The members of Merge Racing Technologies have owned professional race teams, worked as Factory mechanics on winning teams in AMA SX/MX and FIM GP’s, and managed R&D programs for Factory teams. Merge was formed to design and build works parts for professional race teams, and make those parts available to you.
Jim Lewis has had a dream career for someone that loves the sport of motocross. After starting on the ground floor like every other mechanic, Jim worked up to the 500 GP’s. He wrenched for David Watson at Factory Kawasaki, and then moved to KTM where he worked with Kurt Nicol, Lawrence Spence and Mervin Anstie. Jim then moved into the R&D department at KTM where he worked with Broc Glover. Jim came to the states in the early nineties as a suspension specialist at White Brothers. His long career at White Brothers included Suspension Department Manager, Engineering Manager, Director of Manufacturing and Director of R&D. His time there included designing the exhausts systems for Factory Honda and Factory Yamaha, working to the requirements of riders that included Ricky Carmichael, Chad Reed, Kevin Windham, Andrew Short, Nate Ramsey, Travis Preston, Heath Voss and Honda’s ATV rider Tim Farr. Jim moved to Texas in 2005 to become the Director of R&D at Holigan Racing. Michael Holigan started his career in motocross as the typical 125 Novice. After graduating from Texas Tech in the mid 80’s, Michael’s racing stopped to spend time on his real estate development business and to start a family. In 2000 Michael became the primary sponsor of the #25 NASCAR Winston Cup team at Hendrick Motorsports as a way to promote his family business. After spending a lot of time that year with the team and winning the final race of the season, the NAPA 500 in Atlanta, the racing bug had become a full on fever to go racing again. Michael worked with Dave Walters and Lucky Nichols to launch an AMA Supercross/Motocross team based in Dallas in 2004. The team had success with their own documentary series on Spike TV and later SPEED, and working with sponsors that included Samsung, Sprint, RadioShack, PowerBar, GMC, DEP Sport and others. Jim came on as Director of R&D in the fall of 2005. Jim and Michael teamed up to launch Merge Racing Technologies in early 2007. Steve Matthes was a professional mechanic on the AMA Supercross and Motocross Series for 11 years. During that time he wrenched for Factory KTM, Factory Yamaha and others. Riders he worked with include Timmy Ferry, Kelly Smith and Nick Wey. Steve transitioned from being a mechanic to the media side of the business by writing a weekly column for Racer X (Observations), and doing podcasts and webcasts at each race. Steve became the Brand Manager for Merge Racing Technologies in January 2008.
