SR75 Suzuki make British Rally Championship race debut with 800DE

The Jurassic 2 Day Rally is set against the prehistoric backdrop of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, with SR75 Suzuki team owner Geoff Walker taking on the two-day event. This 2025 rally was a first for SR75 Suzuki and marked a significant milestone, with the debut of the SR75 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE in the British Rally Championship.

DAY ONE: Baptism by Mud

The event serves as round one of the ACU British Rally Championship, and the setting could not have been more appropriate. The 2 Valleys venue, nestled in the heart of the Dorset countryside offers the kind of rugged terrain and scenic splendour that makes you want to keep riding — even when conditions turn gnarly.

After Friday night thunderstorms, the course was at its most perilous, but this event wasn’t just about riding fast — it is about endurance, navigation, mechanical sympathy, and staying sharp across every inch of the 60 plus mile loops.

The day began with sighting laps of the two timed special tests — one at 2 Valleys and a second, expert-only test at the infamous Tenko venue, known for its steep climbs and tight wooded sections. These would be followed by back-to-back timed “Supertest” runs at 2 Valleys to wrap up the day.

Heading out fourth on the road in the worst of the conditions the V-Strom 800DE, despite its adventure-touring DNA, was in its element. The stability, balance, and tractable power delivery made even the trickiest conditions feel manageable.

Through tight single track, fast-flowing lanes, river crossings, and gnarly climbs, the bike just kept delivering. Every twist of the throttle revealed more of its character — strong, composed, and, crucially, confidence-inspiring.

At the end of the day Walker and SR75 Suzuki had secured third in the T3 Expert Multi-Cylinder Class, with the 800DE taking all the course had to throw at it in its stride. 

DAY TWO: Sunshine, Speed, and Suzuki Control

Day two brought blue skies and dew-drenched grass that acted like ice under full Rally tyres, with the opening tests definitely raising Walker’s heart rate.

But with a few minor setup changes, the 800DE felt even sharper. Every adjustment brought more performance, more precision, and more fun. From the first test onward, the bike gave Walker everything he needed.

As the temperature climbed, so did the pressure. The Tenko venue, now drying and increasingly technical, became a true test of concentration. The final two back-to-back special tests at Tenko, followed by the last 2 Valleys timed run, were where everything came together — man, machine, and terrain.

Once again, third in class was the reward, but for the team, these results were a bonus. The real satisfaction came from how the V-Strom 800DE performed — predictable, planted, and incredibly capable on terrain that most would consider beyond its brief.

Geoff Walker said of the weekend, “Let’s be honest — few would expect a twin-cylinder adventure bike to perform this well in a competition rally format. But Suzuki have something special with the 800DE. Whether it was picking lines through slippery single track, climbing rocky ascents, or holding speed across open fields, the bike never once felt like a compromise. That’s a credit to the platform itself — and to the growing development work we’re doing at SR75. The idea is simple: if the bike can handle this, then Suzuki riders everywhere can ride with full confidence, no matter what their adventure throws at them. Huge credit must go to Ben Harvey and the entire Track n Trail crew. Organising an event of this scale — with multiple 60-mile laps, multiple venues, live timing, liaison routes, and a welcoming vibe throughout — it is no small feat. Riding in the Jurassic 2 Day Rally for the first time. Debuting the SR75-Suzuki V-Strom 800DE in the British Rally Championship, battling challenging terrain and finding rhythm across two intense days of competition and finishing on the podium both days - that’s a weekend I won’t forget anytime soon.

But more than anything, I leave this rally reminded of why we do what we do. The people, the places, the machines — they all come together in events like this. For me and the entire SR75 team, this was a step forward in showcasing Suzuki’s potential in modern rally competition.”

Photo credit: JBPhoto