SUZUKI scooped three of the top awards at the prestigious Motor Cycle News 1999 Awards presentation, held in Birmingham.

Voted Manufacturer of the Year for the second time in four years, Suzuki also took the Sports Tourer of the Year award with their phenomenal GSX1300R Hayabusa - the model chosen by the Oxford Mail fund-raising appeal to be Oxfordshire's first fast-response paramedic motorcycle and also the fastest production bike in the world.

Down the performance ladder, but in an equally high-profile and hotly contested market sector, the Suzuki AN400 Burgman stole the Scooter of the Year Award ahead of all the continental and far-eastern opposition.

Away from the glitz and the glamour of the annual awards, out on the race track Suzuki has continued to be a leading contender with John Crawford retaining the British Supersports 600cc Championship, Jamie Dobb bringing home the British 125cc Motocross Championship and MCN Young Rider of the Year, Karl Harris winning the European Superstock Championship in sensational style.

Delighted with the awards, decided by an independent panel of judges, Nick Barnes,

Suzuki GB's General Manager of Motorcycle Sales & Marketing said: "Suzuki has again continued to lead the way with the introduction of major new-machines and has been responsible for broadening the whole market with unique, new-sector models.

"The Suzuki range has been completely revamped in recent years and our on-going strategy of marketing, planning and customer programmes has seen us rocket from fourth place in the market all the way up to the number one contender position.

"We have revolutionised the market by offering high value-for-money products throughout the range and team effort, creative marketing and the support of a good dealer network have ensured this positive result."

Story date: Wednesday 10 November

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.