Copyright 2002, Team Hammer, Inc.
Preliminary details of the 2003 Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars have been released and registration is now open.
Preliminary details of the 2003 Team Hammer Talent Search Presented by Alpinestars
The Team Hammer Talent Search Presented by Alpinestars is a comprehensive career development program designed to help participants reach the highest level their talent will allow in motorcycle road racing. It is, in simplest terms, a technology transfer program covering riding, bike set-up, sponsorship, dealing with the media and other major components of professional motorcycle road racing.
Participants in the program will receive honest advice and evaluation, and straight answers to their questions, including The Big Question: “How do I get from where I am to where I want to be in motorcycle road racing?”
The program is being run by Team Hammer, Inc., which currently races primarily in AMA Pro competition as Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki; the team was founded in 1980 and has raced continuously since the start of the 1981 season, winning dozens of National Championships with various sanctioning bodies.
A long list of riders who became successful professionals in National and International competition rode for Team Hammer or participated in Team Hammer Support programs early in their careers. Some of them became National and/or World Champions. The most recent example of a rider starting his professional career with Team Hammer is John Hopkins, who went from riding in the Aprilia Cup in 1999 to racing in the MotoGP World Championship in 2002, after winning the AMA 750cc Supersport Championship in 2000 and winning the AMA Formula Xtreme Championship in 2001.
Two participants in the program will earn full rides for the 2003 Suzuki Cup Finals held in conjunction with the WERA Grand National Finals, including the use of one Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki racebike for the event weekend, the full-time attention of a team mechanic at the event, tires, entry fees and a set of brand new Alpinestars leathers, boots and gloves in team colors. One of the two finalists will be considered for a 2004 season ride with the team. Judging and determination of finalists will be done by Team Owner John Ulrich and Crew Chief/Manager Keith Perry. All judging decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
Included in the program are three set-up seminar and instruction dates, including February 26 in conjunction with a Team Hammer Advanced Riding School & Track Rides day at Daytona International Speedway; March 28 in conjunction with a Fastrack day at California Speedway; and April 22 in conjunction with a Team Hammer privateer/private-team test day at Barber Motorsports Park.
Evaluation and judging of program participants will be based on race results during the entire 2003 season; riding improvement seen during the season; and performance in designated special events, including CCS races at Daytona February 27-March 2, AMA Sports races at Mid-Ohio July 22-23 (tentative dates during the week before the AMA National), and WERA races at Barber Motorsports Park September 12-14 (the weekend before the AMA Pro season finale).
The program has a non-refundable registration fee of $1500, which is discounted to $1250 if paid before December 30, 2002. The fee includes monitoring of each rider’s results and progress during the season; monthly program press releases listing participant results; and tuition for the three set-up seminar and instruction dates, at Daytona, Fontana and Barber. Nominal gate fees for those events are not included. Because this is a package deal, riders do not get a refund if they do not attend all three set-up seminar and instruction days. Registration closes January 30, 2002.
Participants must also race a year 2000 or newer Suzuki motorcycle, wear Alpinestars boots and gloves and run program stickers on their racebikes.
Questions And Answers, Rules And Regulations
Q: Why do I have to ride a Suzuki motorcycle, wear Alpinestars boots and gloves and run program stickers on my motorcycle to participate in the Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars?
A: You have to ride a Suzuki motorcycle so the set-up advice we give you is valid, and so we can compare your performance to the performance of other program participants. You have to wear Alpinestars boots and gloves because Alpinestars is the presenting sponsor of the Team Hammer Talent Search program; we need program sponsorship because the projected costs of running this program for a year exceed what we project we will take in from registration fees. We require you to run program stickers because doing so may help attract additional program sponsors in the future and because running program stickers will also help you stand out from your competitors. As in, you actually know what you’re doing.
Q: Do we have to buy or use anything else to participate in the Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars?
A: No. However, we strongly recommend that program participants use the same brand of performance products and the same brand of helmet that the team uses because:
1. If you’re using a different brand of pipe or shock or tires than we use, our set-up information will not apply directly to your bike, and;
2. If you are one of two finalists in the program, the bike you’ll be riding in the Suzuki Cup Finals will be fitted with the performance products we use and the stickers we run and you’ll have to wear the same brand of helmet the team uses as well as the complete set of new Alpinestars leathers, boots and gloves that comes with the ride.
Q: Do we get any special deals on products used by the team, as part of participating in the program?
A: Yes. We have already arranged special discounts with some suppliers and are negotiating additional special discounts with other suppliers, including a discount on tires. We will announce details ASAP.
Q: Do I have to ride a particular model Suzuki motorcycle?
A: You must ride a year 2000 or newer Suzuki to participate in this program. We strongly suggest that you ride a GSX-R750, which can be competitive for race wins in every type of competition, from club races to AMA Nationals, with relatively few modifications.
Q. Do I have to wear a particular model of Alpinestars boots and gloves to participate in the program?
A. No, but we strongly recommend the Alpinestars GP-Plus or GP-Pro gloves and the Alpinestars Super Tech or SMX-Plus boots.
Q. Do I have to wear Alpinestars leathers to participate in the program?
A. No. But if you are one of the two finalists and ride a Team Hammer racebike at the Suzuki Cup Finals, you have to wear the new Alpinestars leathers, boots and gloves that come with the ride (at the Suzuki Cup Finals).
Q: I’m not a 19-year-old dirt tracker. What can this program do for me?
A: Team Hammer was founded in 1980 by John Ulrich (then age 26) and Bruce Hammer (then age 32) because they were not 19-year-old dirt trackers and realized that they were not going to get factory rides. The pair decided to form their own team, and the results speak for themselves. At best, this program could result in you getting a paid ride for 2004. At worst, you should learn something that will help you be a better racer, with a better racing program.
Q: What do I get out of this program if I am not one of the two finalists?
A: Advice from people who actually know what they’re talking about and have a history of helping riders advance their careers. GSX-R set-up numbers that have actually won AMA Nationals. Straight answers to your questions. And a line on your resume that indicates that you have been accepted into the Team Hammer Talent Search.
Q: Is there anything else I have to do to participate in this program?
A: Yes, you have to attend races during the year and fill out and turn in report forms after every test day or race weekend.
Q: What will you be looking for in the judging?
A: We will be looking for riders who are competitive at a variety of racetracks and not just at one track or at one type of track. We will be looking for riders who improve throughout the season. We will be more impressed by results in designated special events and in National Series races than we will be by results in Regional or club races.
Registration Instructions
Print out all forms, then complete them and mail to Team Hammer, Inc., P.O. Box 183, Wildomar, CA 92595-0183. Registration forms will not be processed and your space in the 2003 Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars will not be reserved without fully completed registration forms and payment.
To register for the 2003 Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars, send us a cashier’s check, money order or credit card authorization for a $1500 non-refundable registration fee.
If you pay before December 30, 2002, the fee is discounted to $1250. Personal checks are not accepted and will be returned.
Registration closes January 30, 2003.
When we receive all your completed original forms (FAXed copies not acceptable) and required payment we will process your application and send you a letter to confirm your acceptance.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL APPLICANTS
Avoid delay! Don’t miss out! To reserve your place in the 2003 Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars, be sure to send us the required payment with your registration forms. Registration forms will not be processed without the required payment. Registration closes January 30, 2003.
Forms are available in Adobe .PDF format. If you need the Adobe Acrobat reader software you can get it here.
Print out and complete all forms!
Registration forms can be downloaded here.
If you cannot download the forms, call (909) 245-6414 and ask to have them sent to you via U.S. mail or via FAX.
