2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike
Team Hammer is pleased to announce that Joe Roberts will contest the 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike season aboard an M4 Honda CBR600RR.
Roberts stunned in AMA Pro competition in 2013, going a perfect five-for-five during an abbreviated rookie AMA SuperSport campaign that kicked off just days after he celebrated his 16th birthday.
The fast-rising Californian took the paddock by storm at Barber Motorsports Park with a dominant outing in his debut weekend. Roberts was untouchable throughout the weekend, claiming pole position and then backing that up with two runaway victories
Roberts showcased his prodigious racecraft the next time out, overtaking two rivals in the race’s final two laps to claim a narrow victory at Laguna Seca to keep his AMA Pro record perfect by just over a 10th of a second.
Roberts concluded his rookie AMA Pro season at Miller Motorsports Park the way he opened it at Barber — with a pair of spectacular wins from pole. His final outing was a special clutch performance, as Roberts sealed his perfect campaign by slicing his way from third to first on the final lap of the race.
Roberts is also a proven Red Bull MotoGP Rookie Cup standout, having notched up a race win to go along with multiple lap records and fast-lap honors during his three-year stint in the highly competitive series.
The Glendale, California native will take the next step forward in his career in 2014 as he readies himself for the intense challenge that awaits in the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class.
Joe Roberts says: “I am very happy to have signed with M4 and Team Hammer for the 2014 season. It’s a championship-winning team, so it’s great opportunity for me. I worked with the team and my crew chief, Eric Gray this last season in SuperSport, where we achieved great results.”
For 2014, Roberts will retain the crew backing him for his initial foray into AMA Pro Racing in 2013.
Joe Roberts says: “DSB is going to be a new challenge for me and it will be interesting to see what the level is. The Honda is a very nice handling bike and I am confident that the team are going to get the bike where is needs to be for Daytona and the rest of the season. I want to say thanks to everyone who has helped me get to this point in my career.”
Keith Perry (M4 Honda Crew Chief) says: “Five out of five is hard to beat and we can’t help but be excited to run a whole season with Joe. It will be great to have more time with him and see how this pairing grows. We think he can step up to a new class quickly and we know he has the ability and speed to have success. We’re also looking forward to showing what a year of development with this new bike brings and we feel like we’ll be very competitive in 2014.”
About Team Hammer: In 2014, Team Hammer, Inc. is competing in its 34th consecutive racing season, and is marking its eighth year of offering technical and logistical support through its Contract Services Department. Riders on Team Hammer-prepared racebikes have earned 59 AMA Pro National race wins; 135 AMA Pro National podium finishes; 5 AMA Pro Championships; 133 Overall National Endurance race wins; 13 National Endurance Championships and assorted other race wins and titles.
Photo credit: Brian J. Nelson/Courtesy Team Hammer, Inc
