SEVENTH VICTORY FOR TEAM SUZUKI AT HIGH POINT NATIONAL
June 20, 2016
RACE WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
The 2016 edition of the Suzuki RM-Z450 is proving a worthy successor to the long line of race and championship-winning Suzuki RMs. The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship made its first visit to the east and again it was Suzuki finishing on top.
- Ken Roczen scored yet another dominating victory on his Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing Suzuki RM-Z450 going 1-1 in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross at High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris, PA.
- RCH Suzuki Broc Tickle also nailed down a top-10 finish at High Point, going 8-10 to finish ninth overall.
- A total of 12 Suzuki riders made the national at High Point, seven in the 450 class on Suzuki RM-Z450s and five in the 250 class on Suzuki RM-Z250s.
- Suzuki amateur team riders were hard at work again racking up tickets to
Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Notational at their regional qualifying events.
Roczen and Suzuki King of the Hill at High Point
In Mt. Morris, PA., Ken Roczen continued his incredible string of moto wins and 450 National victories on his RCH Suzuki RM-Z450. He dominated on the hilly and challenging High Point Raceway track, winning both motos to score the overall victory. Roczen has used the power and precision of the Suzuki RM-Z450 to win seven of the eight motos so far in 2016 and to earn his third overall national victory of the season. The RCH Suzuki rider extended his lead in the standings to 41 points, a remarkable feat after only four nationals.
“Today was great,” Roczen said. “I think this was probably the gnarliest track we’ve ridden this year. It was definitely tough, which makes for great racing. I grabbed the holeshot in the first moto and then a couple of people crashed behind me so I had a gap and just rode a smart race to take the checkers. I was super happy with that, but knew I had to go at it again in the second moto. I think with some smarter line choices I could have been faster, but there’s really no negatives about the day – I got a 1-1 and I hope to take that momentum into next weekend.”
Top 10 for Tickle
Broc Tickle had a solid ninth-place ride at High Point on his RCH Suzuki RM-Z450. The performance, his best of the season, moved him to within two points of cracking the top-10 in the series standings.
“We had good improvement,” Tickle said. “I always enjoy coming here, the start of the east coast races. All in all, today was better, with two motos inside the top 10. That was the most consistent weekend I’ve had since we started outdoors.”
RCH Suzuki team co-owner Ricky Carmichael was happy overall with his squad.
“The team had a great performance,” Carmichael explained. “Ken said this was the toughest motocross track he’s raced all year. I’m happy for him and everyone on the team. Everyone’s working hard and the bike is looking really good. Broc had a better weekend as well and we just want to keep this rolling. I’m proud of the guys and we just have to keep this up.”
Yoshimura Suzuki fill-in rider Matt Bisceglia finished 16th overall.
“It was a good first moto,” Bisceglia said. “I fought hard and ended up tenth. Unfortunately, in the second moto I got a good start and was in about 10th again and then on the second or third lap I just came down the corner rollers, swapped out and high-sided. That ended my day right there. It was a solid day besides that, it was just unfortunate it had to end like that. I gave it everything I had.”
Other Suzuki RM-Z450 riders to make the National at High Point included Austin Howell (Howell Racing), Dustin Pipes (TPJ/Fly Racing/Suzuki), Daniel Lippman (TrueMx/MPR), and Dakota Yohe (Yohe Racing).
The Suzuki RM-Z250 was also well represented in the 250 class at High Point with Kyle Cunningham (Motorcycle Superstore/Suzuki), Luke Clout (MAD Racing/Yoshimura/Suzuki), Josh Osby (Motorcycle Superstore/Suzuki), Jimmy Albertson (Motorcycle Superstore/Suzuki) and Killian Auberson (TPJ/Fly Racing/Suzuki).
Suzuki Riders Scoring More Tickets to Loretta's
Suzuki amateur team riders were hard at work again racking up tickets to Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Notational at their regional qualifying events. TJ Rios and Crockett Myers both earned their final tickets this past weekend in North Carolina, putting their RM85s in the front of the pack.
TJ said, "I had a fun, great weekend at the South East Loretta Lynn Regional! I had some up and down races but I got the job done by qualifying in both Supermini 1 & 2 with second place overall finishes! My Suzuki RM85 (Supermini) was amazing all weekend and got me off to some great starts! Now I know what I need to focus on to get to the next level and be battling for the top spot."
While Rios and Myers were claiming their tickets to the ranch, Richard Taylor got off to a strong start at the upcoming 2016 Mammoth Motocross National on his RM-Z450.
Richard said, “The support class at this year’s Mammoth vet race went pretty good! The track was epic and the weather was amazing. I won a moto and ended up second overall against the “A” guys. I felt really good on the rough Mammoth track. My RM-Z450 motor was amazing even at this high altitude and I felt right at home in the rough sections of the track! Next week’s Mammoth National is going to be good.”
Coming up: Team Suzuki riders will be back in action next weekend as the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship continues for the fifth round of the season. Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tennessee, will host the Red Bull Tennessee National on Saturday, June 25. The Utah MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will take place at Utah Motorsports Campus (formerly Miller Motorsports Park) on June 23-25. The Snowshoe Mountain Resort, in Snowshoe, WV, will host the Amsoil GNCC Series on June 25-26
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