This just in from Jeff Wilson of American Suzuki, regarding the 2001 Suzuki contingency program:

“The final draft of the Suzuki contingency brochure will be off to the printers Wednesday the 25th. If you want to let your readers know
some basic new stuff….

“Total posting is just short of $1.4 Million….

: There will be 60 Suzuki Cup Series events at most of the clubs; AFM, CMRA, CRA, CCS, GLRRA, LRRS, MRA, OMRRA, WMRRA, WERA Sportsman, WSMC. These will run primarily through the spring and summer months and the last points-paying round will be a CCS event at Gateway the 16th of September. We will pay at both the WERA GNF (Sportsman and Nat’l Challenge) in Atlanta and the
CCS Race of Champions in Daytona in October. We are posting $480,000 ($8000 per event) for these Suzuki Cup Series events in five classes….600, 750 and Open Superstock and classes for the SV650 and TL1000R. The points earned at these events will allow the rider to compete in the Suzuki Cup Final in October.

“The Suzuki Cup Final will be held October 23rd through the 28th in Atlanta at the WERA Grand National Final again. This year we will up the total payout to $80,000 for five classes. That is a $20,000 increase from 2000. The payout structure will change slightly to allow Suzuki to pay $500 to the 20th-place finisher in each of the three GSX-R classes and $250 for 20th place
in each of the two Twins classes.

“This year we will requiring at least 10 points to qualify for the Final.The heat races will still be run on Saturday for final grid postions to be determined with the exception of the front
rows. And this will be the Big Change. We will “lock” in the top points earner from each region to the front rows of the final event on Sunday; regardless, of his (or her) finish in the heat race. In other words, the fastest “top points earner” from the heat race will have the pole position for the final in each of the five classes.

“The National Level Contingency is about the same as last year with a few adjustments including increased payouts in AMA 600cc Supersport and Formula Xtreme. All of the same classes are eligible for contingency that we paid in
2000; AMA 600cc and 750cc Supersport, Formula Xtreme and Pro Thunder; F-USA Sportbike and Unlimited Superbike; WERA Nat’l Endurance and Nat’l Challenge.Total posting is $825,000.

“We have posted with all the clubs and each should have the ‘Suzuki Money’ days on their schedule now. We will honor results from races prior to the release of the brochure and registration form. Remember, each racer has to
submit a new registration form each year.

“The brochure is later than usual coming out this year and we apologize for that delay. It will be available at all of the clubs and the national events the first part of May. We will be mailing it to all of the 2000 participants and it should be available mid-May at the local Suzuki dealers.

“Good luck and good racing.”