This factory bike took Suzuki GB rider Rob McElnea to two Isle of Man TT victories, the first in the 1983 Senior Classic and the following year in the 1984 Premier Classic setting a race record pace of 116.122 mph and a fastest lap of 117.17 mph, making the 24-year old the fastest ever TT winner at the time. Knowing that he had a Grand Prix ride for the following season the 1984 TT also marked his retirement from TT competition. At the time of its success on the Island the machine was running with a 998cc displacement (the F1 regulations of the time allowing up to 1000cc) for the oil cooled twin cam engine.
The fact that the ground breaking GSXR750 announced in 1985 was oil cooled is not coincidental, the bike here was essentially a prototype for the forthcoming sports bike. Power was transmitted via a 6-speed gearbox and the engine unit was housed in an aluminium frame. The Dymag wheels were fitted with Suzuki brakes. The bike was campaigned during 1985 by both Mick Grant and Graeme Macgregor, by which time it had been reduced in capacity to 750cc in accordance with the revised regulations that came into effect from that year onwards.
