TAYLOR KNAPP TO RACE FOR TEAM HAMMER AND SUZUKI AT RIDGE MOTORSPORTS PARK
Team Hammer is pleased to announce that Taylor Knapp will compete for the team aboard a Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, on June 23-25.
Knapp will serve as a single-round guest rider aboard the factory Superbike that was unexpectedly in need of a capable pilot following the surprise retirement of former class champion Toni Elias following the Road America round.
Knapp is well suited to the role. He is one of the most experienced and versatile riders in the paddock, boasting a racing resume that spans disciplines, classes, nations, and manufacturers.
The 35-year-old Lapeer, Michigan native began racing flat track and motocross at the age of five and established himself as one of the nation’s leading amateur riders. He transitioned to pavement at 13 and turned pro at 16.
Over the past two decades, Knapp has enjoyed a decorated and varied road racing career, running up front as both a privateer and factory Superbike pilot. In addition to his premier class duties, Knapp has raced in Daytona SportBike, Stock 1000, and the King Of The Baggers over the years, while also competing overseas in the British Superbike series.
Additionally, he’s racked up numerous other racing accomplishments and accolades, including victorious performances at the Barber Pro Cup Challenge and WERA F1 National Championship.
Since 2017, Knapp has served as a Motorcycle Test Engineer for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. He has continued to compete since accepting the position, and currently ranks sixth in the 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 championship standings with a podium result at Road Atlanta.
“I am super excited to get on the Suzuki GSX-R1000R again. I’ve raced Suzukis in the past and always liked them and have had good success with them,” said Knapp. “It’s an honor to race for Team Hammer and Suzuki, so I am pumped. As Dunlop’s test rider, we have a couple of Suzuki 1000s that serve as our workhorses, so I ride them often. The weekend should be fun!”
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 347 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.
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.
