SUZUKI EXCELS FROM LAS VEGAS TO LE MANS
May 10, 2016
RACE WEEKEND AT A GLANCE
Team Suzuki highlights from Las Vegas SX and Le Mans GP:
- Team Suzuki ECSTAR's Maverick Vinales finished third in the French round of the MotoGP Championship on the Suzuki GSX-RR MotoGP machine. It marked the first podium for Suzuki since returning to MotoGP, and the first MotoGP podium for Vinales.
- Yoshimura Suzuki's Blake Baggett and RCH Suzuki's Broc Tickle both earned top 10 finishes in the season finale of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series, despite Las Vegas storms creating the worst track conditions of this season.
- RCH Suzuki's Ken Roczen wrapped up a successful 2016 Supercross campaign, finishing second overall in the championship and earning five wins during the season.
A total of five Suzuki riders made the Las Vegas Supercross main event, powering through the muddy conditions on the Suzuki RM-Z450.
Historic MotoGP Podium Finish for Vinales and Suzuki
Suzuki made history at the famous Le Mans racing circuit in France during Sunday's MotoGP race. Maverick Vinales came from behind on his Team Suzuki ECSTAR GSX-RR to take third place; it was his first MotoGP podium finish, and the first MotoGP podium for Suzuki since its return to the series.
"It is such a special feeling to be on the podium," Vinales said after the French GP. "We did an incredible job. Yesterday was so difficult, really difficult, as I was not feeling very good with the bike, but this morning we found a new setup. I regained my confidence and could start pushing again."
With his third-place finish, Vinales moves up one spot to fifth place overall in the championship points. Team Suzuki ECSTAR teammate Aleix Espargaro scored an excellent sixth-place finish at Le Mans, which was icing on the cake for the team.
Team Suzuki ECSTAR will be back in action at the next MotoGP round in Mugello, Italy on May 22.
With his third-place finish, Vinales moves up one spot to fifth place overall in the championship points. Team Suzuki ECSTAR teammate Aleix Espargaro scored an excellent sixth-place finish at Le Mans, which was icing on the cake for the team.
Team Suzuki ECSTAR will be back in action at the next MotoGP round in Mugello, Italy on May 22.
Baggett Matches Best Result of the Season in Vegas for Yoshimura Suzuki
Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing's Blake Baggett ended the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship on a high note. He overcame treacherous muddy conditions to finish fifth on his Suzuki RM-Z450, matching his best finish of the season. RCH Suzuki's Broc Tickle scored a sixth-place finish, joining Baggett in the top 10.
"It was a mudder, not the normal Vegas," said Baggett. "It started out normal Vegas - dusty and hard packed. Then the rain came down. I got a terrible start, I mean like fourth-from-last to the first turn. Then I just dug deep and tried to keep it on two wheels."
Roczen Tallies Five Victories en route to Second Overall in the Championship
Ken Roczen raced his RCH Suzuki RM-Z450 to 11 podium finishes - including five victories - in his 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross campaign, securing his runner-up finish in the championship standings. Roczen won two out of the last three rounds, giving him and the team outstanding momentum heading into the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, which kicks off on Saturday, May 21, at the Hangtown National near Sacramento, Calif.
"I'm super happy with the 2016 season," said RCH Racing's Ken Roczen, "especially how the last few races turned out. And now the team and I are looking forward to the 2016 Motocross season."
Fellow Suzuki racers Jake Weimer (RCH Suzuki) and Nicholas Schmidt (TPJ/Fly Racing/Suzuki) joined Baggett, Roczen and Tickle in the muddy main, giving Suzuki five riders in the Supercross main event at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
Coming up:
This coming weekend, Team Suzuki's MotoAmerica Superbike and Supersport racers will be back in action on their GSX-Rs at Virginia Int'l Raceway in Alton, Va. Races will air on beIN Sports.
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