RM-Z450 BRINGS WINS IN MX AND TT
May 31, 2016
RACE WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
The 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship moved to Southern California and the rugged hills of Glen Helen Raceway Saturday in San Bernardino. Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen turned in an outstanding ride, taking victory in the second moto and finishing second overall, retaining the series lead.
- Ken Roczen went 4-1 on his Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing Suzuki RM-Z450 to finish second overall.
- Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Blake Baggett made a gutsy run at Glen Helen, just four and a half days after shoulder surgery.
- Hayden Gillim rode his Suzuki RM-Z450 to victory in the Pro Singles class of the Springfield TT All-Star Series race and was joined on the podium by fellow Suzuki rider Jake Lewis.
- In Ohio, Ricky Russell scored his best GNCC result of the season on his Obermeyer/MCS Racing Suzuki RM-Z450.
Roczen Continues To Lead The Championship Race
Ken Roczen tapped into the full potential of his RCH Suzuki RM-Z450 in
the second moto at Glen Helen to take a commanding victory, rebounding
strongly after a problem with his fork in the first moto cost him a
certain win.
“The second moto I went out and did what I had to do and that’s win," said Roczen. "This is how I need to ride if I want to win the championship. I’m stoked right now because the bike is powerful, especially where I need it and it’s so good I can just focus on my riding.”
The 4-1 moto result earned Roczen a well-deserved second-place overall finish, and he continues leading the series heading into next week’s round three in Colorado.
Roczen’s RCH Suzuki teammate Broc Tickle turned in a strong ride at Glen Helen, riding his Suzuki RM-Z450 to a top ten finish.
Baggett Makes Surprise Glen Helen Appearance
Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Blake Baggett had surgery on his broken collarbone just five days before Glen Helen. He was expected to take a few weeks off before riding again, but as race day neared, Baggett was happy with how his shoulder felt and decided to give it a go. He got a great start on his Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 in the first moto and was among the leaders before taking a fall on the first lap. After remounting, he charged all the way back from 40th to an amazing 16th by the checkered flag.
“That was an awesome start, probably the best I’ve had in years of racing outdoors,” Baggett said of his launch in the first moto. “I came around and was like second or third, somewhere in there, and went to go up the hill and just spun it out. The shoulder was a little painful, but pretty good and then the last few laps it just got tired. So I opted out of the second moto, just to play it smart. I’ll be back to fight with the front guys soon.”
James Stewart, also nursing a shoulder injury sustained at the first race of the season, practiced and qualified for Glen Helen but elected to rest for another week before trying to return.
Austin Howell, Charles Lefrancois, Nicholas Schmidt, and Dustin Pipes also made the Glen Helen 450 National on their Suzuki RM-Z450s, while Jimmy Albertson, Killian Auberson, and Luke Clout qualified their Suzuki RM-Z250s in the Lites class.
Gillim Wins Springfield TT All-Star Pro Singles Race
Hayden Gillim, the Man in a Van with a Plan, took advantage of the break in the MotoAmerica road racing schedule to do a little flat track racing. He rode his Suzuki RM-Z450 to victory in the Pro Singles class of the Springfield TT All-Star Series race. He was joined on the box by fellow Suzuki RM-Z450 rider Jake Lewis, making his return to flat track competition after a shoulder injury.
Russell Solid at John Penton GNCC Race
Obermeyer/MCS Racing Suzuki rider Ricky Russell scored an impressive fourth-place finish in the John Penton GNCC event in Millfield, Ohio aboard his Suzuki RM-Z450. It marked Russell’s best finish of the season.
Coming up:
Team Suzuki roadracers will compete at Wisconsin’s Road America, the next MotoAmerica event on June 3-5, 2016. These races will be televised on beIN SPORTS.
Team Suzuki motocross racers now head to Lakewood, Colorado’s Thunder Valley for round three of the series this Saturday, June 4. The races will be televised on MavTV and NBCSN and online at www.promotocross.com.
You can meet and get an autograph from some of the Team Suzuki MX riders this Friday, June 3 from 6-7 PM at RPM Motorsports, 1251 Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO.
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