Suzuki Revives the GSX-R1000R With a 40th Anniversary Track Test in Spain

Suzuki marked 40 years since the first GSX-R750 by launching the updated GSX-R1000R, and invited journalists to test it in a six-hour endurance-style event at the Monteblanco circuit near Seville, Spain, close to locations used for Star Wars filming. The occasion also celebrated 25 years of the liter-class GSX-R, and the company emphasized the model’s racing heritage and reliability, with the old rallying cry of "It’s not a race" becoming part of the event’s joke-like atmosphere.

The original GSX-R750, introduced in 1985, is presented as the motorcycle that changed sport riding by bringing something close to a pure track bike to the street. The article notes that in mid-1980s Israel, Suzuki was the first Japanese brand to break the Arab boycott and sell new Japanese motorcycles locally, which made the arrival of the GSX-R especially exciting. The writer recalls how, in those pre-internet years, the bike inspired awe, with people whispering that the machine was a "monster."

For the anniversary model, Suzuki added aerodynamic winglets, new electronics including the SDMS riding modes from A to C, and engine changes aimed at improving torque across the rev range. Company chief engineer Shunya Togo said, "I love motorcycles, and we have a special passion for this model." The bike also features a retro blue-and-white livery and a large exhaust, while Suzuki says the front-wing setup improves front-wheel stability at high speed by 8.7 percent.

The test used ten teams of three riders each, with each rider doing about 25 minutes per stint, while the bikes were refueled, lubricated, and sometimes fitted with new slick tires. The writer says the experience felt physical, spiritual, and almost religious, with the bike repeatedly accelerating and braking hard without trouble or crashes. By the end, Suzuki’s message was that winning starts with finishing, and the new GSX-R1000R was presented as a modern, more predictable, and more usable superbike that still carries the brand’s racing legacy.