It is arguable that the personnel working behind the scenes of the MotoGP races deserve just as much credit for the accomplishments of their respective race teams as the riders and cutting-edge equipment that are the center of attention during these exhilarating competitions.
Indeed, countless man-hours are devoted to the development of racing teams, not to mention ensuring that everything goes well during the race weekend.
In the instance of Suzuki, we have witnessed Alex Rins and Joan Mir develop their careers and attain success alongside the Japanese company. What we rarely witness, however, is the effort required to retain a competitive status in the highest class of motorcycle racing in the world.
It goes without saying that the success of the Suzuki MotoGP team is largely down to the people working behind the scenes, and now we pay respect to one of the team’s members who tragically passed away after a long and tough battle with cancer.
On August 22, 2022, Raymond Hughes, a mechanic for the Suzuki MotoGP team, passed suddenly after a fight with cancer. Following the tragic announcement, Team Suzuki Ecstar rushed to social media to pay tribute to Hughes, emphasizing the significant role he played as a member of the Suzuki MotoGP family.
Hughes has collaborated with the likes of Aleix Espargaro, Andrea Iannone, and Alex Rins as part of the Suzuki MotoGP project since the beginning of the brand’s current stint in the racing competition.
In addition to being a mainstay in the paddock for Team Suzuki Ecstar, Hughes also enjoyed cycling. The message from Team Suzuki Ecstar concluded with the phrase “Cycle in peace, mate.” With the exception of what Team Suzuki Ecstar revealed on social media, Raymond Hughes primarily kept a private existence. We express our condolences to his family and friends on his demise.