Fresh off a pair of standout performances, RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/ Suzuki Factory Racing riders Ken Roczen and Broc Tickle are cresting a formidable wave of momentum heading into this weekend’s Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Red Bull Tennessee National at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tenn.
Both Roczen and Tickle turned in impressive showings in the outdoor series most recent stop and come into Muddy Creek Raceway brimming with the confidence.
Last weekend, Roczen showed no signs of any lingering effects from a back injury that clouded his early championship hopes, racing to a second-place overall finish in the True Value Thunder Valley National. The defending outdoor champion’s podium-winning 3-2 showing propelled the German rider from sixth to fourth in the Pro Motocross Championship standings.
With three-quarters of the season still hanging in the balance, he’s just six points out of third and trails point leader Ryan Dungey by 35.
“Thunder Valley was really important for the entire team,” said last year’s Muddy Creek winner. “The track was really rough and I didn’t have any problems with my back so that gives me extra confidence heading into this weekend. Muddy Creek has always been a good track for me so hopefully, I can be on top of the box again this year. I think we hit on something with our Suzuki RM-Z450 between motos last weekend so I’m really comfortable on the bike. I just want to get back in a routine. I was in Florida this week getting ready. It’s hot in Florida like it will be in Tennessee so that will be a big difference from the last couple of weeks.”
Roczen boasts a stellar resume heading into the northeast Tennessee track. He finished third overall in 250 competition in 2013 with a 1-4 finish. Last year, he took the overall win aboard a 450 on the strength of 2-1 result, en route to his second American championship.
Tickle finished fourth overall last weekend at Thunder Valley Motocross Park and looks to build on his solid 5-5 finish. While he just missed his first podium of the 2015 outdoor season, the veteran rider rode last Saturday’s notable performance to seventh in points where just four markers separate him from sixth.
Tickle was sidelined with an injury last summer and spent the entire 2014 outdoor season on the mend but in his lone Muddy Creek start in June 2013, he rolled to a 13-11 finish, good enough for 10th overall.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back after it,” offered Tickle. “I think last weekend really showed how we’re progressing and what we’re capable of. All the testing RCH has been doing is starting to pay off. I felt great on the bike and we were consistently fast at Thunder Valley. We need all of that to carry over to this weekend. I’m still working hard to get better with my starts but our Suzuki is fast and feels great so once we put it all together, we’ll be in good shape.”
RCH team co-owner Ricky Carmichael was pleased with his team’s collective performance last weekend and knows that success breeds success.
“Thunder Valley was a great weekend,” commented Carmichael. “Despite a little bad luck, we were still able to scratch out two great overall finishes. Obviously, if it weren’t for a flat front tire, Ken had the second moto won going away. Under the circumstances, he did a great job of hanging on to finish second. Broc was spot on all day. I’m really proud of what he did at Thunder Valley. I’d really like to see the entire team build on that success and carry that same momentum into Muddy Creek this weekend.”
Before the pits open and the gate drops, Tickle will meet fans and sign autographs at Atlas Cycles, Friday, June 5, from 6 – 7 p.m. Located in Bristol, Va., just 25 minutes from the racetrack, Atlas Cycles sells new and used ATVs, Motorcycles, Utility Vehicles, Scooters and Watercraft from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and California Side Car.
The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship returns to the Volunteer State for Saturday’s Red Bull Tennessee National from Muddy Creek Raceway. The first moto from Round 4 of the 2015 outdoor campaign will be televised live on MAVTV Sat., June 6 at beginning at noon Eastern Daylight Time, 9 a.m. Pacific. Television coverage for the second moto will shift to NBC at 2 p.m. EDT. All motos can also be streamed live online through ProMotocross.com or the NBC Sports Live Extra app. NBC, NBCSN and MAVTV will combine to televise over 60 hours of racing over the course of the 12-round season.
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
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