Team Hammer, Inc. has signed a 3-year racing sponsorship contract with American Suzuki Motor Corp. to compete in AMA and Formula USA races. The new deal is a renewal of the team’s previous two-year deal and extends a racing relationship between Team Hammer and Suzuki that reaches back to 1981. In that time, Team Hammer has won 13 WERA National Endurance Championships, 5 Formula USA Championships, and an AMA Supersport Championship, along with hundreds of National races.
The 2001 season dawns with the team in a situation it has worked towards for three years, with the right combination of riders, mechanics, sponsors and machines to do serious damage to the competition.
The team’s headquarters and shop in Athens, Alabama was expanded by 50 percent prior to the start of the 2000 season and will be expanded by another 50 percent early in 2001. Along with the building expansion, the team has signed Kelly Collopy as Parts and Logistics Manager and has signed Shane Clarke and Todd Fenton as mechanics.
Team operations will continue to be overseen by Crew Chief Keith Perry, who has worked with the team since the 1989 season.
Barry McMahan will work with rider John Hopkins, who will compete on GSX-R1000, GSX-R750 and GSX-R600 Suzukis in AMA and Formula USA races. Shane Clarke will work with rider Ben Spies, who will compete on GSX-R750 and GSX-R600 Suzukis in AMA and Formula USA races. Todd Fenton will work with rider Grant Lopez, who will compete on GSX-R1000, GSX-R750 and GSX-R600 Suzukis in AMA and Formula USA races.
