Cycle News Staff | November 21, 2009
AMA Daytona SportBike Champion Danny Eslick will defend his title on a Suzuki GSX-R600 with the same team, crew and sponsor as he had last year when he won the title on a Buell 1125R.Geico Insurance is also back as the team’s sponsor, according to team owner Richie Morris.”I would like to start by thanking Geico for their continued confidence in RMR,” said Richie Morris in a team release. “Since the October morning when I watched a video in Shelly Rossmeyer’s office announcing the end of Buell Motorcycle Company, I have been searching for the best motorcycle to replace the Buell 1125R and provide results on and off the track for Geico. I think that the Suzuki GSX-R600’s results last season speak for themselves regarding on-track performance. So obviously, we are excited and looking forward to seeing Danny [Eslick] battle up front in 2010. And I would like to add my best wishes to all my friends who worked at Buell in East Troy.”Barry McMahan will again be the team’s crew chief with Mike Earnhardt slated to build the engines on the GSX-R.”I started out racing a Suzuki when I turned Pro,” said Eslick. “I told Richie as long as I have Barry and the guys from last season, I’m good to go. It should be a great show for the fans.”Geico, meanwhile, will continue to sponsor the team through the 2011 season with an option on 2012.”The RMR team is full of talent, both on and off the bike,” said Bryan Knipp of Geico marketing. “Geico Powersports is proud to be partners with such a great group of people and very excited for the 2010 season.”Martin Cardenas finished third in the championship last year on an M4 Suzuki GSX-R600, winning seven races – one more than Eslick. Cardenas’ run at the title was wrecked at the penultimate round when he suffered a hand injury that forced him out of the final two races of the year.
