RM-Z450 AND ROCZEN DOMINATE MX OPENING ROUND
May 24, 2016
RACE WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
The 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship kicked off Saturday with the Hangtown Motocross Classic. At the races near Sacramento, California, Team Suzuki and the Suzuki RM-Z450 earned the headlines with a victory. In Mugello, Italy, Suzuki continued its success in MotoGP, with Maverick Viñales qualifying on the front-row for the Grand Prix of Italy.
- Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen scored victory aboard his powerful Suzuki RM-Z450 with a dominating 1-1 moto result.
- Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Blake Baggett took third in the first Hangtown Motocross 450 moto on his Suzuki RM-Z450.
- Team Suzuki Ecstar rider Maverick Viñales qualified second on his Suzuki GSX-RR.
Roczen & Suzuki RM-Z450 Dominate Hangtown MX
Ken Roczen and his RCH Suzuki RM-Z450 showed total control at the Hangtown Motocross Classic Saturday. Roczen pinned the throttle on his No. 94 machine and led every lap of both motos at the opening round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
“We’re in a way better position than we were last year,” Roczen said. “I can go out and can focus on my riding. I’m really happy with the bike. It is a new season and everybody has a chance at the title. I want to bring this kind of focus to every round this season.”
Roczen goes to San Bernardino next weekend with a six-point lead in the standings.
Baggett Scores Podium in First 450 Moto
Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Baggett showed he was more than ready for the outdoor nationals when he used the precision handling of his Suzuki RM-Z450 to work his way from back in the pack to third-place in the first 450 moto at Hangtown. Unfortunately for Baggett, the second moto ended with a broken collarbone after he fell. His teammate James Stewart also left Hangtown with a shoulder injury.
“We’ll see where we’re at and be back to fight for sure,” Baggett said. “I know where I am right now. Hangtown is one of the gnarliest tracks there is and if you can go good there you can do it anywhere. So I’ll regroup and hopefully be back soon.”
Other Suzuki riders to make the 450 main at Hangtown included Suzuki RM-Z450 mounted Broc Tickle, Austin Howell, Dustin Pipes, Kevin Rookstool and Ronnie Stewart. Jimmy Albertson, Luke Clout and Josh Osby raced Suzuki RM-Z250s in the 250cc division.
Team Suzuki Ecstar Continues Strong MotoGP Showing
Maverick Viñales was thrilled to earn his third MotoGP front row start at Mugello aboard his Suzuki GSX-RR. He qualified second at the Italian circuit.
“Well it’s a great day, I did an incredible lap, but anyway we have been performing for the whole weekend,” said Viñales. “I’m very happy for how the team supported me and finalized my machine. I’ve been feeling confident since the very beginning here and for the whole weekend so far and we took profit from that.”
In the race on Sunday, Viñales worked his way up to a sixth-place finish while his Suzuki teammate, Aleix Espargaró, finished in ninth overall. Viñales and Espargaró left Italy ranked fifth and sixth after six rounds of the 18-race MotoGP World Championship. The next event is at the Circuit de Barcelona in Catalunya Spain on June 5th.
Up-and-Coming Suzuki Amateurs Win in Tennessee & Texas
Suzuki is back in a big way supporting its amateur motocross racers. This was a weekend of area qualifiers for Loretta Lynn's Amateur National and Team Suzuki Amateur Racing riders Crockett Myers, TJ Rios, and Nikko Capps raced to wins aboard the potent Suzuki RM85.
"It felt great to be back racing on my RM85!” said Rios, who made a strong recovery from injury suffered earlier this season. “It was awesome to get the win in the Supermini 2 class, but I'm mainly just stoked to be back on the gate racing.”
Team Suzuki Amateur Racing’s Ashton Hayes also had an impressive weekend of racing, going 1-2 to finish second overall in the 250A class aboard his RM-Z250.
Coming up:
Team Suzuki motocross riders will be back in action Saturday, May 28 at round two of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif. You can meet and get autographs from the Team Suzuki Motocross riders on Friday, May 27 from 6-7 PM at Malcolm Smith Motorsports, 7599 Indiana Avenue, Riverside, Calif.
Wisconsin’s Road America will host the next MotoAmerica event on June 3-5, 2016. These races will be televised on beIN SPORTS.
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