The following is from the RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing team:
CHINO, Calif. (January 13, 2017)–With the first race of the 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season officially in the books, all eyes for RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing turn to San Diego and the home of the San Diego Padres where the season begins in earnest Saturday night.
And, while the end result from the season opener may have fallen slightly short of expectations, there’s no substitute for seat time against the competition and the lessons learned from the first race of the year.
Justin Bogle and Broc Tickle finished 12th and 16th, respectively in the series’ annual opener in Anaheim last weekend, but despite not showing as well as they hoped in their first main event of the year, Bogle and Tickle came away from Round 1 with plenty of positives.
“Anaheim was good for me,” Tickle said. “The results sheet might not look that good but I felt like I was in a good place speed-wise and my fitness felt good. The class is stacked and it’s tough. You have to get a good start to get the results you need. That’s what held me back in the main event. The semi win was good for me and my heat race was good so I’m in a good place. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.”
Last season, the Lake Elsinore, California, resident finished 14th at Round 2 but a wrist injury kept him sidelined when supercross returned to San Diego for Round 6. In his two previous 450SX starts at PETCO Park, Tickle finished 11th and 14th, respectively.
“This weekend should be good,” Tickle said. “We got some rain this week but they built the track early and got it covered. No different than last week. I’m excited to be back racing. I feel like I’m in a really good place. The bike is good. The team is working well together. Everything is in place so I just need to get out there and get good starts and put myself in a position to finish where I should.”
For Bogle, the rider of the Number 19 Suzuki RM-Z450, Anaheim served as a starting point for his tenure with RCH. The Cushing, Oklahoma, native started deep in the field for the main event but meticulously worked his way towards the front and came away from Round 1 with a respectable and, more importantly, a healthy 12th-place effort.
“Going into San Diego, I feel confident,” Bogle said. “I feel good about it. I had a great off season, so getting through that first round healthy, coming out of that thing unscathed and ready to go for this weekend in San Diego was good. That was a good way to start off the season. Obviously, I would’ve liked to have done better, but it’s a long season. We’re going to make progress and I feel great on the bike.
“Obviously I want to dip into the top 10, single-digit area, and keep making progress this weekend,” Bogle continued. “I want to keep moving forward. I’m much better than what I showed at Anaheim. I’m confident. I feel good about it. We just want to keep it moving and try and make progress each time I’m out there and we’ll be alright.”
After an off season that included a re-branding of the team and the immersion of a new teammate, Tickle is eager put the first race behind him and get on with the business of the 17-race Supercross season.
“I think 2017 is a fresh start for the team in general,” Tickle said. “Justin and I both have everything we need to accomplish what we’re capable of and the team is behind us. I think there’s a little less pressure this year but I still feel like we can be guys who are on the podium or in the top five every weekend. I think that’s a realistic goal. I feel like everything is going to start clicking and create a snowball effect.”
Before the gate drops at the track, Bogle and Tickle will meet fans and sign autographs tonight from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. at Southbay Motorsportsin Chula Vista, California. The second of 17 rounds on the 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross schedule will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 Saturday, January 14, beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 7 p.m. Pacific.
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