BREA, Calif., March 12, 2022 — Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer will launch their quest for victory in the 80th running of the Daytona 200 with a talented trio of athletes starting inside the top 12 as the 2022 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship season kick-off at Daytona International Speedway.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante led the charge for Team Hammer in Friday’s Time Attack session, registering the fifth-best time (1:50.957) around the fabled 3.560-mile circuit to earn a slot on the second row for tomorrow’s grueling 57-lap contest.
Richie Escalante (54) pushing his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki to the second row for the Daytona 200.
While set to graduate to Superbike duty for the remainder of the MotoAmerica, Escalante is putting in one final effort in the Supersport class in which he’s performed so spectacularly in recent with Escalante’s goal of adding his name to the list of legends to have won the Daytona 200.
“I’m happy to finish fifth in my first Time Attack for the Daytona 200,” Escalante said. “My crew is working very well and provided me an improved setting for qualifying compared to yesterday. I found some draft during the qualifying session.”
“I feel great. My race pace is good, so I’m happy.” Added Escalante, “I need a little more time on the bike and hopefully we’ll continue to improve in the warm-up tomorrow and be ready for the 57 laps.”
Sam Lochoff (44) is looking for a positive result for the start of the season.
Geoff May (99) shows off his experience at the Daytona International Speedway.
Escalante will be joined in the hunt by two Team Hammer teammates, the experienced Geoff May on the VisionWheel.com/Discount Tire/KWS Motorsports Suzuki and rising star Sam Lochoff on the second Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R600. May was 11th fastest at 1:51.988, followed closely by Lochoff at 1:52.171.
The prestigious race is scheduled to start today at 2:20 pm local time. Changing weather conditions, including the possibility of heavy rain, have race organizers scrambling to adjust the race day schedule. Follow www.motoamerica.com for the latest information.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2022 season marks Team Hammer's 42nd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 128 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 332 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.
