Steady Results Move Suzuki up in Championship Points
BREA, CA, June 5, 2023 — Hot weather and a dry, rough track gave racers the first true taste of the tough summer conditions the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship has in store. The Hangtown Classic hosted round two of the 11-race outdoor season.
Race Highlights:
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Freddie Noren earned a sixth-place result in moto one and moved into the top ten in points from his overall finish.
- Kyle Chisholm was fast and consistent as the track conditions deteriorated throughout the racing.
- Marshal Weltin had top-ten speed in both qualifying sessions and the overall qualifying results.
- 450 Class
- BarX Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Derek Drake was well inside the top ten each time the riders took to the track. He delivered two top-ten moto finishes and a seventh-place overall result.
- 250 Class
- Dilan Schwartz used two strong moto finishes to move up eight positions in the championship standings.
- Chase Yentzer continued to acclimate to the stacked 250 class and put in steady rides at his first Hangtown appearance.
- 450 Class
Derek Drake (53) used his Suzuki RM-Z450 to seize his career-best pro motocross result, tying his career-best supercross result.
Derek Drake showed incredible promise in his first year in the 450 class. Drake posted seventh-place results in both qualifying sessions and the overall qualifying order. He and his BarX Suzuki RM-Z450 kept that top speed even as the track's soil baked and hardened through the day; two top ten moto results moved him up four full places in the championship standings.
"Overall Hangtown was good," said Drake. "I didn't have the starts I wanted so I had to come through the pack in both motos. I’m happy to walk away with two solid motos."
Twisted Tea Suzuki's Freddie Noren (47) was pushing for a top-five result after a sixth-place result in qualifying and the first moto.
Freddie Noren was the sixth-fastest rider out of qualifying and translated that into a sixth-place result in moto one. Some early troubles in moto two forced Fast Freddie to charge through the pack. Noren persevered for an eleventh overall and earned enough points to move his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 into the top ten in the championship standings.
"In the first moto, I had a decent start and moved up to sixth place early on. From there I really just rode my own race," Noren told after the dust settled. "In the second moto, I got tangled up with some riders on the first lap and twisted my front wheel. I got off the track, straightened my front wheel, then got going again. Then on lap two, I landed a jump in a sinkhole and fell again. I got back up to fifteenth which was good for eleventh overall. I'm happy considering everything but I shouldn't be back there racing in fifteenth or being outside the top ten ever, so we have to regroup, get better, and deliver at Thunder Valley."
Kyle Chisholm (11) and his RM-Z450 were fast and steady on a slick, challenging track.
Kyle Chisholm was comfortable on his Twisted Tea Suzuki on track conditions that were generally considered dry, slick, and challenging.
"We made some bike adjustments in testing during the week and throughout the day, and the bike was really strong all day." Chisholm went on to explain, "I rode tight, had arm pump in both motos and just struggled out there to get into a flow and to really race competitively. I wasn't able to have the intensity I need to finish further up in the results. It wasn't a terrible day, no crashes, but I want to get up there between that fifth and tenth spot."
Marshal Weltin (50) was one of the ten fastest 450 racers in both qualifying sessions and the overall qualifying order aboard his Suzuki RM-Z450.
Although he had the speed for a top-ten result, race incidents held Marshal Weltin from delivering on that potential. Weltin’s speed was on full display though, flying past other riders in moto one.
"I had a few crashes on the first lap of moto one and charged back to 15th," said Weltin. “I showed good speed, but I didn't execute the plan exactly how we wanted. In moto two I came out with a top ten and then at the top of the hill somebody came from the inside, centerpunched me, and I endoed off the track. I'm pretty bummed at the outcome. I felt this was my weekend to capitalize, so I am just going to keep working."
Dilan Schwartz (85) and his BarX Suzuki seemed to steadily gain speed from morning qualifying through two strong moto finishes.
Dilan Schwartz used points earned in each moto on his BarX Suzuki RM-Z250 to move up an incredible eight positions in the championship point standings.
"In the first moto, I had a decent start but was pushed off the track and lost a bunch of positions. I had to fight from the back," said Schwartz. "In the second moto, I had another decent start, passed a few riders, and rode a smooth race. It was a big improvement from last weekend so I’m looking forward to Colorado next week!"
Chase Yentzer's (361) first race at Hangtown was a tough one, with slick and dry track conditions challenging him through both motos.
Chase Yentzer pulled good starts in both motos with his BarX Suzuki RM-Z250. The motocross rookie showed great speed on a track that proved unkind to many more experienced riders.
"In the first moto I started on the inside and I came out of the first turn in the top fifteen," said Yentzer. "I tipped over a few turns later. I got up, regrouped, and was riding really well until I dabbed my foot and tweaked my knee at the halfway mark. After that, I tried to ride my own race and finish the moto. For the second moto, we made suspension adjustments. I started on the inside again and I came out of the first turn in 12th. I rode very conservatively and fell back to 23rd. With two laps to go, I had an issue and could not finish. I learned a lot this weekend and I made steps in the right direction. I'm excited for Colorado next weekend!"
The Suzuki riders and teams head east to the high-altitude Thunder Valley Raceway in Lakewood, Colorado. The teams are excited to continue their progression through the full 11-round outdoor motocross series and toward the inaugural Supermotocross playoff season this September.