Suzuki is going from strength to strength.

Not only did Suzuki riders sweep the New Zealand Superbike Championships – winning both the premier superbike and 600cc supersports classes – but now the Whanganui-based company has recruited 600cc class runner-up Jaden Hassan to join them.

Aucklander Hassan pushed hard all season to match eventual 600cc supersport champion John Ross (Suzuki GSX-R600), of Christchurch, and now he will be racing the same brand of bike, although not in the same class.

The 19-year-old Hassan not only switches brands from Yamaha, but he will be jumping up a grade to contest the 1000cc superbike class in 2013-2014, aboard one of the awesome Suzuki GSX-R1000 machines.

“This is really great news for me,” said Hassan. “I am very excited about stepping up to the superbike class. I can’t wait.

“I want to do some testing with the bike before the end of winter and be ready to tackle the Suzuki Series (which kicks off at Hampton Downs in December).

“I have no real expectations of how well I might go. I don’t have any goals at this stage. I just want to learn.”

The learning process has already begun, with Hassan spending time recently quizzing Suzuki’s nine-time national superbike champion Andrew Stroud, who will himself plan to make a comeback from injury later in the year.

“It was great to chat with Andrew (Stroud) and get some opinions from him. He was very positive.”

The head of Suzuki New Zealand said he was excited about the latest development.

“We are very pleased to have someone of Jaden’s talent on board,” said Suzuki New Zealand CEO Tom Peck.

“He will be on the same machinery as 2013 superbike champion Robbie Bugden and superbike runner-up Craig Shirriffs. He will be among some very talented riders and he’ll learn a lot from them.”

Hassan will collect his new Suzuki GSX-R1000 in a few weeks and then immediately begin familiarising himself with the bike.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com