Go Time for Roczen, Tickle at Washougal - Speedway Digest

In the world of professional sports, there’s nothing more thrilling than an improbable comeback. No doubt, sports fans love the underdog.

In 1994, the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team stormed back from a 31-point deficit with just over 15 minutes left in the second half to stun LSU at home. The 2004 Boston Red Sox overcame a 3-0 deficit in the American League Championship Series to beat the New York Yankees, earning a trip to the World Series.

Last year, the Seattle Seahawks trailed the Green Bay Packers by 12 points with about four minutes left in the fourth quarter with a trip to the Super Bowl hanging in the balance. The Seahawks went on the win in overtime, stunning the Packers and earning the right to play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.

When the clock starts ticking on the final quarter of the 2015 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at this weekend’s Peterson CAT Washougal National, RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing riders Ken Roczen and Broc Tickle will wage an uphill battle as they mount their collective charge towards a comeback.

Last weekend, Roczen, the defending Pro Motocross Champion, struggled with the handle on his Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki RM-Z450 but still managed to forge a 3-4 finish, notching a fourth-place overall showing at Spring Creek Motocross Park in Millville, Minn.

With four races left, the 21-year-old European sits second in the championship and trails Ryan Dungey by a distant 56 points. Much like that Wildcat win in 1994, the gap is certainly great but not impossible to bridge.

After well-documented struggles early in the season left him mired deep in the standings following the opening round at Hangtown, Roczen has picked up the pace considerably and hasn’t finished outside the top five since the first moto in Round 2 at Glen Helen.

Washougal MX Park has hosted a round of the Pro Motocross Championship since 1980 and features arguably the most picturesque setting of any track in the sport. Nestled within thousands of fir trees and a stones throw from the Washougal River, the track is a favorite for enthusiasts because of its incredible location, evolving into a destination event for any motocross fan.

Much like last week’s venue, Washougal is one of the few tracks on the Pro Motocross circuit where Roczen hasn’t enjoyed the same type of success he’s become accustomed to. Still, in three previous starts at the storied Washington racecourse, Roczen has earned a pair of podium finishes. In six motos, including starts in both the 250 and 450 classes, Roczen owns a 3.3 average overall finish but has yet to win.

“We’ve definitely got our work cut out for us,” said Roczen. “We haven’t been as good as we need to be to beat Ryan (Dungey) but we’re working hard and doing a lot of testing so we can be ready for the last four races. It’s going to be tough, for sure, but as long as we perform, anything can happen. A lot of different scenarios would have to play out but it’s definitely still possible. We’ve got four races left to get it done so we need to be focused, work hard and leave it all on the track.”

While Tickle has spent his 2015 outdoor campaign chasing the podium, the Holly, Mich., veteran has been a regular fixture inside the top 10 at Washougal throughout his pro career. In six starts at track located in the southwest corner of the Evergreen State, the rider of the No. 20 Suzuki RM-Z450 has logged an 9.5 average overall finish, including a pair of top fives and seven top 10s in 12 motos.

Last Saturday, Tickle notched a 5-7 effort to finish sixth overall at Spring Creek. With four races left on the summer schedule, the 25-year-old Pro Motocross veteran lurks just seven points outside the top five and sits sixth in points.

“I really like Washougal on a 450 because it’s slippery and you have to be in control to go fast,” explained Tickle. “I enjoy racing at Washougal. When I was on a 250, I struggled but ever since I’ve been on a 450, I’ve ridden well. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season. We have four more and I need to get it going. I’ve got more in my tank to be a little better than I’ve been.”

Before the pits open and the starting gate drops, Tickle and Roczen will meet fans and sign autographs at Town Center Motorcycles, Friday, July 24, from 6 – 7 p.m. Town Center Motorcycles is located just over 40 minutes southwest of Washougal, on the south side of the Columbia River in Fairview, Ore.

The first moto of the Peterson CAT Washougal National will be televised live on MAVTV Sat., July 25 beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 1 p.m. Pacific. Live TV coverage for the second moto will shift to NBCSN at 6 p.m. EDT. All motos can 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.

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Adam Sinclair

NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
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.