ROCZEN PODIUMS ON SAN DIEGO’S MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT
February 15, 2016
The Third Annual Military Appreciation Race Returned to San Diego’s Petco Park for round six of the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and Team Suzuki was there in front of 40,528 fans helping to honor our nation’s military. Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen had another exceptional night on his Suzuki RM-Z450 nailing down third-place.
Team Suzuki highlights for last weekend’s racing at San Diego II included:
- RCH Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen scoring a podium finish with a strong third.
- Motorcycle Superstore/Suzuki’s Kyle Cunningham moving up a position to ninth in the Monster Energy AMA 250 West Supercross Series standings.
- A total of 10 Suzuki riders making the evening program at San Diego II, including eight Suzuki RM-Z450 riders and two aboard the Suzuki RM-Z250.
Roczen Scores San Diego II Podium on RCH Suzuki RM-Z450
Coming off an impressive victory a week ago in Phoenix, Ken Roczen earned his fourth consecutive Monster Energy AMA/FIM Supercross podium on Military Appreciation Night at Petco Park. It was the championship’s second and final visit of the season to San Diego. The RCH Suzuki rider’s third-place finish at Petco Park consolidated his ranking of second in the series. Roczen’s consistency aboard his powerful Suzuki RM-Z450 is paying dividends as the season approaches its mid-point.
“We went into the main event with a little change in the setup and salvaged a third,” Roczen explained. “Obviously we want to win, but we’re on the podium and healthy and that means a lot to me. We’re still in the championship hunt. The track was very tight and it was really hard to pass. We got a third and we’re going on to Dallas.”
After some tough luck in his heat race and semi, RCH Suzuki’s Jake Weimer rallied to make the main by taking second in the 450SX LCQ in San Diego. Weimer then moved up a couple of positions in the main to finish 12th, which was solid enough to keep him inside the top-10 in the series standings.
Carey Hart, co-owner of RCH Suzuki, saw a lot of positives coming out of San Diego II. “It was a good night,” Hart said. “I think everybody was uncomfortable (with the track) today and Ken did a good job of adapting. Weimer fought through tonight and both riders are in the top ten in the points and we’re looking forward to heading east.”
TPJ/Fly Racing/Suzuki’s Nicholas Schmidt and MotoConcepts Suzuki’s Jeff Alessi both put their Suzuki RM-Z450s in the 450 main as well.
Additionally, Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Blake Baggett, Team MicroBilt/PRBC Suzuki’s Alexander Nagy, TPJ/Fly Racing/Suzuki’s Teddy Parks, and Johnnie Buller, of DT1 Filters Suzuki made the ‘Fast 40’, making for eight riders in San Diego riding the ultra-competitive Suzuki RM-Z450 in the evening program.
Cunningham Ranked Top 10 on Motorcycle Superstore/Suzuki RM-Z250
Kyle Cunningham finished 11th on his Motorcycle Superstore/Suzuki RM-Z250 at Petco Park. The finish keeps Cunningham inside the top-10 of the AMA 250 West Region Supercross point standings, in ninth position after six of eight rounds.
Cunningham said he felt the best he has all season on his Suzuki RM-Z250 in his heat race. All signs were pointing towards a great night until he got caught up in a first-turn pileup in the 250 West main. Despite the tumble, Cunningham was able to make a strong comeback.
“My bike was working really well,” Cunningham said. “In the main I started on the outside and then got tangled up with a couple of people and went down. I rode as hard as I could and got back to 11th. My pace was really good, even though I made a couple of bobbles. Overall I rode solid and got a decent finish after the first turn crash.”
Killian Auberson also made the 250 West night show aboard his TPJ/Fly Racing/Suzuki RM-Z250.
Team Suzuki riders will be in action this coming Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 at round seven of Monster Energy AMA Supercross at AT&T Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Arlington, Texas. Television viewers can catch the action live on Fox Sports 1 starting at 8:00 pm Eastern. A number of Team Suzuki’s riders will be in the Dallas area on Friday, Friday, Feb. 19 from 6-7:00 pm at Arlington Motorsports, 2501 Centennial Drive, Arlington Texas, 76011, where fans can meet the riders and get autographed posters.
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