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KEN ROCZEN EARNS A HARD-FOUGHT TOP-FIVE RESULT AT SEATTLE SUPERCROSS

Suzuki Racers Battle Another Treacherous SX Track

 

Brea, CA – (March 25, 2024) – Heavy rains preceded the Seattle Supercross and Round 11 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. On race day the skies were clear but the saturated track at Lumen Field challenged riders with slick and rutted conditions that were just shy of being considered a full mud race. 

Race Highlights:

  • Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
    • 450 Class
      • Ken Roczen scored another top-five result, Roczen’s fourth in a row, in what many consider to be the most competitive field in decades. 

       

  • Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
    • 450 Class
      • Shane McElrath shows more speed as his season progresses. 
      • Kyle Chisholm pushed forward to challenge in a thrilling LCQ that had the fans on their feet.

       

  • Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki
    • 450 Class
      • Derek Drake matched his season-best heat race result.  

       

    • 250 Class
      • Anthony Bourdon earned another top-ten result in his rookie US Supercross season.
      • Max Miller put in a heroic charge through the pack in the LCQ. 

       

 

Ken Roczen (94) turned a rough day around with a brilliant ride when the points were on the line in the main event.

After back-to-back podium results, Ken Roczen (94) was not at his usual pace throughout morning practice and qualifying. Roczen and the team re-set and came out strong in the heat, but a crash while running near the front sent him to the LCQ. Surprisingly, Roczen’s first LCQ in his career. Roczen holeshot that race and won. Coming from the LCQ, Roczen was faced with a later gate pick forcing him to a far outside position. He got the drop, took off quickly, and nearly slingshot his way around the entire pack with an incredible start. Roczen ran up front and battled for the rest of the main to his fourth consecutive top-five result this season on his Suzuki RM-Z450. 

“Seattle was a really, really tough one,” said Roczen. “We had a bunch of rain again and it made for an extremely gnarly track everywhere. I didn't start my day off well at all. I had a crash in qualifying and some sketchy moments. I was 14th in the first session. In the second session I didn't feel much better. So, it was a tough start to the day, and it turned even worse when I went down in my heat. I wasn't feeling comfortable on this track at all. I went to the LCQ, and we really excelled. I'm super stoked about us salvaging a fifth place in the main, because I look at that like a win. I made the most out of today so I'm happy about that.”

 

 

Shane McElrath (12) was fast again on another extremely challenging and rutted Supercross track.

Shane McElrath (12) qualified straight out of his heat race into the main. McElrath put in strong laps and delivered another capable performance on his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450. 

“It's always nice coming here, but I think we get a little bit of ahead of ourselves with how gnarly these conditions are,” commented McElrath. “I think as far as racing goes it was a surprisingly good day for me. My finishing result wasn't that strong, but I'm really happy with my effort. I put myself in a good position for the heat race and the main, I just need a little bit more when it comes to racing. I feel well physically and I'm excited to continue working. We still have some room to grow and some people to pass, so I'm excited about our momentum.”

 

Kyle Chisholm (11) raced forward in the LCQ to join one of the most exciting battles of the night.

Kyle Chisholm (11) had great speed on his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 and put it in good positions throughout the event. 

“I couldn't get a good flow around this track. I figured everything out, I just couldn’t put it all together and connect the track,” admitted Chisholm. “In the heat race I was battling for a qualifying position and just didn't quite ride well enough. In the LCQ I rode well, I’m happy with my riding in it. I raced up into the battle for fourth. I was right there, second, third and fourth were all battling, and I just couldn’t make my pass stick. Then I made a mistake near the end and had a pretty big crash. Luckily, I'm okay, just a little bruised up and sore, but nothing serious. I’m happy about my riding at the end, but it was just too little too late. I didn't ride my best when I needed to earlier in the day.”

 

 Derek Drake (52) earned his season-best heat race result for the third time this season.

Derek Drake (52) showed more great speed in his rookie season aboard the more-powerful Suzuki RM-Z450. 

“Seattle was gnarly. I crashed in the whoops in my heat race then came back up to eighth, so I’m glad I got that done,” said Drake. “The main event went well, I was fighting for positions, then about halfway through my back started to lock up. I couldn’t do anything about it so I dropped back a few spots and finished where I could. I’m looking forward to St. Louis, and working to improve my back.” 

 

Anthony Bourdon (100) was impressive in Seattle and moved his BarX Suzuki RM-Z250 up in the championship standings.

Anthony Bourdon (100) earned his career-best qualifying since earning a spot in the A group. Bourdon continued to impress with his fourth top-ten result. 

“I am very happy about my night in Seattle,” said Bourdon. “I had a big crash earlier this week. On Tuesday, I didn’t know if I would be able to race this weekend. Another top ten, with an eighth position finish, is particularly good for me. I fight as hard as I can every weekend and to put my Suzuki into the top ten again is special for me.” 

 

Max Miller (87) had a dramatic night in Seattle with incredible riding.

Max Miller (87) started the day well by earning his best qualifying finishes, in both sessions, since moving into the A Group. An aggressive move from another rider on the last lap of his heat race put him into the LCQ. A mishap on the line of the LCQ sent him into a thrilling drive through the pack but, unfortunately, Miller ran out of time before he could reach a transfer position. 

“It was a tough night of racing,” admitted Miller. “I had great speed, but just missed qualifying out of the heat race after an incident in the final turn. On the gate for the LCQ, I stalled the motorcycle. I was about two sections behind when I started. I tried my best to make my way to a qualifying position but ended up getting seventh.” 

“We struggled all day and had a difficult time getting the bike set up to get Ken comfortable with this track,” said Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager Larry Brooks. “We had to race the LCQ, and Ken came back and won the last chance. In the main event, Ken had a really good start and finished fifth; we were incredibly happy with that. Shane McElrath started in third or fourth and finished 16th in the main, but it was a really good ride. He was in a vulnerable situation that could have gone either way; he kept his head together and had a good finish. Kyle had a big crash in the LCQ and didn't make the main, but he was riding well.”

“I feel like tonight was a good night for us,” said James Coy, Team Manager for Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki. “We made improvements with our setup, and it showed. We are going in the right direction on these very difficult tracks. The team still has a way to go to be where we want to be. We will continue to keep working towards those results.”

The Suzuki teams now head back east to The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The racers are consistently showing incredible speed, and are looking forward to moving their Suzuki RM-Zs up in the championship standings. 

 

Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com for more team news. 


Photos by BrownDogWilson Photography

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