M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI’S ESCALANTE AND SCOTT EARN THE PODIUM IN WASHINGTON

Brea, CA, (June 29, 2026) — Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer were on the pace this weekend, securing two more podium finishes – including one of particular historic significance – as the 2026 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship resumed at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington.

Race Highlights:

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
- Superbike
- Supersport

Richie Escalante raced his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R to his first Superbike podium of the 2026 MotoAmerica season at Ridge Motorsports Park.

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki was confronted with repeated rain showers through Saturday’s action at Ridge Motorsports Park. Rather than dampen the team’s enthusiasm, Superbike pilots Richie Escalante and Brandon Paasch met the moment and took full advantage of the opportunity provided by the inclement conditions.

Mexican ace Escalante was in especially good form. Once a tentative rider in the wet, Escalante confidently powered his way up the order aboard his GSX-R1000R, fighting up from seventh to a final result of third.

Not only was it his first podium of the 2026 season, the achievement also represented Team Hammer’s 400th AMA Pro and MotoAmerica top-three in its 46 years of competition.

Escalante said, “To be completely honest, in the past years, I had suffered a lot of injuries, so I think that’s why I lost my confidence in the wet – I didn’t want to crash. But finally, I feel 100% and I believe in myself, and I’m comfortable in the wet. I’m really happy with this podium. Thanks to the team and all the sponsors for supporting me. It’s nice to be back on the podium again, but we need to keep working.”

Brandon Paasch battled through challenging weather conditions to earn a season-best fifth-place Superbike finish aboard the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R.

Paasch enjoyed an even more dramatic climb on his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R. Starting from the outside of Row 4, position 12 on the grid, the New Jersey native ripped his way up to fifth position at the checkered flag – his best run of ‘26.

Neither rider was able to match their performance in Sunday’s dry rematch. While Escalante was quick – running as part of the lead group – he crashed from contention. Meanwhile, Paasch battled his way up to eighth.

Paasch said, “Overall, a decent weekend at the Ridge. We were P5 in the rain on Saturday and a better result on Sunday than we’ve been having. It was tough weather – rain, half-rain, and sometimes dry – but we had no crashes and kept going forward. I felt we were making progress with the bike. We’re not at the front yet, but we are working better and it’s a matter of time before we crack the code.”

Tyler Scott claimed his 33rd career MotoAmerica Supersport podium with a last-lap charge aboard the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 in Washington.

Meanwhile, the team’s Supersport ace, Tyler Scott, continued to excel. Starting from the front row on his next-generation GSX-R750, he tip-toed his way to a fifth-place finish in Saturday’s wet contest.

And despite Scott suffering a significant crash in Sunday’s morning warm-up session, his crew got his bike back together again and working well enough to allow him to score his sixth podium finish of the year.

Scott only moved into position to claim his 33rd career top-three on the final lap, executing a perfectly timed and skillful maneuver to steal the honors on the last two corners of the final lap.

Scott, who ranks third in the MotoAmerica Supersport standings, said, “Today was a really hard day for us. This morning I sent the bike down the road, and I’ve just got to give a huge thanks to the whole M4 ESCSTAR Suzuki team for being able to even get me out there today. It felt good racing here in the dry. I was able to make a strategic move on the last lap, and here we are, on the podium again. Big thanks to my guys.”

The 2026 MotoAmerica season will travel down the coast to the legendary WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, on July 10-12.

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.