The Stunning Suter MMX 500 Two-Stroke GP Bike Is Taking On The 2016 Isle Of Man TT

From the mid-1970s all the way up to the early 2000s, two-stroke motorcycles absolutely dominated Grand Prix racing. With low-weight, high-power and vicious rev-bands, two-stroke machines were incredibly fast, but they were also incredibly unforgiving. Nicknamed ‘the unrideables’, squeezing the last tenths out of these highly strung beasts took some serious talent. Names like Sheene, Roberts, Schwantz and Doohan will forever be associated with these vicious bikes.

Unfortunately, for fans and riders alike, ever increasing environmental regulations slowly but surely killed off the two-stroke motorcycle. In 2003, four-strokes and two-strokes raced aside one another for the very last time in the MotoGP World Championship, with the oil-burning bikes being completely ousted in 2004. For hardcore two-stroke fans, this was a huge disappointment, as the technology still had a long way to go.

As it turns out, Eskil Suter was one of those hardcore enthusiasts. Suter, who has designed some of the most advanced championship winning MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto 3 chassis, has turned his incredible talent towards the two-stroke motorcycle. In October last year, Suter’s company, Suter Racing, unveiled the absolutely stunning GP-specification MMX 500. A V4 500cc two-stroke with modern day technology; an absolute masterpiece.

The engine features technology Grand Prix teams could have only dreamed of back in the 80s and 90s. Electronic fuel injection, twin counter-rotating crankshafts, a twin-spar aluminium frame and custom made Akrapovic titanium expansion chamber exhausts are just the start. The bike just oozes quality with no expense being spared; brakes are Brembo, suspension is Öhlins, and wheels come from OZ.

The 195bhp, 127kg machine will cost around £60,000, with the bike being limited to 99 examples. The MX500 was extremely well received on its launch, with former 500GP world champions Freddie Spencer and Wayne Gardner in attendance. However, with bikes like this, you expect some rich collectors to stump up the cash and then hide their possessions away forever, denying us the chance to see these bikes out in the wild. But in a shock announcement, which should make two-stroke fans go weak at the knees, Suter Racing has revealed that it will be campaigning one of these bikes at this year’s Isle of Man TT.

Eskil explained his decision to tackle the TT, saying:

“In collaboration with a renowned university we have found solutions to the challenge of the emissions and got it under control, and that’s the reason why we want to go to the toughest road race in the world. For us this is the perfect testing ground. The Senior TT, over six laps of the 60km long Snaefell Mountain Course, is just something for the toughest guys among the racers. I’m known indeed to be quite fearless,” said Eskil Suter, “but the TT is now something where I would definitively prefer another let go first as a rider.”

Philippe Soutter, marketing director of Suter Racing also stated that “We do not expect a win at our first TT”, indicating that we could see this GP machine making more than one appearance on the Mountain Course. According to MCN, the company is trying to secure a top class TT racer for the Superbike and Senior TT races, and in our opinion there is only one guy for the job: Bruce Anstey. Anstey is a two-stroke veteran, most recently winning the 2014 Formula 1 Classic TT Race on an ex-GP Yamaha YZR500, breaking the lap-record in the process. If Eskil wants a win, he needs the Kiwi.

Taking on the most dangerous circuit in the world will be a challenge, but one we can’t wait to see. Bring on the 28th of May, and we wish Suter the best of luck!