Former TT winners in talks to ride Suter's 500cc two-stroke racer

Two former Isle of Man TT winners are in negotiations to ride Swiss manufacturer Suter's 500cc GP inspired two-stroke racer at the legendary road race this year.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Feb 2016, 20:54 BST
Updated 17th Feb 2016, 08:06 BST
Freddie Spencer has tested the Suter MMX 500, which is set to make its racing debut at the 2016 Isle of Man TT.Freddie Spencer has tested the Suter MMX 500, which is set to make its racing debut at the 2016 Isle of Man TT.
Freddie Spencer has tested the Suter MMX 500, which is set to make its racing debut at the 2016 Isle of Man TT.

The MMX 500, which is powered by a 576cc V4 engine, will go up against the latest Superbike machinery in the RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior races around the infamous Mountain Course in June.

The bike was unveiled last September in front of 300 VIP guests and only 99 have been developed, aimed at wealthy private amateur racers and boasting a hefty price tag of 120,000 euros (£85,000).

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Former Grand Prix rider and Suter CEO Eskil Suter is understood to be in talks with two previous TT winners to ride the unique machine this year, with the first signing expected to be confirmed shortly.

“We are currently negotiating with two former TT winners who know the track off by heart,” confirmed Suter’s marketing director Philippe Soutter.

“We want an experienced rider and the best suited to us would be an old TT warhorse.”

The two-stroke machines produce a claimed 195bhp and weigh only 127kg, capable of reaching a top speed of 193mph. The MMX 500 - which has been tested by Grand Prix legend Freddie Spencer - also features electronic fuel injection and a counter-rotating crankshaft.

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“We have a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio. It’s like a bicycle with rocket propulsion,” said Eskil Suter, who also has plans for a road-going version of the MMX 500 in the near future.

“And that’s why we what the MMX 500 to enter the toughest road race in the world. For us this is the perfect testing ground.

“The Senior TT, over six laps of the 60km long Snaefell Mountain Course, is just something for the toughest guys among the racers.”

Suter Racing Technology began its association with Grand Prix two-strokes in the late 1990s, being ‘deeply involved’ in the Swissauto 500/MuZ that took two pole positions for Jurgen van den Goorbergh.

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The company then went on to work with the likes of Foggy Petronas (WSBK), Kawasaki (MotoGP) and Ilmor (MotoGP) before winning three constructors’ titles under its own name in the Moto2 category.

Suter is rumoured to be working with Ducati on its 2016 Desmosedici MotoGP machine.