Richard Martin is in the process of buying out his brothers and father and will assume sole control of M4 Performance Exhaust Systems.

M4 was formed by brothers Michael, Richard and Robert along with their father Robert, about four years ago, after their attempts to buy D&D were rebuffed. The Martins had previously owned TFI (Tube Forming Inc.) but sold the 300-employee tube-bending company at a fabulous profit and were looking for something to do involving tube bending and motorcycles.

Michael Martin is a former car and motorcycle racer and is currently the chief riding instructor for the Team Hammer Advanced Riding School. Michael Martin won 50 WERA National Endurance races and was a long-time Formula USA front-runner with Team Hammer, which raced as Team Suzuki Endurance in long-distance events and as Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki in sprint races. The team now concentrates on AMA and Formula USA sprint races as Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki and operates the Team Hammer Advanced Riding School & Track Rides.

Prior to joining Team Hammer, Michael Martin competed on his own racebikes, with Richard tuning. Richard Martin has done M4’s dyno development and exhaust system prototyping from the beginning of the company.

After the buyout is complete, Dallas-based M4 will be owned and operated by Richard Martin, along with his son Kyle, a kart racer. Brothers Michael and Robert, who didn’t work full-time at M4 Performance Exhaust Systems, will continue to devote time to their other business interests, including M4 Marketing LLC, a related promotional company. Father Robert is semi-retired.

Due to its association with Team Hammer, M4 has had early access to new Suzuki models and has been able to release dyno-developed racing exhaust systems soon after new models have been announced. For example, M4 had a GSX-R1000 on its dyno in December, 2000, days after the worldwide press intro concluded at Road Atlanta. Also as a result of the M4 association with Team Hammer, Dynojet produces special Power Commander fuel injection system control maps for Suzuki models, tailored for use with M4 exhaust systems. M4 exhaust systems and Dynojet Power Commander maps are currently available for the GSX-R1000.

Asked to comment March 18, Richard Martin said, “We’re going to continue to produce the best exhaust systems for serious racers and riders, and look forward to doing so for a long time.”