Although there has been no official confirmation, Suzuki have pulled the plug on their factory MotoGP effort after telling staff they would not be required next year but there is an apparentl planned return to the series in 2014.
The factory had a deadline of last Friday to decide whether they were going to play and inform MotoGP bosses Dorna but that has come and gone, at least publicly. Team staff were told on Friday in an email their services would not be required next season - crew chief Tom O'Kane had already jumped ship to sit with Andrea Dovizioso at Tech3 - but the factory's racing department hoped to be back in three years.
This has, of course, happened before when Suzuki quit in early 80s and team manager Garry Taylor carried on with backing from British importer Heron until 1987 when Suzuki re-appeared with a full V-four and his team got back their full factory status.
In terms of the 2012 grid, it leaves Randy de Puniet without a 'proper' bike to ride as Stefan Bradl has the LCR Honda so he will be after one of the more sorted CRT bikes or, god forbid, something in the World Superbike paddock - step forward either the Pata or Parkingo Aprilia teams. It also means that John Hopkins will join Leon Camier in the Crescent Suzuki WSB team.
