TYLER SCOTT AND RICHIE ESCALANTE RE-SIGN WITH VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI FOR 2023
BREA, CA – January 24, 2023 – Team Hammer, Inc. is excited to confirm that Supersport sensation Tyler Scott and former MotoAmerica Supersport champion Richie Escalante will return to the team for the 2023 season.
Scott will return to compete for the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport crown aboard a Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750. Scott will also race with the team in Supersport or Superbike in 2024 with additional options for Superbike in 2025 and 2026.
Escalante will once again race the MotoAmerica Superbike class for Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki on board a Suzuki GSX-R1000R.
Still just 17 years old, Scott was a revelation in his first season of middleweight competition after previously dominating the Junior Cup category. The Pennsylvania native quickly established himself at the front of the pack and was third in the final point standings.
Scott earned nine podium finishes during the 2022 season, including his first Supersport victory, which was secured via a strategic masterclass at Road America.
His 2022 Supersport exploits were just the latest in a lifetime of two-wheeled excellence. His 2021 Junior Cup title came via a mammoth, 44-point margin courtesy of 11 wins. Prior to that, he participated overseas in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and the FIM CEV European Talent Cup.
Scott is also a dirt track prodigy of the highest order; he’s a four-time AMA Youth Dirt Track Racer of the Year with 13 AMA Grand Championships to his name.
“I’m super excited to be back with the team,” Scott said. “It’s for at least two years and I am happy about that. The plan is for a championship push in Supersport this year and, if all goes to plan, next year the goal is to give Superbike a shot. I will be working with Jeremy Toye as my Crew Chief in 2023, and I can’t wait for the first race. I had a good year last season, but this year the goal is no DNFs and to get as many podiums and wins as possible.”
“Tyler performed well during his rookie year,” said Chris Ulrich, Team Hammer Vice President of Operations. “He won and was a consistent podium contender. The team and Tyler expect him to improve in 2023 and to fight for more wins and podiums as he improves his skills.”
A native of Tizayuca, Mexico, Escalante became the first Mexican to win an AMA Pro/MotoAmerica National road racing championship in 2020 with a stunning 13-win, 16-podium Supersport campaign. His title defense was another strong campaign as he won three races and earned 14 podiums before joining Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki to race in the Superbike class.
The 2022 season saw the hard-charging Escalante flash in his rookie Superbike campaign as he transitioned to the Suzuki GSX-R1000R before injuries slowed him down.
“This off-season, I took some time to fully recover from my Brainerd crash and now I am fully fit. I am ready to test and get ready for the long season and really happy about how things are shaping up,” said the 27-year-old.
“I am glad to be coming back with the same team and the same bike. I feel like I know the tracks on a Superbike now and that is especially important for our results. Of course, any rider’s goal is to win the championship and I think my next step in being able to do that is getting on the podium regularly,” continued Escalante. “Last year, our results were up and down but I learned so much about Superbike racing. Compared to Supersport, the competition is higher, so the process is more important. You have to work closely with the crew to get the ideal setting and then the results can improve.”
“We are really excited to have Richie back,” said Ulrich. “Going from the 600 to the Superbike is never easy but Richie gave maximum effort. By mid-season, he was closing the gap to the front and making progress before some crashes set him back. With another season together, we expect him to continue to close that gap and to fight for the podium.”
For more racing news, results, and special team content please visit https://suzukicycles.com/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 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 345 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.
