More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA, LLC:

TYLER SCOTT AND VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI WIN AT BRAINERD

Suzuki GSX-R750 Earns Dramatic Supersport Victory

BREA, CA – Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer reigned supreme on Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway as Supersport phenom Tyler Scott scored his first victory of the 2023 MotoAmerica season in dramatic fashion.

Race Highlights:

•  Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
  • Supersport
    • Tyler Scott came out on top of a last-lap thriller to earn his first MotoAmerica win of the season.
    • Teagg Hobbs fought his way back to 16th from last after running off track late in the race.
  • Superbike
    • Brandon Paasch broke into the top five for the first time in his short stint with the team.
    • Richie Escalante collected seventh, ending his run of six straight top fives.

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott racked up his first victory of the season via a thrilling last-lap Supersport showdown. After settling into a blazing fast pace in second, Scott rallied after a red flag set the stage for a five-lap shootout to clinch the win. Scott leapt into the lead aboard his next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750 on the restart and controlled the race’s decisive stage. The 17-year-old Scott countered his opponent’s last-lap pass attempt and took the checkered flag in first to earn a hard-fought victory.

“We made a few changes and were able to push the pace,” Scott said after winning Team Hammer’s 130th AMA Pro/MotoAmerica race. “We were P1 in this morning’s warm-up session and going into the race I had a good feeling. It was a great race. I felt amazing on the bike for the entirety of the race. I can’t thank the whole Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team enough for all the hard work they’ve put in. Our last MotoAmerica win was Road America last year, so it’s been a while since we’ve been on the top step of the podium. I’m happy to be here, and we’re going to keep pushing to be better and better.”

The race wasn’t as kind to teammate Teagg Hobbs. Hobbs ran inside the top five during the race’s first stint, but his ultimate finishing position was largely determined by an off-track excursion caused by a collision with another rider following the red flag. The up-and-comer dropped to last place but managed to pick up a handful of positions before taking the checkered flag in 16th position.

Hobbs said, “I ran off the track and was in last and only had a few laps to climb back up the order. Luck wasn’t going our way. We had a strong weekend and were fourth in the warm-up this morning and fifth in the race before the red flag. After the restart, it just didn’t go my way this time.”

Brandon Paasch continued his remarkably rapid acclimatization to Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki and the team’s Suzuki GSX-R1000R in the premier class. Despite his lack of seat time on the bike and riding at less than full fitness after breaking his back in March, Paasch battled up front, running as high as fourth. In the end, he collected a highly promising top-five finish in fifth.

“Today was better than Saturday,” Paasch said. “We’re getting closer with the setup, and we had more grip today. I was also riding better, for sure. I was able to see how the leaders were riding in the early laps, and I could see the little things they did better, like going through the corner a little faster but still getting the bike turned. As my back continues to heal, I’ll get stronger. Things are going well.”

Richie Escalante’s Sunday result only served to underline his continued progress by representing a minor disappointment compared to his recent string of strong results. Escalante had established himself as a regular up front, notching nine top-five finishes on the season aboard his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R – including the last six in succession – before today’s seventh-place result.

“It was a difficult race for us,” Escalante admitted. “The team and I tried to improve the bike even more, this morning, to improve the grip. It felt good this morning and for the first five laps of the race. After that, I did not have a good feeling from the front, so I did my best to collect as many points as I could for the championship. Overall, it was a good weekend for us, and I want to thank the team and my sponsors for everything. I will train hard, and we will concentrate on the next one since there will be three Superbike races again.”

The 2023 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship will continue on August 18-20 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania.

For more racing news, results, and special team content please visit https://suzukicycles.com/racing/road-racing.

ABOUT SUZUKI

Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.

ABOUT TEAM HAMMER

The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Race bikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 130 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 353 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 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.

ABOUT VISION WHEEL

Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.

More, from a press release issued by Chris Clark Racing:

Points on BIR racing debut for Chris Clark

It was an eventful MotoAmerica Junior Cup weekend at Brainerd International Raceway for Chris Clark who was riding at the historic circuit for the first time.

Topping first qualifying in wet conditions, enabled him to further familiarise himself with the track layout and after a dry second qualifying session the #27 put his Kawasaki on the fifth row of the gird ahead of the two races.

He was running well on Saturday until a clutch issue put him out of the race. Sunday saw him perform well in morning warm-up before a spirited ride on Sunday afternoon once again saw him battling just outside of the top six until his chain jumped the sprocket. Lucky to stay on two wheels he crossed the line fourteenth at the flag.

The next round of the championship is in Pittsburgh in mid-August.

Chris Clark: “In qualifying one it was raining a ton so not many people went out – only me and five others. I figured I would go out to go and learn the track a bit more as I had never been to Brainerd. I ended up fastest but with a crash which was unfortunate. For qualifying two it went a little bit better for me. It was dry and I ended up in thirteenth place. I dropped two seconds off my dry time, and I thankfully didn’t crash. Qualifying two was important for us because we were testing out a new data logger and a whole new data system which went well. After starting in P13 I was in a battle for seventh but with about three laps left my clutch burnt up which was unfortunate but looking forward to a good race for tomorrow. I would say it was a pretty good second race up until the end. Starting again from thirteenth I got a decent start and after a few laps I was still hanging with the front group, until I lost touch and fell back a little bit. I was trying to get some good lap times down and stay in my current position but eventually the group behind me caught me. They all drafted by me and on the last lap when I was preparing to make my move one of the other riders the chain popped off and nearly took me out of the race. I lost touch with the group and ended up P14 at the flag.”

More, from a press release issued by Levi Badie Racing:

Levi Badie is unstoppable at Brainerd

Levi Badie produced arguably the greatest comeback in MotoAmerica Junior Cup history at Brainerd International Raceway, the Belgian running off track through the dirt before regrouping to claw back a plus four second deficit on the leading group to take his second win of the year.

Eighth on the grid, Levi showed his ability and race craft on Saturday to quickly move into contention at the front of the pack. A yellow flag overtake resulted in a penalty of ‘drop two positions’ but not even that could stop him from securing a superb second place at the flag.

Sunday’s second race was also looking good until a mistake saw Levi off the track and lucky to stay aboard. What looked like an impossible gap back to the leaders was whittled away lap by lap until with two to go Levi was back in contention. Up to third on the penultimate lap he executed his move for the win perfectly, holding on to take flag in first and with it move into P5 in the overall championship standings.

The next round of the series takes place at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex, with Badie looking to be back on the box!

Levi Badie: “We started off on Friday with a good practice. I went to qualifying confident, but it didn’t work out the way I had expected. I was eighth. The race one strategy was to stay calm and come from the back. I passed on the yellow flag which wasn’t intentional, and then I had the sign to give two positions back which I did but race control didn’t see it and when came in the pitlane they didn’t let me do the podium, I was angry and had to go to protest again after Road America! The podium was already done and then I had to pick up the trophy from Hayden Bicknese and he had to pick up the trophy from Max Van so there was a whole big mess but, in the end, everything worked out. So, race two was going well until I missed my third braking marker. I went too wide and went into the dirt in turn twelve and I had to go through of the dirt. There was about a four second gap between me and the leading group and I was like ok just put your head down. In three laps I had closed the gap and there were still two laps left. I was thinking ok like I’m here now so I’m gonna finish this. I passed the two of the guys and was up to second and I knew Rossi (Moor) didn’t know I was strong in the ‘carousel,’ and I could pass him in that corner. He went defensive but I did a little short run, and I was able to hold him off until the finish line to get the victory. I had a lot of fun and I am looking forward to Pittsburgh.”

More, from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:

MotoAmerica: Cody Wyman joins Altus Motorsports to compete in Stock1000 for the remainder of the season 

(Brainerd, MN) Cody Wyman had an impressive inaugural outing on the Altus Motorsports GSX-R1000 at Road America earlier this season. With Brandon Paasch moving up to Superbike with the M4 team, Altus was extremely excited to have Cody take the reins for the remainder of the 2023 MotoAmerica season.

In addition to adding Wyman, the Altus team brought Boyd Bruner on board as crew chief.

Stock1000:

The last time Cody Wyman rode the Alus Motorsports GSX-R1000 he was near the top of the charts straight away. But with the challenges with the conditions atBrainerd, the pace did not come easily. Cody qualified 9th. In the Stock1000 race 1, he finished in 9th. In the Sunday race, he took the checkered flag in 10th.

Cody Wyman: “It was a tough weekend at Brainerd. Between some bike issues and a crash, we didn’t have time to find a good setup. As a result, I was never really able to get comfortable on the bike. ”

Supersport:

It has been a difficult 2023 season for Jaret Nassaney. After a great 2022 season, he just had not found his groove in ‘23. The results from the MotoAmerica event at Brainerd may not show it but, by Sunday, Jaret was his most comfortable on the bike for the first time this year. He qualified 13th and finished 14th in race 1. On Sunday he felt even better on the bike and managed an 11th-place finish.

Jaret Nassaney: “We are finally moving in the right direction! Brainerd was not the results we want — or know I can get — but we are finally getting the bike figured out! Excited to continue the progress in Pittsburgh”

Junior Cup:

Alessandro Di Mario struggled to find a good setup at Brainerd. His pace was good enough to qualify 6th and was able to go with the lead group at the beginning of both Junior Cup races. He finished the weekend with a pair of 6th-place finishes and was lapping faster than the rest of the field but not quite quick enough to dice it up at the front. Di Mario heads to the next round looking for that last piece to the puzzle to allow him to battle for the podium.

Alessandro Di Mario: “We worked really hard to get the bike set up right but sadly didn’t get the results we were hoping for. I would like to thank the team for all their hard work and for making changes to make me feel more comfortable on the bike.”

George Nassaney: “The results may not show it but the Altus team had a good weekend in Minnesota. I am looking forward to Pitt Race and the rest of the season.”

Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, FLY Racing WPS, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Yamaha Motor Company, Barnett, Buy A Jet From Steve Main, Maxima Racing Oils, Moto-D Racing, Bonamici, Hot Bodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, SBS Brakes, BrakeTech USA, Inc., Ohlins, K-Tech, RS Taichi, Arai, Yoshimura, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, CarbonSmith, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing