Motourage

Team Hammer, racing as Team M4 Suzuki, has signed Dane Westby to compete in AMA Pro Racing’s Daytona Sportbike class in 2011. With 2010  SportBike Champion Martin Cardenas moving to the Superbike class with M4 Suzuki for 2011, Westby will pilot the team’s Suzuki GSX-R600 as the team defends its title.

Cardenas moves to the premier class for 2011 making room for Westby in John Ulrich's stable

“I’m really looking forward to the Daytona test and getting to ride the Team M4 Suzuki. I’m really excited for the new year and this deal coming together is great. My goal is to make 2011 the Year of The Wolverine,” said Westby, referring to his nickname. “Team Hammer and (team owner) John Ulrich have been in the racing game for a long time and they know what is needed to put a competitive team out there. They won the championship last year and that speaks for itself. They were already there and getting the job done when I raced my first AMA Pro event, and that means a lot to me, as does their endurance racing success. Suzuki has a new model for 2011 that is lighter and stronger and that is another positive.”

Westby, 23 years old, had a breakthrough 2010 which saw him fight for the win in the Daytona 200 before earning his first AMA Pro Daytona SportBike podium and finishing second. The Oklahoman led the season finale in Alabama as well, earning the lap leader bonus point en route to a third-place finish. Westby also earned the podium at California Speedway, Infineon Raceway, and New Jersey Motorsports Park. He finished fifth in the season’s point standings.

“We’re looking forward to having Dane on our bike this year,” said Crew Chief Keith Perry. “We’ve seen how he’s come on in the last year and even before. He has the ability to run up front and our goal is to have him up there every week. As a team, we have a lot of experience with the 600cc Suzuki and our goal is to use that to help Dane continue his improvement. It was great that he was available and we were able to put a deal together with him.”

With Westby in the Daytona SportBike class, Martin Cardenas will join Chris Ulrich in AMA Pro American Superbike. The rapid Colombian’s presence in Superbike is sure to boost the series’ excitement level.

“Naturally, we’re really looking forward to having Martin on the Superbike as well,” Perry continued. “We think he’s one of the very top talents in the paddock and we’re anxious to see him on our big bike. Sure, there will be a transition period but when we first saw Martin in AMA Pro he was racing a 1000; we know him well and we’re supremely confident in him and what he can do. As a team, our challenge is to give him the equipment he needs to compete.”

After losing out on the Daytona 200 victory in 2009, No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6 rider Josh Herrin secured his name in the history books by becoming the 69th winner of the Daytona Beach classic.  Held for the second year in a row under the lights, Herrin battled a number of riders before pulling away after a super quick pit stop on lap 39.  After that, he rode with tremendous composure and skill to take the checkered flag with a 7.964 second margin of victory on the historic 3.55 mile Daytona International Speedway.

Dane Westby and his No. 2 Project 1 Yamaha YZF-R6 took a well deserved second place and up until the last pit stop, it was a two man race.  Westby showed his skill by running up front all night, trading the lead with Herrin several times over the course of the 57 lap race.  Finishing third was 2007 Daytona 200 winner Steve Rapp on his No. 15 Team Latus Motors Racing Ducati 848.  Rapp also ran up front all night and was one of five riders to lead during the race. 

Leading the field off the line was pole winner Danny Eslick on the No. 1 GEICO Powersports RMR Suzuki GSX-R600 and as the field took the green flag from the standing start, fellow front row rider Martin Cardenas, riding the No. 36 Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki GSX-R600, shot into the lead and led the field through turns one and two.  In a heartbreaking moment, Cardenas had the front end slide out on him going into turn three and down he went, his race over.  It was a devastating moment for what was clearly a big pre-race favorite.  Further back in the lineup, a number of riders came together in the next turn, necessitating a red flag and immediate race stoppage and full restart from the original grid.

One rider, P.J. Jacobson, was transported from the scene to Halifax Hospital but was later released.  Four other riders were examined at the infield care center and released and one rider, Bostjan Skubic, later complained of dizziness, was taken to Halifax for precautionary evaluation and was later released.  After a brief delay, the race was restarted and this time the field had three riders go off in turn one but with no impact on the race.  A tight group of 10 riders were drafting and swapping positions, with many changes every lap. Rapp, Herrin, Eslick, Team Graves Yamaha teammate Tommy Aquino, Kev Coghlan riding the Aussie Dave Racing Yamaha, Westby and more were all part of the action. 

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