Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Ken Roczen ran up front throughout the main event; his fourth-place result keeps him inside the top 3 in the standings.
- Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Colt Nichols posted the fastest lap times in both of his qualifying sessions and put in consistent laps in the main.
- Kyle Chisholm used a strong LCQ ride to slot into the main and grab more points in his 20th year of professional racing.
Ken Roczen (94) and his Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki RM-Z450 had the crowd on its feet, challenging for the lead, and later in the race for a podium spot, before settling for a fourth-place result.
Ken Roczen (94) was quick in morning qualifying and used that track speed to nab a podium heat race result. With a good starting gate pick he rocketed his Suzuki RM-Z450 off the line and emerged from the first turn in second place. Roczen battled up front through the main and seemed able to gain on other riders even while taking alternate, passing lines. Roczen wrapped up the night with his second top five result; his consistency has him sitting in third place in the series points.
“I think my race overall was really good. I was happy with it,” reported Roczen. “Of course, there are always things you want to work on and try to get better. I’m staying in California this week and we’re going to work on a couple little things. We are in a good spot, we had a really good race, and I am happy with the fourth place.”
Colt Nichols (45) battled through the pack in his heat race to lock down a direct transfer to the main event.
Colt Nichols (45) topped both of his sessions during daytime qualifying. A poor start in his heat race provided his first challenge of the day, but Nichols jumped into a transfer position on the opening lap and held strong until the end. Nichols was fast in the main and used his finish to move up three spots in the championship standings.
“San Diego, round two, was a tough one,” Nichols said. “I got a bad start in the main and I struggled to get a flow of the track, but I needed to get through a main and see the pace. I definitely have some work to do. I’m going to go back home and try to work on a few things, a little bit at a time, and be better next weekend.”
Kyle Chisholm (11) ran as high as second place in the LCQ to add another main event transfer to his impressive stats over 20 years as a professional racer.
Kyle Chisholm (11) is starting off his season with great speed and consistent rides. A tough heat race sent him to the LCQ, but Chisholm leapt into second place right after crossing the hole shot stripe and used that result to put his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 on the line for the main event.
“I lined up for the LCQ. I didn’t have a very good gate pick, but it was time to make it happen or go home, and I did not want to go home,” Chisholm told after the race. “So I ripped an awesome start and came out in second. I ran second for most of the race and ended up third. In the main, I rode better than I did last week even though, on paper, I’m still not where I want to be… It’s early in the season, everybody’s healthy, and there are a lot of fast guys right now, so it’s tough. But we’re out there battling every week in the main event. At 37 years old it definitely doesn’t get any easier trying to keep up with all these kids. I’m enjoying it, having fun, and I’m happy to be out there in the main event, but I want more and want to do better.”
“It was a good weekend. Ken Roczen rode very well in the main event,” said Larry Brooks, Team Manager for Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance. “We were making a lot of changes to the bike during the day, thinking we had the set up. But when the night show came, we were a little bit off, and we had to make a quick change before the main event. But we made the right choice, and everything seemed to be good. We had all three of our Suzuki motorcycles in the main, so it was a successful night. We’re third in points right now but we’re not really looking at points; it’s a long season, so we’re just focusing weekend to weekend right now.”
The series next returns to Angel Stadium for the Anaheim 2 Supercross this Saturday, January 25th. The Suzuki riders and squads have shown that they have what it takes to run up front and deliver podium results. Don’t miss any of the action as the riders continue the battle throughout the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.
Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com for more team news.
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About Suzuki
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
