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D3O M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI’S TY SCOTT WINS POLE, FINISHES SECOND IN 2026 DAYTONA 200

Brea, CA, (March 9, 2026) — Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer launched the 2026 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship campaign in powerful form, notching up a pole-and-podium combo in the 84th Daytona 200 while scoping up a pair of top threes in Twins Cup action.

Race Highlights:

  • D3O M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
    • Supersport
      • Tyler Scott scored a third straight Daytona 200 podium from pole position.
  • Mission M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
    • Supersport
      • Richie Escalante was in prime position to make a run at victory before his race ended in heartbreak.
  • M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
    • Twins Cup
      • Matthew Chapin bounced back to claim race runner-up honors on Saturday.
      • Bodie Paige impressed with a podium performance in his Twins Cup debut.

Tyler Scott powered the D3O M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 to pole position and a runner-up finish in the 84th Daytona 200 to open the 2026 MotoAmerica season.

D3O M4 ESCSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott did what he does in Daytona, securing his third consecutive podium finish from pole aboard the squad’s next-generation GSX-R750 racer. The Supersport title contender passed both the test of speed and endurance, fighting amongst the lead pack early while holding a strong, consistent pace at the end to finish the prestigious race as its runner-up for a second straight season. The 20-point haul is a fantastic way to kick off his championship aspirations in 2026.

“We’re definitely really hungry for the season ahead,” Scott said. “The D3O M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team did an amazing job this weekend. The bike felt the best it ever has, and I can’t give thanks enough to my guys. I tried my best throughout the race today, but I lost touch with the front group, and that was unfortunate. But still, I’m super excited to start the season like this, and we’ll go forward from here.”

Mission M4 ECSTAR Suzuki rider Richie Escalante ran inside the lead group and was battling for a podium position before a late crash ended his Daytona 200 bid.

It very easily could have been a double podium for the team, as Mission M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante was running a close third when he crashed from contention with 25 laps remaining. The full-time Superbike ace won’t suffer any championship consequences as a result, but it was still a bitter early conclusion suffered with a potential victory still within his grasp.

“I want to say I’m sorry to the team,” Escalante said. “It was shaping up to be a great race for us. We took small steps to improve the bike over the first two days, and then this morning we were ready to fight for the win. Everything was going great – the bike, the pace, and the pit stops. We were in good position coming out of the second stop, but I lost the rear for a second and crashed. That was my mistake. The team and the sponsors were fantastic in getting us this far. Now, we will concentrate on Superbike, and we are really excited about it.”

Meanwhile, the squad's Twins Cup 1-2 punch came out swinging with each rider claiming a podium in the class’ Daytona double opener.

Bodie Paige impressed in his MotoAmerica Twins Cup debut, scoring a podium finish in Race 1 on the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-8R.

Bodie Paige, the young Australian who last year became just the second rider to claim the Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award in both the Road Race and Flat Track disciplines, showcased his tarmac talents on the high banks aboard the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-8R.

He came home third in Race 1 after going back-and-forth in a three-rider fight for second. And in Race 2, he crossed the line in fourth while less than four tenths of a second behind the winner.

“It was good, and I had a lot of fun,” Paige said. “I started getting more comfortable. I was on the podium in Race 1, and I felt I could have podiumed or even won the next race, but we had an issue on the warm-up lap. I tried to be smart and not crash the bike. We’ll figure it out for next time. The team and I worked well together, and I am looking forward to the upcoming races.”

Matthew Chapin charged to a runner-up finish in Twins Cup Race 2 aboard the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-8R after a hard-fought battle at Daytona.

Teammate Matthew Chapin, who claimed the double victory at Daytona a year ago to set the table for his 2025 Twins Cup championship runner-up campaign, struggled to find his groove in Race 1, finishing in eighth place some ten seconds back. He rallied magnificently in Race 2, scrapping for the lead as part of a four-rider pack that also included Paige. Chapin came up just a wheel short of the win, claiming second place a mere 0.010 seconds away from victory.

Chapin said, “I’ve got to give it up to my whole M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team for everything they’ve done for me. All of the guys put in some serious hours on the thing to make it better for me. It was a good race, and I had a lot of fun… We’ll get them next time.”

The 2026 MotoAmerica season will resume – and kick off for the premier Superbike category – on April 17-19 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. 

For more Road racing news please visit suzukicycles.com/racing/road-racing.
 
About Team Hammer

The 2025 season marks Team Hammer's 45th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 135 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 382 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 Suzuki

Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, 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.