Suzuki Riders Gain Momentum as the Season Enters the Home Stretch
Brea, CA – (April 15, 2024) – Gillette Stadium hosted Round 13 of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Heavy rains prior to the event cancelled press day and eventually led to a track with inconsistent traction, ruts, and hardpacked dirt. Mostly clear skies on race day afforded good racing conditions, though some rain fell during the 450 main event.
Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Ken Roczen earned a strong third-place result, standing on the podium for the sixth time this season.
- 450 Class
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Shane McElrath scored his season-best heat race finish and used a good gate pick to nab a top-three start in the main event.
- Kyle Chisholm also scored his season-best heat race finish to qualify for the 201st main event of his career.
- 450 Class
- Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Derek Drake continued to show good speed in his rookie 450 season.
- 250 Class
- Preston Boespflug matched his career-best overall result in a strong rookie year in professional Supercross racing.
- 450 Class
Ken Roczen (94) ran up front throughout the main. Roczen finished on the podium in a close battle for the lead.
Ken Roczen (94) was flying on his Suzuki RM-Z450 as soon as the gate dropped for his heat race. Roczen charged past other riders, moving from seventh place to a podium finish in the heat. Roczen used his good gate pick to jump off to a second-place start in the main event. He kept on the leader’s rear fender while fending off heavy pressure from behind. The thrilling race ended with the top three racers crossing the finish line still in a tight pack after the 20-minute plus one lap battle. Roczen earned his sixth podium of the season.
“I had high hopes coming here because the last time I raced here was 2016, I was on Suzuki, and I won,” said Roczen. “It was a tough track. The obstacles were built super big, and it got really rutted but it also ended up getting very hardpack. They were funky conditions that we haven't had yet this year. We had a solid heat race and an even better main with a good start. I was behind the leader the whole time and had the third-place rider pressuring me; but I stayed in second for the longest time. Even after the third place rider passed me I just stayed there with them; I wasn't just going to let those guys go. I feel like we did well tonight. We ended up on the podium, and I think everybody on the team needed that, and it was an overall good ride.”
Shane McElrath (12) spent more time at the front of the pack in the main event at Foxborough.
Shane McElrath (12) started the night’s racing by posting a season-best finish in his heat race. When the gate dropped for the main event McElrath put his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450’s power to the ground and grabbed a top three start at the holeshot stripe. McElrath ran inside the top five for the early laps. He had a late race surge and was heading toward a top-ten finish until contact with another rider took away his opportunity to put his speed into another strong result.
“It was a bittersweet day today,” admitted McElrath. “In the main I had another good start and ran the pace for quite a while and felt good. I was able to get comfortable up there and I got to battle. I started making some moves towards the end and was moving forward, then I got together with another rider. He jumped into the back of me, and my hand went numb straight away. I couldn't move my hand very well after that, so it was a pretty scary; I was already committed to the rhythm when that happened. I couldn't really feel my bars and tried to hold on and get through the race. But there were so many positives to take away tonight. I'll do what I’ve got to do this week and I'm excited to line up again in Nashville.”
Kyle Chisholm (11) delivered his season-best heat race finish inside Gillette Stadium.
Kyle Chisholm (11) gritted through an ankle injury incurred during his heat race. Chisholm toughed it out to put in another strong performance this season.
“I had a good start in the heat race and felt well, then on the first lap I went long on a jump and hyperextended my ankle,” explained Chisholm. “I went to the medics in between the heat and main event, got the ankle taped up and worked on. I just did what I could in the main event. It was a little frustrating, I couldn't really ride the way I wanted to. My ankle’s pretty sore, but nothing’s broken from the X-rays taken. I’m going to rest it up this week, try to do a little rehab and see if we can get a little bit of riding in, and then just try again in Nashville.”
Derek Drake (52) put in strong laps on the hardpack Foxborough track.
Derek Drake (52) showed good speed but wasn’t able to slice through the pack to a qualifying position in either his six-minute plus one lap heat race, or the five-minute plus one lap LCQ.
“Another rough go in Foxborough,” said Drake. “I’m still riding through my back injury, so it is not ideal. I thought I would be able to pull through and make the main but that didn’t happen. I’m going to take some time and heal up and be back when I’m feeling better!”
Preston Boespflug (128) matched his career-best overall qualifying result, heat race result, and main event result.
Preston Boespflug (128), in his rookie pro season, had the pace, from putting down impressive lap times in qualifying to strong performances in the night racing. Boespflug was especially impressive during a hard charge through the pack in his heat race to earn a direct transfer into the main event.
“It was another solid race for me,” said Boespflug. “I just need to keep clicking them off and break into the top ten.”
“The day started out a little rough with Roczen a little bit off,” said Larry Brooks, Team Manager for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance squads. “We just kept working on the bike, working on lines, different things like that. In the heat race Roczen had a bad start but came through the pack, so we knew he had the speed. It wasn't a question of that, it was more of getting a strong start and putting a good race in. Ken did that in the main event. I was really happy with the start, and then he stayed right in the battle and in the thick of it all the way through the race. It was a pack of three at the very end. Shane McElrath was up there for a long time in the main event. He was in tenth position and moving up to ninth and another rider jumped into him, hitting Shane’s elbow, hitting the funny bone. His whole arm went numb. Kyle Chisholm's been riding well, but he hurt his ankle in the heat race. He finished 17th in the main event. Overall, it was a good night for the H.E.P. Suzuki team.”
“Tonight was another good race for Preston,” reported Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki Team Manager James Coy. “He is improving just as we were hoping he would, and the Suzuki RM-Z250 is really good, as well. We’re looking forward to getting closer to the front of the pack as Preston keeps gaining experience. Overall, the team is working great together, and we are motivated to end the season with our best results yet.”
The Supercross series heads to Nashville for round 14 of the season and the first of two East/West 250 Class Showdowns where racers from each regional series compete head-to-head to earn points for their respective championships.
Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com for more team news.
Photos by BrownDogWilson Photography
