Suzuki GSX-R1000Team Hammer 2015-2016 MotoAmerica NewsTeam Hammer, Inc. will return to its professional road racing roots and field Suzuki GSX-R1000 and GSX-R600 motorcycles in the 2015-2016 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship.
Team Hammer and Suzuki started working together in 1980. Over 32 years the collaboration resulted in hundreds of race wins and many titles, as well as the discovery and early development of dozens of riders who went on to great careers, such as 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz.“Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., is thrilled to support Team Hammer’s professional road racing enterprise,” said Tak Hayasaki, President of SMAI. “Suzuki and Team Hammer share a passion for road racing competition and a commitment to championship achievements, and we are proud that Suzuki GSX-R sportbikes will again carry Team Hammer racers to success.”“We’re very happy to be working with Suzuki again,” said Team Hammer Crew Chief Keith Perry. “We’ve won a lot of races and championships with Suzuki GSX-R motorcycles and we look forward to continuing that success in the MotoAmerica series.”This year will mark Team Hammer’s 35th consecutive season of operating as a professional road racing team. During that time, racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 59 AMA Pro National races, have finished on AMA Pro National podiums 136 times and have won five AMA Pro National Championships, (the most recent in 2012), as well as two FIM South American championships.The team has also won 133 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and won 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 the F-USA Championship four times.Details regarding the team’s 2015 MotoAmerica plans will be announced as they are finalized.More information on Team Hammer is available at www.teamhammer.com. More information on Suzuki Motor of America is available at www.suzukicycles.com.
Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory + Steve ’Stavros’ Parrish
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.
Our first segment features the new Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory. Senior Editor Nic de Sena brings us his report on the flagship version of Aprilia’s upright middleweight machine. He gives us insight into whether it’s worth spending the extra money on the Factory version, and also of course, whether this sporting Aprilia is really the motorcycle for you.
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The next guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.
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In this segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with (arguably) one of the most interesting Suzuki race riders of all time. the iconic RG500 alongside teammate double World Champion Barry Sheene. The two were almost as famous for their exploits off-track, as for their success on it. Those were the days! Steve also raced the Isle of Man TT for about ten years where he won 13 Silver Replicas, and got a podium finish. His insight into that particular brand of mayhem are fascinating.
But there’s waaay more to Steve Parrish than his motorcycle racing. He is also the most successful Semi-Truck racer ever, and, little known piece of useless trivia—he’s my birthday twin: 24th February. He is a natural entertainer and you can’t miss his recounting of the world’s most entertaining—and arguably terrifying—double-decker bus ride ever. If any of you were actually on that hell-ride then we’d love to hear from you!
