• Suzuki Motorcycle Italia posted a picture of a “special” GSX-R1000.

• The hashtags seemed to suggest it will appear at the San Marino GP this weekend.

• We hope it is a homologation model for WSBK in 2019.

Suzuki Italy had done a naughty thing by posting a picture of a special carbon-clad GSX-R1000 on their Facebook page along with #spotted #staytuned #motogp #2019 hastags. It’ll probably give Suzuki fans sleepless nights.

It seems to be a special edition Gixxer, by the looks of it since it is fitted with carbon-fibre fairing, lever guards and racing style windscreen. Plus, judging from the hashtags, it will probably break cover during this weekend’s San Marino MotoGP and is a 2019 model in accordance with the #2019 hashtag.

But of course, it may not be a high-volume production bike, instead it would very well be a limited production, high-end homologation model for the World Superbike Championship. Remember that WSBK is productions-based, hence manufacturers need to produce a certain number of homologation models in order to be eligible in the series. Being production based also means that the race bikes has to be as close to the bikes you and I can buy, so manufacturers build these special models with as close as they are to racing specs. Case in point: The 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR with titanium connecting rods and finger follower valve actuation.

Other manufacturers have followed such path for example the Ducati 888 SPS, Ducati 916 SP/SPS, Ducati 1199 Panigale R, Yamaha YZF-R1M, Aprilia RSV4 APRC Factory, the aforementioned Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2, and many more.

Let us hope that Suzuki does build this special model, instead of being a one-off for the San Marino GP and reclaim the World Superbike Championship title they won in 2005 with Troy Corser.

Stay tuned.