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SUZUKI’S COLT NICHOLS NAILS TOP-TEN OVERALL RESULT AT WASHOUGAL NATIONAL

Brea, CA - (July 21, 2025) - Perfect weather greeted fans and racers at the Washougal National for Round 8 of 2025 AMA Pro Motocross season. The storied motocross track in picturesque Washougal, Washington added another mark in the sport’s history as the first venue to enact a time-staggered re-start. After less than ten minutes of racing in the second 450-Class moto a red flag came out. The riders were lined back up on the starting gate, in the order they were running in the race, then sent back into action one at a time at intervals of approximately one second apart. 

Race Highlights:        

  • Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance
    • 450 Class
      • Colt Nichols delivered his career-best overall 450-Class motocross result. 
      • Benoit Paturel grabbed his career-best overall qualifying result at Washougal. 

Colt Nichols (45) matched his season-best moto result at Washougal to take his Twisted Tea Suzuki to his career-best 450MX overall result.

Colt Nichols (45) was fast from the first laps on the track; in the first session he earned his season-best qualifying spot. Nichols followed that up with his season-best result for the second qualifying sessions to capture a season-best overall qualifying spot. Nichols put his strong gate pick to good use, nabbing a sixth place start in the opening moto. Nichols battled with the front-runners and earned a season-best first moto result. Nichols grabbed another good start in the second moto; he sat just outside the top-ten as he crossed the holeshot stripe. Nichols used his RM-Z’s responsive power delivery to find traction on the hardpack soil and move his Suzuki forward through the pack. He crossed the finish line matching a season-best moto result, which earned Nichols his career-best overall 450 Class motocross result. 

“Washougal is one of my favorite tracks of the year,” said Nichols. “I got off the gate much better this weekend, and that was the biggest help for my racing. I got up in the pack and hung on as good as I could.” 

Benoit Paturel (102) continues to show outstanding speed in his first season racing in the United States.

Benoit Paturel (102), the MXGP racer in his first season racing the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, continued to find incredible speed against racers more familiar with the US race circuit. Paturel claimed his career-best overall qualifying spot in the US with a blistering lap in the final qualifying session. When the gate dropped for moto one, Paturel launched his Suzuki into a top-ten start. Unfortunately, his assault on Washougal got derailed just a few turns into the racing when another rider pushed Paturel off the track and into a crash. Paturel remounted and took chase, but he was not able to re-claim a points-paying position. A poor gate pick in the second moto compounded the day’s problems, and Paturel was not able to gain points in the championship standings. 

“I’m so disappointed,” stated Paturel. “I was feeling great in the morning. The bike was really good, and everything was working to make for a good day. It’s very frustrating to not be able to put that into results on paper. It’s time to regroup, focus, and be strong for the last three motocross races.” 

“Colt finished 12th in the first moto and ninth in the second moto, finishing ninth overall. A top-ten finish is really good for Colt. He got good starts and rode consistent and really adapted to the track well,” said Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “Benoit had the opposite type of day. He got a decent start in the first moto and then fell in the third or fourth corner, dropping way back, maybe 30 seconds behind the last place rider. Benoit had to come up, and he only made it up to 28th place. In the second moto he got a terrible start and just couldn't adapt to the track; he really struggled with all the shaded areas, the dust, and everything that went along with riding at the back of the pack. But it was a really good day for Colt. He showed his potential and rode well. Benoit needs to work on learning these American tracks and running up at the front, which we think he can, but it's just a matter of him adapting well to the to the tracks and the racing in the US.”

The AMA Pro Motocross season now takes two weekends off without events, then returns for the final three motocross rounds in three consecutive weekends in August. After that, the racers, including the return to action of Ken Roczen, will tackle the post-season SMX Playoffs and SMX World Championship Final in September

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.