Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tom Houseworth has signed on with Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki as Crew Chief and Superbike engine builder for Jamie Hacking.

And Jerry Daggett, who was working as Hacking’s Crew Chief, has signed on with Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki to work with Chris Ulrich, replacing Houseworth.

Hacking’s previous engine builder has left the Yoshimura operation.

Southern California-based Houseworth, who built engines for Yamaha for almost a decade before being let go in a downsizing move last fall, had been working with Ulrich and Valvoline EMGO Suzuki in AMA Superstock and other classes.

Daggett, who is originally from the same part of Alabama where the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki race shop is located and who started his race mechanic career with the team, has been talking for months about returning to Alabama from Southern California, where Yoshimura is located.

The teams worked out a swap and Daggett will now work full-time on Ulrich’s equipment.

A press release issued on the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki website, www.teamhammer.com, quoted Daggett as saying, “I’m excited to be going home to Alabama, to be getting back with my original team and to be working with Chris Ulrich. I’ve known Chris since he was a kid and I’ve watched him progress as an up-and-coming professional racer. I really feel he’s earned his spot on the team and I think I can make a difference in his program. I’m going to work 110% just like I have with the other riders I’ve worked with, and I look forward to seeing the #18 in the winner’s circle.”

Houseworth and Hacking also began their professional racing careers with Valvoline EMGO Suzuki.