The Team Classic Suzuki machine, prepared in partnership with Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme, was built to the Bandit Challenge’s stringent regulations, which allow only Mk1 or Mk2 GSF600s and limit modifications to keep costs down and provide close, tight, and exciting racing.

Entering our second year of sponsorship for the Formula Prostocks Bandit Challenge Series, where we loan the Team Classic Suzuki prepared GSF600 to the winner of the championship for the following season.

The 2018 winner James McHardy also went on to win a fiercely contested 2019 championship by taking victory in the final shoot out rounds after some incredibly close racing with championship runner up, Harley Prebble, who was narrowly beaten by only five points in the end. Roll on 2020 for more of the same!

The Bandit Challenge is a one make race series designed mainly as a cheap form of club racing. The bikes run a standard engine, so they can have no more than 80bhp and you can only change the exhaust, pegs, suspension (front internals and complete rear shock) and brakes.

The seat unit is the same unit as is used on the factory RGV500s and the belly pan is off the TCS KATANA. This engine has been completely stripped and rebuilt and effectively given a blue printed engine.

James McHardy said when presented with the bike, “I’m really looking forward to riding the Team Classic Suzuki Bandit. It looks so well prepared and put together as I knew it would be, and it’s going to be great to run it next season for the team. I won the championship this year and it was my second one. I raced a lot of motocross right into my 20s but didn’t go road racing until 2o17 – my dad always raced and wanted to have one last stab at it so we got a couple of Bandits for that year. And I managed to win it at the first go. I had a few ups and downs and actually won it at Pembrey with a broken ankle after a crash in practice. It’s a great class and a great club, everyone gets together in the evenings for a barbecue and there’s a real camaraderie. But that said there’s going to be a big target on my back next year with plenty wanting to take this Bandit off my hands. But I’ll be trying hard to win it for a third time. And a big thank you to Team Classic Suzuki for supporting the series and the opportunity to ride their machine.”

Tim Davies, Suzuki GB, added, “We can’t wait to see James in action on the bike. We really enjoyed raiding our Vintage Parts Programme to build it this year – it was fully rebuilt and freshly prepared by Nathan Colombi – and it looks fantastic, and it was brilliant to be able to formally hand it over at Motorcycle Live. We’ll be supporting James with a spares package and Motul are kindly supplying an oil package as well. So hopefully he’s got everything he needs to win the title next year and make it a hat-trick.”