MotoGP legend and former World Champion Kevin Schwantz has ridden the new Suzuki MotoGP contender at Austin’s Circuit of Americas and declared he thinks the bike should go racing right now.

The 1993 champ hopped off the Yoshimura Suzuki of Roger Hayden and straight onto the MotoGP, slated to join MotoGP next year, saying that is does everything so well, it should be up against the likes of Rossi and Marquez. He completed 11 laps of the 5,513m circuit with a best lap-time of 2’12.75.

“I went on the MotoGP machine after riding the GSX-R1000 Superbike and it felt like going from a 500cc to a 250cc bike; the MotoGP machine is so small and compact! The bike turns, accelerates, goes fast; it does everything and I had fun and really enjoyed it,” said Schwantz.

“With this bike you have power and braking so you brake and accelerate and the bike does all the rest. I think Suzuki should race now - the sooner the better! You can test a lot but in the race you really understand.

“After having ridden the MotoGP machine, I now appreciate much-more the GSX-R and I want to continue to work on that now to prepare for my race at Suzuka in July. So tomorrow I will only ride the GSX-R.”