M4 ECSTAR Suzuki, racing as Team Hammer, announced its five-rider lineup for the 2026 MotoAmerica season kickoff at Daytona on February 26 from Brea, California. Officials said the team will compete across Superbike, Supersport, and Twins Cup classes, aiming to maintain its 46th consecutive season with experienced riders including Brandon Paasch and Richie Escalante.
The team, racing under the Team Hammer banner, will field five riders across these three premier categories, marking its 46th consecutive season in MotoAmerica competition, according to Chris Ulrich, Team Hammer?s team manager.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki will compete in the Superbike, Supersport, and Twins Cup classes during the 2026 MotoAmerica season, officials confirmed at the team?s announcement event in Brea, California, on February 26.
On the Superbike front, Brandon Paasch returns to M4 ECSTAR Suzuki aboard the Suzuki GSX-R1000R. Paasch, a two-time Daytona 200 winner, brings significant experience and motivation to the team after spending the previous season in the Supersport class. He will race with the number 66 and hails from Freehold, New Jersey, sources confirmed. Paasch joins Richie Escalante, the 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, who will also compete on the GSX-R1000R Superbike. Escalante, racing as number 54, is from Tizayuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, according to the official 2026 MotoAmerica entry list.
In the Supersport division, Tyler Scott will pilot the Suzuki GSX-R750. Scott, from Emmaus, Pennsylvania, returns to the class with Team Hammer and will race under number 70. The GSX-R750 is confirmed on the official 2026 MotoAmerica entry list as the machine for the Supersport category, according to team officials.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki?s Twins Cup program will feature two teenage riders competing on the GSX-8R sportbike. Matthew Chapin, number 95 from Damascus, Maryland, will make his debut with Team Hammer on the GSX-8R. Chapin is a race winner and championship contender with multiple victories on the GSX-8R, officials said. Joining Chapin is Bodie Paige, number 65, from Helensvale, Queensland, Australia. Paige is a two-time AMA Horizon Award winner and two-time AMA National Champion, adding to his professional road racing credentials, according to team representatives.
The team?s motorcycle liveries reflect Suzuki?s heritage and racing success. The Superbike GSX-R1000R machines will sport the 40th anniversary GSX-R livery, featuring classic Suzuki blue and white colors. Twins Cup riders will compete on the race-winning GSX-8R sportbike, while the Supersport GSX-R750 completes the lineup, sources confirmed.
Chapin expressed enthusiasm about his upcoming season, stating, ?I am very excited to be on a M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-8R in 2026.? Team manager Chris Ulrich highlighted the ambitious nature of the program, noting, ?Team Hammer?s 46th consecutive season features an ambitious program,? and emphasized the team?s commitment to competing at the highest level with drive and determination.
The 2026 MotoAmerica season will officially kick off at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, with the Superbike class set to begin its championship campaign on April 17 at Road Atlanta, according to the 2026 MotoAmerica calendar. The official entry list for the season confirms all five M4 ECSTAR Suzuki riders and their respective motorcycles. Brandon Paasch will take over the Superbike seat vacated by Sean Dylan Kelly, sources confirmed.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki?s continued presence in MotoAmerica marks nearly half a century of competition, with the team fielding experienced riders across multiple classes to maintain its competitive edge. The team counts on its lineup?s blend of veteran talent and emerging young riders to represent Suzuki?s racing legacy throughout the season.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki, racing as Team Hammer, announced its five-rider lineup for the 2026 MotoAmerica season kickoff at Daytona on February 26 from Brea, California. Officials said the team will compete across Superbike, Supersport, and Twins Cup classes, aiming to maintain its 46th consecutive season with experienced riders including Brandon Paasch and Richie Escalante.
The team, racing under the Team Hammer banner, will field five riders across these three premier categories, marking its 46th consecutive season in MotoAmerica competition, according to Chris Ulrich, Team Hammer?s team manager.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki will compete in the Superbike, Supersport, and Twins Cup classes during the 2026 MotoAmerica season, officials confirmed at the team?s announcement event in Brea, California, on February 26.
On the Superbike front, Brandon Paasch returns to M4 ECSTAR Suzuki aboard the Suzuki GSX-R1000R. Paasch, a two-time Daytona 200 winner, brings significant experience and motivation to the team after spending the previous season in the Supersport class. He will race with the number 66 and hails from Freehold, New Jersey, sources confirmed. Paasch joins Richie Escalante, the 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, who will also compete on the GSX-R1000R Superbike. Escalante, racing as number 54, is from Tizayuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, according to the official 2026 MotoAmerica entry list.
In the Supersport division, Tyler Scott will pilot the Suzuki GSX-R750. Scott, from Emmaus, Pennsylvania, returns to the class with Team Hammer and will race under number 70. The GSX-R750 is confirmed on the official 2026 MotoAmerica entry list as the machine for the Supersport category, according to team officials.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki?s Twins Cup program will feature two teenage riders competing on the GSX-8R sportbike. Matthew Chapin, number 95 from Damascus, Maryland, will make his debut with Team Hammer on the GSX-8R. Chapin is a race winner and championship contender with multiple victories on the GSX-8R, officials said. Joining Chapin is Bodie Paige, number 65, from Helensvale, Queensland, Australia. Paige is a two-time AMA Horizon Award winner and two-time AMA National Champion, adding to his professional road racing credentials, according to team representatives.
The team?s motorcycle liveries reflect Suzuki?s heritage and racing success. The Superbike GSX-R1000R machines will sport the 40th anniversary GSX-R livery, featuring classic Suzuki blue and white colors. Twins Cup riders will compete on the race-winning GSX-8R sportbike, while the Supersport GSX-R750 completes the lineup, sources confirmed.
Chapin expressed enthusiasm about his upcoming season, stating, ?I am very excited to be on a M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-8R in 2026.? Team manager Chris Ulrich highlighted the ambitious nature of the program, noting, ?Team Hammer?s 46th consecutive season features an ambitious program,? and emphasized the team?s commitment to competing at the highest level with drive and determination.
The 2026 MotoAmerica season will officially kick off at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, with the Superbike class set to begin its championship campaign on April 17 at Road Atlanta, according to the 2026 MotoAmerica calendar. The official entry list for the season confirms all five M4 ECSTAR Suzuki riders and their respective motorcycles. Brandon Paasch will take over the Superbike seat vacated by Sean Dylan Kelly, sources confirmed.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki?s continued presence in MotoAmerica marks nearly half a century of competition, with the team fielding experienced riders across multiple classes to maintain its competitive edge. The team counts on its lineup?s blend of veteran talent and emerging young riders to represent Suzuki?s racing legacy throughout the season.
Sean Dylan Kelly recorded a lap time of 1:24.677 to finish fourth during the MotoAmerica Superbike Timed Practice Wednesday at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Riding the BMW M 1000 RR for OrangeCat Racing, Kelly?s performance followed his earlier top time in the opening Superbike Free Practice, officials said.
The session was part of the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike season schedule. Kelly, riding the BMW M 1000 RR for OrangeCat Racing, demonstrated consistent speed throughout the day, having set the fastest time in the opening Superbike Free Practice earlier at the same venue, according to MotoAmerica records.
Kelly?s lap time of 1:24.677 placed him fourth in the MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Timed Practice session, which began at 10:39 a.m. Wednesday and lasted 40 minutes at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, officials said.
The 22-year-old Florida native?s performance at COTA aligns with his prior success on the BMW M 1000 RR model, which he used to claim his first career Superbike victory at the track in 2024. That win was a highlight of his rookie Superbike season, during which he finished fourth overall with seven podium finishes, according to MotoAmerica statistics. Kelly?s move to OrangeCat Racing and the BMW machine for the 2026 season follows his announced return to Team Hammer Suzuki for 2025, where he aimed to challenge for the Superbike title on the GSX-R1000R, Suzuki Motor USA officials said in a February 12, 2025, press release.
Kelly?s career includes a dominant 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport campaign, where he secured 12 wins and 17 podiums in 18 races for Team Hammer, as well as a two-year stint in the Moto2 World Championship from 2022 to 2023, according to his racing biography. His international experience is noted by MotoAmerica as exceeding that of most riders in the paddock, sources confirmed. Kelly trains regularly with his younger brother Ezra on the Area 97 TT track, utilizing a 150cc motorcycle to hone his skills, according to team insiders.
The Circuit of the Americas is recognized as one of the most technical tracks on the MotoAmerica calendar, with qualifying and practice sessions demanding precision and consistency. The Timed Practice was followed by Superbike Qualifying 1 later Wednesday, where riders aimed to improve starting positions for upcoming races, officials said. Pre-season testing at COTA also featured other classes such as Supersport and King of the Baggers, with riders like Xavi Forés and Kyle Wyman topping their respective sessions, according to MotoAmerica timing sheets.
Weather conditions during the practice sessions included cool air temperatures and strong breezes, with wind chills in the 30s Fahrenheit, which can affect track grip and tire performance, MotoAmerica meteorological reports indicated. Kelly?s lap times during the Dunlop Pre-Season Test at COTA included a fastest lap of 2:09.538 on Day 1, showcasing his early pace on the circuit, records show.
The 2026 season represents a significant step for OrangeCat Racing as they enter the premier Superbike class with Kelly as their lead rider. Suzuki Motorsports Manager Chris Wheeler praised Kelly?s return to the Suzuki family for 2025, stating it would strengthen their Superbike program, while OrangeCat Racing aims to position Kelly to reclaim a front-running spot in the championship, sources said. Kelly?s experience and recent results position him as a key contender in the evolving MotoAmerica Superbike landscape.
Sean Dylan Kelly recorded a lap time of 1:24.677 to finish fourth during the MotoAmerica Superbike Timed Practice Wednesday at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Riding the BMW M 1000 RR for OrangeCat Racing, Kelly?s performance followed his earlier top time in the opening Superbike Free Practice, officials said.
The session was part of the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike season schedule. Kelly, riding the BMW M 1000 RR for OrangeCat Racing, demonstrated consistent speed throughout the day, having set the fastest time in the opening Superbike Free Practice earlier at the same venue, according to MotoAmerica records.
Kelly?s lap time of 1:24.677 placed him fourth in the MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Timed Practice session, which began at 10:39 a.m. Wednesday and lasted 40 minutes at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, officials said.
The 22-year-old Florida native?s performance at COTA aligns with his prior success on the BMW M 1000 RR model, which he used to claim his first career Superbike victory at the track in 2024. That win was a highlight of his rookie Superbike season, during which he finished fourth overall with seven podium finishes, according to MotoAmerica statistics. Kelly?s move to OrangeCat Racing and the BMW machine for the 2026 season follows his announced return to Team Hammer Suzuki for 2025, where he aimed to challenge for the Superbike title on the GSX-R1000R, Suzuki Motor USA officials said in a February 12, 2025, press release.
Kelly?s career includes a dominant 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport campaign, where he secured 12 wins and 17 podiums in 18 races for Team Hammer, as well as a two-year stint in the Moto2 World Championship from 2022 to 2023, according to his racing biography. His international experience is noted by MotoAmerica as exceeding that of most riders in the paddock, sources confirmed. Kelly trains regularly with his younger brother Ezra on the Area 97 TT track, utilizing a 150cc motorcycle to hone his skills, according to team insiders.
The Circuit of the Americas is recognized as one of the most technical tracks on the MotoAmerica calendar, with qualifying and practice sessions demanding precision and consistency. The Timed Practice was followed by Superbike Qualifying 1 later Wednesday, where riders aimed to improve starting positions for upcoming races, officials said. Pre-season testing at COTA also featured other classes such as Supersport and King of the Baggers, with riders like Xavi Forés and Kyle Wyman topping their respective sessions, according to MotoAmerica timing sheets.
Weather conditions during the practice sessions included cool air temperatures and strong breezes, with wind chills in the 30s Fahrenheit, which can affect track grip and tire performance, MotoAmerica meteorological reports indicated. Kelly?s lap times during the Dunlop Pre-Season Test at COTA included a fastest lap of 2:09.538 on Day 1, showcasing his early pace on the circuit, records show.
The 2026 season represents a significant step for OrangeCat Racing as they enter the premier Superbike class with Kelly as their lead rider. Suzuki Motorsports Manager Chris Wheeler praised Kelly?s return to the Suzuki family for 2025, stating it would strengthen their Superbike program, while OrangeCat Racing aims to position Kelly to reclaim a front-running spot in the championship, sources said. Kelly?s experience and recent results position him as a key contender in the evolving MotoAmerica Superbike landscape.