From a press release:

Josh Hayes has signed a multi-year contract with Team Hammer, Inc., racing as Vavoline EMGO Suzuki, to compete in the AMA Formula Xtreme and 600cc Supersport Series in 2002 and 2003.

Hayes rode for the team from 1996 through 1999, co-riding to the 1996 and 1997 WERA National Endurance Championships, winning the 1998 Formula USA Pro Sport Championship, winning the 1998 WERA National Challenge Series 600cc Superstock Championship, winning the 1997 GSX-R1100 Suzuki Cup Final and winning the 1998 GSX-R1100 and GSX-R600 Suzuki Cup Finals. In 1999, Hayes won the AMA 750cc Supersport race at Daytona and finished the AMA season 3rd in Formula Xtreme and 6th in 600cc Supersport points.

(In 2000 and 2001, Hayes rode for Erion Honda and the Bruce Transportation Group teams, under contract to American Honda.)

“I’m really excited about being back with Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki for the 2002 season, getting back together with Barry McMahan and getting back to our winning ways,” said Hayes. “I feel this is going to be a good move with lots of success.”

“We’re excited about re-uniting Josh with Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki and his original tuner, Barry McMahan,” said Hayes’ manager, Gina Nadeau. “We’ve been disappointed with Josh’s results the last two seasons and we’re look forward to getting him back to his winning combination from 1999. We’ve missed these guys and we’re happy to be back.”

“We’re looking forward to picking right up where we left off with Josh, and taking advantage of his added experience in the series,” said Valvoline EMGO Suzuki Crew Chief Keith Perry. “We don’t think his recent results truly reflect his ability and we’re happy to be working with him again.”