From a press release issued by Team Hammer, Inc.:

Registration Now Open For 2004 Team Hammer Talent Search Presented by Alpinestars

Lake Elsinore, Calif. – Registration is now open for the 2004 Team Hammer Talent Search Presented by Alpinestars, a comprehensive career development program designed to help participants reach the highest level their talent will allow in motorcycle road racing. The program covers riding, bike set-up, sponsorship, dealing with the media and other major components of professional motorcycle road racing, and is open to serious Expert or Pro-licensed riders. Participants in the program will receive honest advice and evaluation, and straight answers to their questions, including The Big Question: “How do I get from where I am to where I want to be in motorcycle road racing?”

The program is being run by Team Hammer, Inc., which currently races primarily in AMA Pro competition as Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki; the team was founded in 1980 and has raced continuously since the start of the 1981 season, winning dozens of National Championships with various sanctioning bodies.

Two participants in the program will earn full rides for the 2004 Suzuki Cup Finals held in conjunction with the WERA Grand National Finals, including the use of one Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki racebike for the event weekend, the full-time attention of a team mechanic at the event, tires, entry fees and a set of brand new Alpinestars leathers, boots and gloves in team colors. The best finishing semi-finalist in the Suzuki Cup Finals will take home one of the team’s 2004 Suzuki GSX-R racebikes, and one of the two finalists will be considered for a 2005 season ride with the team.

The program includes monitoring of each rider’s results and progress during the season as well as two set-up seminar and instruction sessions, held in conjunction with Michelin test days at California Speedway February 18-19 and at Barber Motorsports Park March 18-19. Also included is participation in Team Hammer Practice days at Daytona February 25 and at Brainerd June 24 as well as participation in Michelin test days at Road America April 20-21, Pikes Peak May 5-6, Brainerd June 8-9, Mid-Ohio June 30-July 1, Road Atlanta August 2-3 and VIR August 11-12.

Evaluation and judging of program participants will be based on race results during the entire 2004 season; riding improvement seen during the season; and performance in designated special events, including AMA Sports races at Mid-Ohio July 19-22, and WERA National Challenge Series races at California Speedway June 11-13 and at Barber Motorsports Park September 24-26.

The 2003 semi-finalists were Greg Moore, 25, of Brookwood, Alabama and Chris Siglin, 22, of Clayton, California. As the best Talent Search finisher at the 2003 Suzuki Cup Finals, Siglin won the race-prepped 2003 Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R750 he rode at the event.

Registration forms and details are available online at Teamhammer.com, by calling (909) 245-6414 or via e-mail, [email protected]. Registration closes February 17, 2004.