Big Daddy Dr-Z
BIG DADDY DR-Z
Prototype for greatness?
Loyalty runs deep for former 500cc GP World Champion Kevin Schwantz, who remained true blue to Suzuki throughout his illustrious professional racing career. So it’s little surprise when the 40-year-old Texan came out of retirement to compete in supermoto, it was aboard a DR-Z400E trailbike.
At least that’s where the #34 race machine started life. Yoshimura, a company better known for its “Big Papa” GSX-Rs, transformed the DR-Z engine into a stroked-and-bored 450cc fire-breather, exhaling via a very trick twin-carbon-canister exhaust. Chassis mods included Öhlins race suspension, a Braking/Brembo combination for the skids, Excel rims, Acerbis handguards and, of course, Kevin wouldn’t be caught smokin’ anything other than Michelin race rubber.
Although the DR-Z proved heavy compared to its motocrossbred competition, Schwantz did manage a win over Honda CRF450R-mounted Jeff Ward and Jeremy McGrath at a regional supermoto race.
The arrival of Suzuki’s new RM-Z450 motocrosser has relthe Big Daddy DR-Z to that of a parts donor. Its supermoto-specific chassis parts have found their way onto the new bike, which should give Schwantz the performance parity previously missing. Goes to show, good things come to those who keep the faith. Don Canet
