(NEWS RELEASE)

Competing on a Team Hammer CBR600RR under the California Superbike School Roadracingworld.com Racing banner, Joe Roberts stunned the AMA Pro SuperSport field on Friday as he made his AMA Pro Road Racing debut in dominant fashion at Barber Motorsports Park.

Roberts joined riders Chris Ulrich, Dane Westby, Benny Solis and Melissa Paris on Team Hammer-prepared-and-fielded racebikes at Barber Motorsports Park as the newest member of America’s longest continuous running motorcycle road racing team.

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup regular Roberts turned 16 less than a week ago and is celebrating that milestone birthday this weekend by taking part in his first AMA Pro event with Team Hammer, a squad long known for fostering top young talent. Roberts hustled his Honda around the tight circuit with a best lap of 1:30.877 to lead Friday’s SuperSport free practice by a wide 0.743-second margin.

Despite his lack of 600cc experience, the rising star further distanced himself from the SuperSport field in qualifying, posting a blisteringly quick 1:29.443 to secure provisional pole with 1.257 seconds in hand.

After qualifying, the Rookies Cup race winner said, “It was a really good session. It’s my first time with the AMA and I really love the crew — they’re really cool guys. The session was really good. I got out on a used tire from the practice and wanted to see how long it would last. I didn’t really get down to that great of a time then and we came in and changed to a new tire. My second lap after that I set my new personal best around this track. I’m super happy about it.

“I haven’t had a lot of time on a 600 so to go from a smaller bike to a 600 I had to change my fitness completely; I had to bulk up a little bit. The bike is so much bigger so you have to push a lot mass around, so it can be hard but I love riding the thing. The CBR600RR is so much fun and it handles so nicely.

“I didn’t really know what to expect. When I was on P1 in the first free practice I was pretty stoked about it. I don’t know if I’d say I was surprised — I always go into a practice, qualifying, or race hoping to win. It’s nice when I get to be P1.”

Roberts has been coached and mentored for years by California Superbike School founder Keith Code, who was on hand at Barber to work with the young star.

Meanwhile, M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Racing’s Chris Ulrich improved throughout the day in the AMA Pro Superbike class, ultimately posting the 13th best time on Friday. Ulrich, who made significant gains with his Honda CBR1000RR last time out at Road America, again progressed aboard the bike, clocking his four fastest times of the day in his final four laps around the 2.38-mile circuit.

GEICO Motorcycle Road Racing’s Dane Westby led the way for the Team Hammer contingent in the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class. Westby, who was sixth fastest at 1:29.069, had a host of small changes he’s looking for his crew to make to his CBR600RR overnight but is optimistic with both his form and the potential of the bike.

Benny Solis was ninth on the day, provisionally qualifying on the third row with a fast lap of 1:29.536 aboard the M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Racing Honda CBR600RR.

MPH Racing’s Melissa Paris was 19th at 1:33.218 on her Team Hammer Contract Services Honda CBR600RR. Paris dropped nearly one second off her previous best time on the final lap of qualifying.

About Team Hammer: In 2013, Team Hammer, Inc. is competing in its 33rd consecutive racing season, and is marking its seventh year of offering technical and logistical support through its Contract Services Department. Riders on Team Hammer-prepared racebikes have earned 54 AMA Pro National race wins; 130 AMA Pro National podium finishes; 5 AMA Pro Championships; 133 Overall National Endurance race wins; 13 National Endurance Championships and assorted other race wins and titles.