Tough night for Yoshimura Suzuki Racer Blake Baggett in Indy

Courtesy of Suzuki Racing

 
Expectations were high at the Indy Supercross for Blake Baggett, coming off a podium finish the week before at Daytona, but the night didn’t go as planned in Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing rider crashed while running seventh, got pinned under his machine; and then had to wait nearly a full lap before track marshals could free him. Once back on track Baggett turned in solid lap times, but he was a lap down so had to settle for 15th, his worst result of the season.

While Baggett’s Indy Supercross didn’t go as well as hoped, the silver lining was that he was not hurt in the crash and did not lose a position in the standings. He still stands eighth in the AMA/ FIM World Supercross points after 11 of 17 rounds.

The Yoshimura Suzuki team with Baggett and James Stewart started out the weekend as part of one of the biggest Supercross parties of the season. Indy’s pre-event party was held at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Thousands of fans showed up to get to meet the riders and have posters autographed. Baggett and Stewart got to go out and actually get photos taken on the Speedway’s famous Yard of Bricks.

“That was really cool,” Stewart said. “I’ve never been on the actual track, so getting to be right there on the yard of bricks was a nice experience. I got to meet with a lot of fans and sign some autographs. Everybody’s been really supportive. At the race I got to help Blake a little bit, by picking out some lines on the track. I’m looking forward to getting back to racing as soon as I can. I appreciate all the fans hanging in there with me.”

Baggett started off the day qualifying 11th. He and fellow rookie Jason Anderson created a bit of a stir when they came together during the first timed practice, but officials worked everything out and the rest of the day’s qualifying went smoothly.

Baggett missed going directly into the Main from his Heat race, but easily won his Semi to secure his starting spot in the final. Baggett started the race in 10th on the first lap and as usual was using the deft handling of his Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 to steadily work his way up the leaderboard. But then he went down on lap six.

“The track was super-technical with lots of ruts,” Baggett explained. “But the bike set-up we found was working really well. Things were going good, I was working my way towards the front and I just made a mistake, caught a rock and went down.

“I was stuck under the bike for a whole lap and just had to wait until someone came over and got it off me. The whole time the bike was still running and the chain was grinding away on me and I was pinned down. I got up and was a lap down and did the best I could. I’m going to come back strong next weekend and see what we’ve got.”

After getting back underway Baggett rode solid laps and was able to salvage some points. It was his first time outside of the top-10 since round two at Phoenix.

The series resumes next weekend in Detroit’s Ford Field.

Indianapolis 450 Supercross Results: 1. Ryan Dungey (KTM), 2. Cole Seely (Honda), 3. Trey Canard (Honda), 4. Weston Peick (Yamaha), 5. Davi Millsaps (Kawasaki), 6. Andrew Short (KTM, 7. Josh Grant (Kawasaki), 8. Broc Tickle (RCH Suzuki), 9. Chad Reed (Kawasaki), 10. Jake Weimer (Kawasaki). 15. Blake Baggett (Yoshimura Suzuki). 

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