1993 Lucky Strike Suzuki RGV500Back in the days when tobacco advertising still had a place in motorsports, the names of cigarette companies were displayed proudly on banners at the trackside, bridges, grandstands, and, most notably, on the vehicles and drivers themselves. Among these, the American cigarette company Lucky Strike was a significant sponsor, and in 1990, it turned its attention to the 500cc World Championship and the formidable Suzuki RGV500.The Suzuki RGV500 was a major GP contender in its 500cc class for 15 years between 1986 and 2001. Previously, it had been bedecked in a cool Pepsi livery, with which it had enjoyed a modicum of success, placing fourth in the 1989 GP Championship. However, in 1993, with Lucky Strike as its sponsor, it won its first of two GP Championships with Kevin Schwantz in the saddle. Whether or not the recent injection of tobacco funding helped this would be pure speculation, but it placed fourth again the following year and wouldn't claim another GP Championship victory until 2001.While tobacco livery would be phased out in the new millennium, the Lucky Strike Suzuki RGV500 is undeniably cool. The white, red, and gold color scheme and familiar logo still serve as a nostalgic reminder of the golden days of motorsports and a time before raw power gave way to high-tech materials, electronic rider assists, and advanced aerodynamics.2016 (Red) Aprilia RS-GPThe Italian marque Aprilia has become a staple on MotoGP circuits since the relatively recent inaugural race for MS Aprilia Racing in 2002. In 2016, it was a midfield contender in the championship, with riders Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Brandl placing 12th and 16th, respectively, for Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. Yet, despite a lackluster overall performance, the Aprilia team had an important message to send MotoGP fans worldwide with a one-off livery for its final race of the season.At the Valencia leg of the 2016 MotoGP, Aprilia chose to promote Bono and Bobby Shriver's "(Red)" charity with a cherry red color scheme and white logo on its RS-GP machines. The livery itself may be plain and unremarkable, but it made a bold statement in support of those who have HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. The riders also wore suits and helmets with the (Red) logo as a total commitment to the cause, and no other sponsorship was displayed other than the charity livery.The RS-GP's plain red coloring made it stand out among a sea of decals and company colors, further drawing attention to it among dozens of race participants. The 2016 (Red) Aprilia was undoubtedly cool for the message it helped deliver in the fight against diseases in developing countries, and Aprilia has continued to race in (Red) livery to mark World Aids Day every year since.2011 Rizla Suzuki GSV-RIn 2007, MotoGP changed its maximum engine capacity from 990cc to 800cc before bumping it back up to liter-class 1,000cc bikes for the 2012 season. Suzuki's entry for that year was the 2011 GSV-R, which had a four-cylinder, 225-horsepower engine that could push its 150-kilogram weight to speeds of over 200 miles per hour. Alvaro Bautista and John Hopkins were riding for the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team, who placed 13th and 21st in the competition, respectively, with Honda, Yamaha, and Ducati dominating the top ten places.MotoGP motorcycles have come in many different colors since its inaugural season in 1949, but Suzuki was the first to produce a silver reflective livery in 2011, with dazzling results. It was sponsored by the cigarette paper company Rizla, which apparently circumvented the 2005 World Health Organization treaty that banned tobacco advertising in motorsports.For one race only, at the 2011 San Marino MotoGP, Bautista's bike got the chromium treatment that, for a change, made him stand out in an otherwise forgettable season for the Spaniard. However, the mirrored fairings that replaced the season's standard blue and yellow colors did garner significant interest, and they went up for auction in 2023 with a winning bid of $5,300.