimately secured the title by just four points.
After being unveiled during the spring of 2024, this year’s Pirelli National Sportbike Championship marked the first full racing season for the GSX-8R on UK soil.
The GSX-8R was the third bike launched on Suzuki’s new 800 platform, and it uses the same 776cc engine that’s housed by its naked sibling, the GSX-8S. Its parallel-twin unit is also found in the V-Strom 800DE and RE models.
The GSX-8 family has since expanded to four models, with Suzuki recently revealing the GSX-8T and 8TT retro machines.
Check out our recent Suzuki GSX-8T & GSX-8TT review.
The GSX-8R’s suite of electronics includes a bi-directional quickshifter as standard, three traction control modes, including the ability to switch it off, and three power maps. The bike is currently available to buy for an OTR price of £8,999 in the UK.
Suzuki GB motorcycle marking manager, Jak Tyrrell, spoke about the achievements at last weekend’s event, saying:
“It’s great to see the 8R achieving success in British Championship racing. The bike was only launched in the spring of last year, so 2025 was arguably its first full year of competition and we saw Beekmans and VLR/NIWA Racing team put together a dominant campaign, but also Durham and the Powerslide Suzuki team taking wins and podium finishes all season, too, and battling for second in the championship until the final round. That sector of the market is one of the most competitive, with lots of bikes vying for the attention of buyers, but the results this season clearly demonstrate the performance and usability of the 8R.
“It’s also incredibly pleasing to see the GSX-R750 winning races and a championship and the Gearlink by Performance15 team and Irwin have done an incredible job. While it’s not a bike currently on sale in Europe, the fact that it can race and beat newer machinery really shows how good and how strong a platform it is. Adding to that the fact that it has come in the 40th anniversary year of GSX-R and the 750 specifically makes it even more special.”
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
