Tickle Eighth, Bogle 15th in Indianapolis

 RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing turned in a pair of top-15 performances for the RM Army Saturday night when Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, made its annual stop at Lucas Oil Stadium.
 
Broc Tickle, rider of the No. 20 Suzuki RM-Z450, finished eighth, notching his fourth top 10 of the season while picking up one spot in points, where he now sits ninth in the standings.
 
Meanwhile, Tickle’s RCH teammate, Justin Bogle, won his semifinal going away and was strong early in the main event but after battling strep throat throughout the week, faded to 15th before the checkered flag waved on Round 11.
 
Tickle was eighth in both of Saturday’s pre-race practice sessions and finished seventh in his heat, earning him a trip to the semifinal where he finished third, locking down his place on the starting gate for the main event.
 
The Cary, N.C., native didn’t get the jump out of the gate he was hoping for but after slipping outside the top 10 early on, Tickle made a spirited charge during the 20-minute-plus-one-lap main event to bring his machine home eighth in the final rundown.
 
“Indy was a step in the right direction,” said Tickle who made his 75th career 450SX Class start Saturday night. “After our struggles two races ago in Daytona, I was really looking forward to getting to the race track and picking myself up. I really enjoy racing in the domes in the Midwest. The dirt is great and the tracks get rutted so it’s always a little more technical and those are the kind of races where I ride well. I qualified eighth in both practices and transferred into the main from the semi. I wasn’t completely happy with my start but I made a few quick passes, settled in and finished eighth. I thought I was going to be able to pass (Chad) Reed at the end but I couldn’t get around him.”
 
Bogle finished sixth in his heat but was the class of the field in his semifinal where he led five of seven laps and took the checkered flag with almost two seconds to spare.
 
The Cushing, Okla., rider had a solid start for the main event and made his presence felt inside the top 10 in the early goings. Unfortunately, Bogle’s mind was willing but his body wasn’t able as fatigue from being sick earlier the week caused him to fade just past the halfway mark, leaving him 15th at the checkered flag. 
 
“It was a tough weekend,” explained Bogle. “I was sick all week and couldn’t shake it. I felt great in the semi but about halfway through the main, I just didn’t have anything left in the tank. After the way Daytona went, I was happy to make the main event. It wasn’t the finish we were looking for but I’ll take it and look ahead to Detroit.”

Monster Energy AMA Supercross heads for the “Motor City” this weekend as the series makes its annual visit to downtown Detroit. Round 12 from Ford Field will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, March 25 beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 4 p.m. Pacific.

Adam Sinclair