Brea, CA – August 13, 2024 – Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki rider Richie Escalante (54) has been medically cleared and plans his return to MotoAmerica Superbike competition. Escalante will race at the MotoAmerica PermCo Superbikes round, August 16-18 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH.
The popular 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport champion, Escalante remains the first athlete from Mexico to earn a MotoAmerica championship. With consistent results in his second Superbike season, Escalante placed fourth overall in the 2023 Superbike championship with 11 top-five results.
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For 2024, Escalante raced a next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750 in the Daytona 200 as part of Team Hammer’s effort, spending most of the 200 pressuring the eventual winner for the lead. Escalante also set the track record in qualifying for the legendary 200-miler. With the Superbike season’s inaugural race at Road Atlanta in April, Escalante was involved in a post-race incident with another rider, after earning a top-ten result in Superbike Race 1.
Richie Escalante (54) is targeting Mid-Ohio to return to Superbike competition.
“Last week, my doctors cleared me to race. It’s been a long four months of recuperation, but I’m finally able to compete again and enjoy my sport. See you all in Ohio!” offered Escalante, “I’d also like to thank my sponsors, supporters, and fans who reached out to me during my time away,” added Escalante.
"We are excited Richie has recovered from his incident at Road Atlanta, and look forward to seeing him back on track at Mid-Ohio," said Chris Ulrich, Vice President of Operations at Team Hammer.
“Suzuki is pleased to see Richie healthy and returning to MotoAmerica Superbike racing on the GSX-R1000R. He has trained well to return, and we anticipate he’ll regain his racing form at Mid-Ohio and beyond,” said Chris Wheeler, Suzuki Motorsports Manager.
Suzuki congratulates Escalante on his return to the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki racing effort and looks forward to his racing for the remainder of the 2024 MotoAmerica season. Suzuki also wants to thank Xavi Forés for his contributions to the Suzuki roadracing effort during Richie Escalante’s rehabilitation, and for his Superbike podium result at Ridge Motorsports Park.
Photos by Brian J. Nelson Photography
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2024 season marks Team Hammer's 44th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won over 130 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums over 360 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 over 130 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 VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
