Suzuki Throws A Surprise Retirement Celebration For Roger Hayden At AIMExpo
Suzuki honored recently retired motorcycle racer Roger Hayden by presenting him with a new 2019 RMX450Z dirt bike on the last day of the AIMExpo, which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from October 11 through the 14th. Hayden’s 20-year career included being a member of the Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Superbike team and winning the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) Supersport Championship in 2007.
Suzuki Sunday
The ceremony was part of the “Suzuki Sunday” event, which brought together fans of the brand and Hayden, as well as some of his teammates and other popular fixtures in the racing community, such as Ralph Sheeheen, a motorsports broadcaster who served as the Master of Ceremonies. Kerry Graeber, vice president of sales and marketing for Suzuki, was also on hand to present the motorcycle and celebrate Hayden’s career.
“Roger has been an asset to not only the Yoshimura Suzuki Factory race team but to the Suzuki family as a whole,” said Graeber. “We're grateful for his hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm and want to thank him for his time with us. We’ll miss watching him race but excited for him and his family to enjoy this next chapter of his life.”
The Bike
The 2019 Suzuki RMX450Z packs a 449cc, four-stroke engine and a 5-speed constant mesh transmission. It also features an aluminum alloy twin-spar frame, an ergonomic seat designed specifically for competitive riding, black anodized aluminum Excel rims, a 35-watt headlight, and an LED taillight. Suzuki outfitted the RMX450Z dirt bike that it gave to Roger Hayden with a special graphics package styled after the motorcycles he rode during his days as a member of the Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing team.
If you’d like to own your own RMX450Z or other similar model, you’ll find hundreds of new and used Suzuki motorcycles for sale at MotorSportsUniverse.com.
Source: Suzuki