Suzuki will field just one rider in 2011, Spaniard Alvaro Bautista.

Suzuki has confirmed that it will field just one entry in the 2011 MotoGP World Championship, announcing the decision via an email statement this afternoon.

The official Rizla Suzuki team will field Spaniard Alvaro Bautista next season, with Loris Capirossi ending his three-year relationship with the team to join Pramac Ducati alongside Randy de Puniet.

“Suzuki Motor Corporation wishes to thank all customers and race fans who supported the Suzuki MotoGP Team in 2010,” the statement said.

“With the experience and knowledge gained in 2010 the Suzuki MotoGP Team will move forward with great passion and effort in search of glory in 2011.

“The Suzuki MotoGP Team will participate in 2011 with a single rider, Alvaro Bautista. Alvaro joined the team in 2010 and made good progress with GSV-R, the Suzuki Grand Prix machine, improving his results throughout the season.

“Suzuki will continue to make the best use of the short time to the start of the 2011 MotoGP season to develop the GSV-R machine for this, the pinnacle class of motorcycle racing, and we thank all Suzuki customers and race fans for their continued support.”

It’s believed that Suzuki is scaling back its effort for 2011 with an eye of focussing on development for its 2012 contender, with the category reverting to 1000cc engines after next season.