For 2008, Suzuki’s factory road race team returns with familiar faces and new sponsorship. Announced during the off-season, Rockstar Energy Drink and Makita USA joined Yoshimura as title sponsors of Suzuki’s championship-winning, factory-supported road race team. The result is Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing, which will field two-time AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies, six-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden for the 2008 road race season.

As in the past, Mladin will race the Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000 in AMA Superbike only. Teammate Spies will defend his 2007 AMA Superbike title aboard a Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike. Although Spies also won the 2007 AMA Superstock championship, he will not defend that title. Instead, Spies will only contest AMA Superbike. Rounding out the three-man team, Hayden will join his teammates in the AMA Superbike class on the Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 and will again race AMA Supersport on a Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R600.