Cardenas re-signs with Team Hammer

From Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki

Daytona SportBike title contender Martin Cardenas has signed a contract extension with Team Hammer, Inc., currently racing as Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki, which will see him continue to ride for the team in 2011. Additionally, the team holds an option on his services for 2012.

“We’ve just signed the deal and I am very happy to stay with the team,” said Cardenas. “Since I joined the team in ’07, we’ve had a good relationship and I’ve enjoyed racing with M4 Monster Energy Suzuki. We’ve had a lot of success together, especially in the last two years. We’ve been able to earn a lot of podiums and wins so we know we are a good combination. I hope to continue in that direction next season. I am really excited about our 2011 plans and I’m really looking forward to what next year will bring.”

"Martin Cardenas is one of the most talented and most professional riders I have ever worked with," said team owner John Ulrich. "His record of seven AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race wins in 2009 and another seven so far this year is unmatched, and every race weekend I'm grateful that I get to work with Martin. I'm really looking forward to great things in 2011."

Cardenas, who hails from Medellin, Colombia, joined the AMA Pro Road Racing tour as a privateer in 2007 straight out of the 250 World Grand Prix ranks and was quickly signed by Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki in a replacement role. He's been with the team ever since and his rise to the top of the pecking order has been remarkable.

Cardenas is widely considered one of the championship's elite riders, blessed with rare racecraft, talent, and determination. His calculated late-race charges to the front have become his trademark. The former Spanish Supersport Champion has helped raise the bar in Daytona SportBike as the racing in that class has made for thrilling competition over the past two seasons.

Despite missing the final round of the 2009 season due to injury, Cardenas stood as the winningest rider during the inaugural AMA Pro Daytona SportBike season with seven victories. He finished the year ranked third in the Championship.

This season he again leads the way in terms of race wins in the SportBike category, having already equaled his '09 mark of seven victories.

“It’s going be great having Martin back on the team again,” said Crew Chief Keith Perry. “I think he’s one of the very top talents in our paddock and many others on the racing scene agree. It’s great to have someone we believe in on our bike and trust to put maximum effort into it every time. He’s a mechanic’s dream to work with. He knows what he wants and is very definitive when it comes to adjustments to the bike."

Cardenas will continue to work with his current mechanics, Robin Hawley and Mike Canfield.

Cardenas is aiming to improve upon his win number in the upcoming Barber Motorsports Park season finale on Sept. 24-26, which he enters just 12 points removed from the title lead.