Brea, CA (January 10, 2020) – Team Hammer is happy to announce that Spanish superstar Toni Elias will spearhead its M4 ECSTAR Suzuki program in MotoAmerica Superbike as the team steps up to take on the role of Suzuki’s premier road race team in the United States.
Entering his fifth season racing in the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Superbike Series, Elias has already established himself as one of the series’ all-time greats.
The Spaniard took the series by storm in 2016, winning the first three MotoAmerica Superbike races of his career on the all-new Suzuki GSX-R1000, and he hasn’t eased up since. After finishing his rookie campaign ranked third, Elias won the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship and followed that up with runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2019.
Arguably even more impressive than his season-long accomplishments are the physics-defying feats he pulls off in a relentless pursuit of the checkered flag. One of the most spectacular riders in the world, Elias executes near-impossible passes and notches up wins at a dizzying pace.
In just four seasons, he has already racked up 32 MotoAmerica Superbike wins, tying him with the legendary Miguel DuHamel for fourth in AMA Superbike history.
Elias was already a highly decorated rider before he arrived on the American scene. Prior to coming to MotoAmerica, Elias was the 2010 Moto2 World Champion and a Grand Prix race winner in the MotoGP, Moto2, 250cc, and 125cc World Championships.
In joining the team, Elias continues an association with Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. spanning his MotoAmerica career. It also sees him join forces with a highly experienced racing outfit entering its fourth decade of competition with seven AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National titles, 83 victories, and 234 podiums to its credit.
Elias said, “I am excited for this new way and happy to build something together with Suzuki and Team Hammer. The goal is to keep performing at the same high level, continuing to win races, earn the podium, and fight for the championship. We have a lot of work to do as the competition will be strong, so we know we must do a nice job and have a good effort. We are very determined and I am happy to get this opportunity.”
Additional M4 ECSTAR Suzuki riders will be announced soon.
About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Outboard Motors and Automotive Parts and Accessories 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 2020 season will mark Team Hammer’s 40th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 83 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 234 times and have won seven 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.
