Team Suzuki was in action and came away with victories in nearly every form of racing this weekend. From a Pro Motocross sweep for the Suzuki RM-Z450 in Tennessee to a MotoAmerica Superbike victory for the Suzuki GSX-R1000 in Utah, Suzuki riders took home trophies. Race highlights include:
- Ken Roczen continued his stunning momentum with another 1-1 victory on his Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450 in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross action in Tennessee.
- Broc Tickle charged the technical Muddy Creek Raceway track aboard his Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450 to finish third overall at the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross national in Tennessee.
- Toni Elias came through with another win aboard the Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing GSX-R1000 Superbike at the MotoAmerica races in Utah.
- Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Maverick Viñales took another top-10 MotoGP finish in the rain-drenched Dutch TT at Assen.
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RCH Suzuki’s Ken Roczen continued his amazing string of victories Saturday at the Tennessee National, round five of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tennessee. He’s now scored nine of 10 moto victories in the 2016 season on the race-proven Suzuki RM-Z450. It marked his fourth overall victory in five rounds and pushed his championship lead to 47 points.
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| “I feel good - this is the way you want to win a race,” said RCH Suzuki's Ken Roczen after holding off a challenge for the overall victory late in the second moto. “It was the hottest race of the season and my Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns Suzuki RM-Z450 worked great. We’re going to keep charging.” |
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| “Being up here is so awesome,” said Broc Tickle, Roczen's RCH Suzuki teammate, as he finished third at Muddy Creek, marking his first time on the podium this season. “I can’t thank everyone enough who have been behind me. The whole RCH/Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki team. I’ve had a couple of injuries over the last couple of years, but now I’m finally gaining confidence and momentum.” |
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| Yoshimura Suzuki racer Blake Baggett made his return to action in the Pro Motocross Championship at Muddy Creek after a month away due to an injury sustained at the beginning of the season. He scored a solid eighth-place finish. Substitute Yoshimura Suzuki rider Matt Bisceglia finished 12th. |
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| “All in all, it was pretty good,” said Yoshimura Suzuki's Blake Baggett. “I was inside the top 10 in both motos. It’s a step forward and not bad for a comeback. My RM-Z worked great and I feel good, so I’m looking forward to next weekend.” |
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Four other Suzuki RM-Z450 riders - Austin Howell, Dustin Pipes, Justin Ashburn and Nathen LaPorte - made the 450 national at Muddy Creek. Jimmy Albertson, Kyle Cunningham, Luke Clout and Josh Osby put their Suzuki RM-Z250s in the 250 national.
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Toni Elias earned pole position and then scored another MotoAmerica Superbike win Saturday at Utah Motorsports in Tooele, Utah. Elias scored win number five of the season aboard his powerful Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000. Teammate Roger Hayden also had a successful weekend finishing on the podium twice, taking third in both races.
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| "These guys are riding really strong and were pushing a lot, but I knew we could win this race,” Yoshimura Suzuki's Toni Elias said. “I am happy for the victory and also for my team, because they are working very hard to give me the best bike. The championship is not over yet. We will continue fighting to the end.” |
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Valentin Debise extended his perfect career record of attaining at least one podium per MotoAmerica race weekend with a third-place result in Saturday's Supersport contest in Utah aboard his nimble handling M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki GSX-R600. Teammate Cameron Petersen also made himself a factor in both races. The South African guided his GSX-R600 Supersport bike to a pair of fourth-place finishes.
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"The race was quite good but I was not so lucky with lappers today," said Debise, M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki rider. “It was so good to get back on the podium. Really, I couldn't ask for much more than that. I have to say thanks to my crew and Team Hammer for helping me bounce back with a strong race today."
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Maverick Viñales overcame extremely challenging conditions at the Assen Circuit in the Netherlands to put his Team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-RR inside the top ten, with a ninth-place MotoGP finish. Viñales, who is fifth in the world championship standings, gained ground on three of the four riders ahead of him in the standings by finishing ahead of them.
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Coming up: Team Suzuki riders and the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship swing back into action during the annual Fourth of July Holiday weekend at the RedBud National in Buchanan, Michigan, onSaturday, July 2. Several Team Suzuki riders will arrive early for a dealer appearance at North End Cycle Shop, 2426 Cassopolis St., Elkhart, Ind. on Friday, July 1 from 6-7:00 PM.
For Team Suzuki road racers, the next event is at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with the combined MotoAmerica/World Superbike Championship when the very best of the national and international Superbike racers invade the Monterey Peninsula, July 8-10. MotoGP returns in Germany on July 17. GNCC takes a break until visiting Unadilla MX in New Berlin, NY on Sept 10-11. |
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