Randy de Puniet was competitive on the Suzuki prototype machine which debuted a new test livery at Catalunya. Image: MotoGP.com.

Following months of speculation and secret testing, the Suzuki Motor Corporation has announced its decision to make its official return to the FIM Road Racing Grand Prix – MotoGP – in 2015.

The announcement effectively extends Suzuki’s decision to suspend its MotoGP activities to a period of three years after its initial exit at the end of 2012 which was due to economic downturn and natural disasters affecting its Japanese manufacturing base.

With initial expectations centred on a return next year, the decision allows the manufacturer a wealth of testing time to both develop and refine the all new, in-line four GP machine which it aims to link more closely to a performance line of road-going models.

Suzuki took the wraps off the current version of its prototype machine at the team test session at Catalunya yesterday where Randy de Puniet resumed his testing duties aboard the bike.

Initial signs from the test are extremely positive for Suzuki and team manager Davide Brivio, with de Puniet lapping just 0.772 seconds off leader Jorge Lorenzo after 73 laps.

“I am satisfied because the first test at Motegi was quite good and now we are at a GP track, with most of the other riders and running in the same conditions,” said de Puniet.

“I think we did a great job because I’m only seven tenths slower than the best lap time today and after only 50 or 60 laps; all of the other riders have already been here for three days. I am satisfied, but think we could be even faster if we had one more day.”

The team will carry over its testing program to Aragon in Spain for a further two days on track.