Suzuki returns to the World Championship: in 2026 the GSX-8R enters the Sportbike class with two teams and star Jeffrey Buis

Suzuki returns to the World Superbike paddock, albeit not yet in an official capacity. In 2026 it will compete in Sportbike with two teams, fielding multi-time WorldSSP300 champion Jeffrey Buis and reigning BSB champion Kas Beekmans.

Suzuki has been a historic presence in the Superbike World Championship, tying its name to iconic riders and one of the most beloved bikes ever: the GSX‑R. However, it has long been off the radar aside from a few rare appearances. It had also skipped the smaller classes because it lacked suitable bikes. Now the GSX-8R is perfect for the new entry-level category, and there will be as many as three bikes on the grid.

The Suzuki teams in Sportbike are two, and both are very interesting. Wixx Racing Team is Dutch with an off-road past. For several seasons it has been competing on track and in 2025 it shone in the German Championship. It will make its World Championship debut with Jeffrey Buis on a GSX-8R, supported by Suzuki. Buis is the most successful rider ever in the World Supersport 300, with two world titles, twenty-seven podiums, and seventeen victories. The Dutch rider has been fast in recent years on very different bikes and is excited to take on this new challenge. It’s hard to say whether he can fight for the title right away, but he will certainly be one to watch. Alongside Jeffrey Buis will be Ferre Fleerackers, a young Belgian talent who, after making a name for himself in the Northern Talent Cup, took wins and podiums in BSB Sportbike in 2025.

Also coming from BSB is the VLR Racing Team Suzuki, champions with Kas Beekmans. In the British championship, the Dutch rider was unstoppable, taking seven wins and five second places. Across the Channel the GSX-8Rs performed at an extremely high level, showing tremendous potential. At this moment it’s hard to say what the true pecking order will be in the World Sportbike Championship with the various balance measures, but you can bet the Suzuki GSX-8R will be competitive and might even pave the way for Suzuki’s return to World Superbike.