Words: Adam Wheeler/Alex Gobert

The presence of Suzuki in the FIM Motocross World Championship allegedly hangs by a thread with cancellation of their MX2 program all-but-confirmed and now a sea of rumours surround Stefan Everts’ squad in the premier class.

The Lommel-based set-up have only taken one grand prix victory in MXGP in two years and despite the arrival of a brand new RM-Z450, the futures of 2017 MX2 runner-up Jeremy Seewer and Arminas Jasikonis are in doubt.

It’s understood that staff were apparently briefed that the race team will disband for 2018. The news comes as a major surprise less than two years since Everts took control of the operation from Sylvain Geboers and after a successful MX2 campaign with the RM-Z250 in which Seewer obtained thirteen podiums and five wins.

An official announcement is still pending, but the 23-year-old Swiss has already started to look at other options for a debut season in the MXGP division. Jasikonis, who is dealing with a hip injury sustained at the USGP, is also now searching for a saddle in a paddock already full or limited with opportunities.

There is also some talk in MXGP circles that former world champion Everts could still field Suzuki machinery for 2018 without the direct link to Hamamatsu. The manufacturer won the MXGP (then MX1) title in 2007 with Steve Ramon, still the last Belgian to lift a GP crown.

The news will also affect the future of Australia’s Hunter Lawrence following a remarkable first MX2 campaign, most recently linked to Honda. He could spend one more season in Europe prior to heading to the US in 2019.