Elias Returns To MotoAmerica
F
ormer MotoAmerica Superbike
Champion Toni Elias will make
a return to racing in 2023 as part
of the Vision Wheel M4 Ecstar
Suzuki outfit alongside incum-
bent Richie Escalante.
Elias took an extended sab-
batical from racing after failing
to secure a ride for the 2021
MotoAmerica season but will be
aiming to add to his 2017 title
and 2010 Moto2 World Champi-
onship in 2023. His MotoAmerica
record reads so far 32 race wins
and 60 podium finishes from
2016-2020.
"I'm happy to have the oppor-
tunity to go back to racing and it
is special to do it with Suzuki and
a team I know in Vision Wheel
M4 Ecstar Suzuki," said Elias.
"It's great they gave me this op-
portunity and I am excited and
motivated. I am ready to start
working hard. It won't be easy
but let's do it! I know the bike well
and know the good things about
it. We'll work hard to improve it
even more and I can't wait to get
started."
"We all know that Toni Elias is a
MotoAmerica champion, and we have
seen what he is capable of achieving,"
said Chris Ulrich, Team Hammer Vice
President of Operations. "He is a great
talent, and our task is to give him the
machinery and environment he needs
to get to the front again. There is no
doubt he has the ability, and we need
to help harness it."
Also announced by Team Ham-
mer was their Supersport lineup, with
20-year-old New Hampshire native
Teagg Hobbs replacing Sam Lochoff
and joining Tyler Scott.
"This will be my first season in
Supersport and to go with Team Ham-
mer and Suzuki is the opportunity of
a lifetime," Hobbs said. "When the
opportunity arose, I couldn't say no.
Over the past couple of years, I had
built a relationship with the team and
loved riding their bikes. I really prefer
the Suzuki and I am excited to see
what we can do in one of the top Mo-
toAmerica classes on a bigger bike. I
am ready to learn and do my best."
CN
IN
THE
WIND
P42
Toni Elias will be
back with M4 Ecstar
Suzuki in a surprise
move ahead of the
2023 MotoAmerica
season.
