The RCH Soaring Eagle Jimmy John’s Suzuki team heads to University of Phoenix Stadium in search of its first Monster Energy AMA Supercross win of 2016.
The RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/Suzuki Factory Racing team heads to University of Phoenix Stadium along with the rest of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross circus tomorrow night, and RCH riders Ken Roczen and Jake Weimer are seeking to better the strong performances they put up at last weekend’s Oakland Supercross.
And if Roczen can better his results by one spot, the Ricky Carmichael and Carey Hart-owned Suzuki team will enjoy its first Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series win of 2016.
That’s a tall order, as Roczen’s former teammate and rival Ryan Dungey has clicked off three consecutive main event wins in the four Monster Energy AMA Supercross rounds run thus far, but Roczen has continued to build on his successes week in and week out, and last weekend it appeared as though the difference between the two men had more to do with who got the better start than who rode stronger. Dungey pulled the holeshot while Roczen had to make some passes to get to the front. Roczen’s second-place finish lifted him from sixth place to fourth place in the standings. and he is just two points out of second place. Roczen is 24 points behind Dungey with 13 rounds of racing yet to be run.
“He [Dungey] is just confident right now,” Roczen said of Dungey. “He’s known for being super-consistent, and he’s definitely hitting his marks. And he’s going really fast at the same time. I think we’re doing the right thing. There’s nothing to stress about. Obviously, he has a pretty good point lead already. but the season is so long and you never know what’s going to happen, so I’m just excited. It’s been a long time coming for me. Last year was obviously tough, but we’re doing good this year and I’m really enjoying the racing. That’s what matters the most to me and what counts.”
The 21-year-old German rider finished second last January when the Phoneix Supercross took place at Chase Field, and he is looking to earn his third straight podium of the season.
In his first race competing under the RCH Soaring Eagle Jimmy John’s Suzuki banner, Weimer matched his best result of the year, eighth, at Oakland last weekend. The Rupert, Idaho native turned in a quiet but important top-10 finish and held on to ninth place in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series points standings. The effort was Weimer’s second eighth-place finish of the season and his third straight top-10 finish.
“I was pleased with our finish at Oakland, for sure,” said Weimer, who will make his 54th career 450SX class start Saturday night. “There was a lot that went on over that week span. A lot of changes. New scenery. Everything is just a lot different. Overall, everything was good. Oakland was the best that I’d qualified this year. Had a couple decent starts and then, in the main, matched my best finish of the year. I had to fight for 20 laps. It seemed like I was with someone the whole time. I felt like I could be better. I felt like there’s more in the tank. I was definitely happy.”
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series makes its inaugural visit to University of Phoenix Stadium, but the “Valley of the Sun” has held a round of the series since 1986. Despite the new setting, Weimer has had his fair share of success in Phoenix, including a pair of AMA 250SX West main event wins (2008 and 2010) and a runner-up finish in the 450SX class in 2012.
“I’m going to try and get my best result of the year,” Weimer said of tomorrow’s race. “My best right now, I have two eighths, so I’m going to try and do better than that. I felt like there were some areas (last week) that I could improve. There are some ways that I can ride the bike better and some ways that the bike allows me to ride it differently. I just need to get a little more time on it and get a little more comfortable and I can be better than what I was last week. … I’ve always enjoyed going to Phoenix. I got my first win there and it seems like I’ve done well there so that’s always one that I look forward to.”
Before the gate drops, Weimer and Tickle will meet fans and sign autographs tonight from 6 p.m.–7 p.m. at Ride Now Powersports, located just eight miles north of University of Phoenix Stadium.
RideNow Powersports Peoria
8546 W. Ludlow Dr.
Peoria, AZ 85381
Phone: 623-334-3434
Round five of the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross championship will be televised live on FS2 Saturday, February 6, beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 6 p.m. Pacific.
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