M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Valentin Debise will miss the opening round of the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Supersport Championship at Road Atlanta.
Checking in while recuperating from injuries sustained during the 2018 Daytona 200, Debise said, “I had another X-ray on Friday and they discovered another fracture at L1 in addition to the fracture at L3. I’m feeling good and don’t have any pain, but I’m not allowed to crash at any time. I need to stay calm for a couple weeks, so I will be good for the next round.” Debise continued, “I wish the team a great weekend of racing with a lot of success.”
Debise will be replaced by Cory West, who recently finished second in the 77th running of the Daytona 200. The 33-year-old from Arkansas rode for Team Hammer in 2008, scoring his first AMA professional podium aboard an M4 Suzuki at Miller Motorsports Park. Since then, West has earned six more podium finishes riding a Suzuki GSX-R600.
West said, “I’m super pumped on this opportunity and can’t wait to get to Road Atlanta. It’s a track where I’ve have a lot of success in the past. I also look forward to working with the Team Hammer crew again.”
Debise is expected to return for the second round of the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship at Virginia International Raceway, May 3-5.
About Team Hammer
The 2018 season marks Team Hammer’s 38th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 68 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 190 times and have won five AMA Pro National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships. The team has also won 135 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.