Suzuki Motor Corporation has confirmed an extra two year contract with ITL (Imperial Tobacco Limited) which will allow the Suzuki MotoGP squad to continue on carrying the Rizla brand on its GSV-R in the upper class of motorbike racing.

Rizla was the title sponsor of Suzuki’s MotoGP squad in 2006 and the extension of the partnership will let the Suzuki GSV-R race in the MotoGP World Championship as the now famous ‘Rizla Blue’ until 2011.

Loris Capirossi and newly signed Álvaro Bautista will arrive into action on their Rizla Suzuki prototypes at the initial testing of this season at Sepang in Malaysia this week, with the season due to begin in Qatar on April 11.

Paul Denning, Rizla Suzuki Team Manager, states: “Everybody involved with the Suzuki Grand Prix project is delighted that the Rizla brand will continue its partnership in 2010 and into 2011, and that we are able to continue with the now iconic Rizla Suzuki image for the next two seasons. It’s very clear that the 2009 season fell far below our expectations and targets, but Loris, Álvaro, the whole team and the Suzuki Racing group in Hamamatsu will be doing everything we can to take a big step forward and re-pay Rizla’s faith in the project during 2010 and beyond.”

Sales and Marketing boss of Imperial Tobacco Group Plc, Graham Blashill, adds: “The MotoGP platform fits perfectly with Rizla's global, premium status and the close partnership we have forged with the Suzuki team enables us to leverage the brand extremely effectively. I wish Loris and Álvaro the best of luck on the track and I look forward to success for the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team as a whole.”