SUZUKI RACERS WIN FROM COAST TO COAST
July 12, 2016
RACE WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
Major motorcycle racing events took place this weekend on both sides of the country and Team Suzuki was well represented in Monterey, California and Southwick, Massachusetts. In the end, the Suzuki RM-Z450, Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Suzuki GSX-R600 all scored podium finishes. In addition, one of Suzuki’s all-time racing legends was back on the track at Mid-Ohio enjoying recognition for his great accomplishments. Weekend highlights include:
- Ken Roczen finishing second overall on his Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing Suzuki RM-Z450 at the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross National in Southwick, Massachusetts.
- Also at Southwick, Broc Tickle racing his Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing Suzuki RM-Z450 to another top-10 finish.
- Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Toni Elias winning the pole and keeping his championship hopes alive by putting his Suzuki GSX-R1000 on the podium twice in MotoAmerica Superbike at Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.
- M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki's Valentin Debise scoring his ninth Supersport podium of 2016 with an impressive runner-up result on his Suzuki GSX-R600 at Laguna Seca.
- Suzuki racing legend Wes Cooley being honored as Grand Marshal for the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Roczen Keeps Rolling with 2nd Place at Southwick
After a two-year absence, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship returned to New England and The Wick 338, the famous sand track, in Southwick, Massachusetts. RCH Suzuki’s Ken Roczen put in another strong showing on his potent Suzuki RM-Z450, taking second overall in the 450 class with a 2-2 moto finish. Roczen, having won five of the seven nationals so far, continues to lead the championship points standings by 47 points.
"I tried to put up a fight in the second moto," said Ken Roczen after the races at Southwick. "I tried to get a win or at least hang with the leader, and that's what I did so I'm happy with how we rebounded from the first moto. 2-2 is still a good result. With the field as deep as it is, it’s unrealistic to come in and win every round, but that’s my mentality. I’m going to come back next weekend and try to go for another 1-1, because I believe that’s the attitude you need to win this championship.”
Top 10 fro Broc Tickle at The Wick 338
Broc Tickle continued his string of excellent Pro Motocross results in 2016, with the RCH Suzuki RM-Z450 rider scoring eighth overall at Southwick. He remains ranked fifth in the series standings.
“There were positives, I’m not bummed out by the weekend at all,” said Broc Tickle, who is coming off podium finishes at the last couple of rounds. “It was still solid with a 10-8 for eighth overall. We’re heading to Millville, another one of my favorite tracks.”
In addition to Roczen and Tickle, four other Suzuki RM-Z450-mounted riders made the national field at Southwick, including MicroBilt/PRBC Suzuki’s Ronnie Stewart, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Baggett, Central Mass Power Sports Suzuki’s Richie Tolman-Moschetti and Michael Giovanniello on his MXSponsor Suzuki.
In the 250 Class at Southwick, a quartet of Suzuki RM-Z250 riders made it into the main event - Kyle Cunningham and Jimmy Albertson (MotorcycleSuperstore.com Suzuki), as well as Luke Clout (MAD Racing Yoshimura Suzuki) and Jared Lesher (RGR Motorsports Suzuki).
COMING UP: Team Suzuki motocross riders now head to Millville, Minnesota and the Spring Creek National this coming Saturday, July 16th. Live coverage begins at 11:00 am Eastern on www.promotocross.com. The motos can also be viewed on MAVTV and NBCSN.
Pole Position + 2 SBK Podiums for Yoshimura Suzuki at Laguna
Toni Elias won the pole and stood on the podium after both races in MotoAmerica Superbike action at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Elias finished second aboard his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 in race one and followed that up with a third-place finish in race two. Teammate Roger Hayden finished fourth in race two after crashing in the first race. Elias is still in the championship hunt going into the final MotoAmerica round in New Jersey on Sept. 9-11.
“It was one of the hardest races of the season,” said Toni Elias, Yoshimura Suzuki racer. “At the start I tried to go, but everybody followed me and then I understood it was going to be a group race. I tried maximum every lap. I was pushing 120 percent and risking a lot. Now I can say I’m happy. I’m happy because I gave all I had and tried very hard the last few laps. We’ll keep working.”
Debise Races GSX-R600 to Second Place at Laguna Seca
M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki's Valentin Debise scored his ninth podium of 2016 in the Laguna Seca MotoAmerica Supersport contest. The Frenchman showcased his command on his Suzuki GSX-R600 both on the brakes and firing out of the corners. He seized second place and defended the position to the checkered flag following a spirited battle.
"This track is more about exit corner and that's where I'm good on my bike," explained Valentine Debise. "I used everything I could on my GSX-R to be the best. I was hoping to go and stay in the fight for the win, but I ended up having a great battle for second. I had a lot of fun. I want to say thanks to my M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki team."
COMING UP: The national road racing season now takes a break before heading to the New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 9-11 for the series finale.
Superbike Legend Wes Cooley Honored at Mid-Ohio
Two-time AMA Superbike Champion and Motorcycle Hall of Famer Wes Cooley was the Grand Marshal of this weekend’s big AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of AMA Superbike, Cooley rode the 1980 Yoshimura Suzuki GS1000 in parade laps and met with thousands of admiring fans over the course of the weekend.
“I wondered if people would still remember me from 35-40 years ago,” said the ever-modest Wes Cooley. "On Friday, I walked in here and went: 'Great smell, great noise!' It was just like being back from all those years ago."
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