Courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office Team Suzuki Press Office – June 27.
• Weston Peick and Justin Hill race their Suzuki RM-Z450s to top-10 finishes. • Jimmy Decotis makes a successful return to racing on the Suzuki RM-Z250.
Weston Peick #34 – 450 Class – 6-6-for 6th Justin Hill #46 - 450 Class - 8-7 for 7th Jimmy Decotis #47 - 250 Class - 17-12 for 15th
The Autotrader/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing Team made the three-hour drive from their headquarters in North Carolina to the fabled Muddy Creek Raceway for round five of the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at the weekend as Justin Hill once again showed masterful speed on the all-new Suzuki RM-Z450 by logging the fifth-fastest qualifying time and earning two top-10 finishes in only his second 450 National.
Team-mate Weston Peick finished just outside the top-five on his Suzuki RM-Z450 and is sixth in the standings, while in the 250 ranks, Jimmy Decotis returned to action after sustaining a major injury during the Supercross series. Decotis, who sports the nickname “The Rippa”, rode his RM-Z250 with determination in both motos, nearly missing a top-10 finish in the second moto on a grueling and unforgiving track.
Historically, Peick has excelled on the undulating Muddy Creek circuit, which is known for its narrow racing lanes and loose soil. Peick rode with fervor in both motos, nailing two top-five starts and maintaining position for many laps despite several torn tendons in his hand. “The Viking” held off the challenges from several riders and eventually settled in for 6-6 moto scores for sixth overall. He is also sixth in the point standings.
The Autotrader/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing Team is also elated to announce that Justin Hill will contest the remaining rounds of the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship on the all-new Suzuki RM-Z450. After making a statement these past two weekends, the Yoncalla, Oregon native was looking to follow-up a top-five overall from High Point with an even better finish in Tennessee. Hill logged the fifth-fastest qualifying time on Saturday, but he was slowed by a nasty spill in the final qualifying session. He soldiered on with his #46 RM-Z450 to earn two top-10 results for seventh overall. Even with his brief time in the 450 class, Hill has quickly climbed up to just outside the top ten in points, at 13th.
Racers and fans alike might have thought that Decotis was going to miss the entire 2018 National series after suffering fractures in his back and ribs in March. However, the word “quit” is not in Decotis’ vocabulary. The Massachusetts native improved with every lap on the Muddy Creek circuit, the highlight being a 12th place finish in the second moto. The team expects Decotis’ finishes to improve with each moto.
Weston Peick [450 Class, 6-6 for 6th Place]:
“I had two good starts and was running at the front in both motos. Overall, I rode well. My hand is still a problem, though. I have about 15 minutes in me before I lose the feeling in it. When that happens, I get ‘whiskey throttle’ and my hand blows off the handlebars. Other than that, the series has been going well. I have good speed. My plan is to grind it out every weekend and put in solid finishes. People expect me to finish motos, and that’s what I have been doing. Sixth overall isn’t where I want to finish, but I’m collecting points.
“This week the team will head to a few sand tracks near JGRMX and get a feel for the sand. Southwick will probably be one of the most difficult tracks for my hand, so I’ll develop a game plan and prepare as much as I can this week.”
Justin Hill [450 Class, 8-7 for 7th Place]:
“My day wasn’t terrible, but it could have been better. I had a practice crash that took the wind out of my sails for the motos. I’m bummed because I was hoping to make a big improvement from High Point last weekend. I felt better at Muddy Creek and a lot closer to the front guys in practice. Seventh place isn’t the worst finish in the world, though. I’m building, and we made a couple of good changes to the RM-Z450 with the chassis. I’m just a bit upset about the racing because I wanted to make a jump in my progress.
“I am excited that I get to race the Suzuki RM-Z450 for the rest of the National series! I have seven more races to be a podium guy and show people that I can be successful outdoors. I’m looking forward to it.”
Jimmy Decotis [250 Class, 17-12 for 15th Place]:
“It was great to be at the races. I’m thankful that I was able to return at Muddy Creek. Honestly, after breaking my back I wasn’t sure whether I’d even be able to race this summer. It was a long road to get here. I’m so thankful to be with the Autotrader/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory program and have access to the therapy at JGRMX. To come away with points in both motos is a good start, but the finishes aren’t where I want to be. Taking the positives away, I was really fit and strong in both motos. Now I just need to get the speed. I figured that would happen, because I was off the bike for three-and-a-half months, and I was in a lot of pain during those first few weeks on the bike. Only lately have I started to get that aggression back. It will take time, but Southwick should boost my confidence. The goal is to put on a show for my New England fans. I’m blessed that Suzuki has given me the opportunity to race the Nationals and that they understand that it’s going to take some time to get where I need to be.”
Jeremy Albrecht [Team Manager]:
“It was cool to have Jimmy Decotis back. He improved every time his Dunlop tyres hit the dirt. It was nice to see him fighting hard and trying hard. His fitness was surprisingly good for being off the bike for so long. We knew he was coming back to the races a little bit early, but his health is good. Now he needs time on the bike. The best place to get better is at the races. Jimmy is excited to race at his home National in Southwick so it will be fun to watch him in the sand.
“Regarding the 450 guys, Weston Peick fought hard and rode strong. He definitely could do better if he didn’t have his hurt hand. That’s the only thing holding him back. Justin Hill fell in practice and wasn’t feeling as good as he usually does, but he had a good ride. We want podiums, but we are getting close. Now we just need a few things to go our way.”
The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will continue this upcoming Saturday, June 30th at the sands of Southwick, Massachusetts for the sixth round of the series.
National Registration is now Open for the 37th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipThe AMA Amateur National Takes Place July 30 - August 4
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (June 26, 2018) - The final step in qualifying for the 37th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by Lucas Oil, ended this past weekend as the final two Regional Championships took place. Amateur racers throughout the country have been on the #RoadToLorettas for the past few months competing to qualify for the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross race at the iconic Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
"It's nearly time to get ready for the final stop on the annual Road To Loretta's. As the Regional Championships finish up this weekend, families across the country will be making the final preparations and packing up the trucks, RVs and motorhomes to head to Hurricane Mills in a few short weeks," said MX Sports Director Tim Cotter. "We look forward to hosting the families at the world's greatest motocross vacation as well as a week of competition before crowning 35 National Champions."
As the Regionals wrap up and as racers turn their attention towards the next step, pre-registration for the Amateur National on the FastTrack is now open. When you pre-enter you will receive $20 in Race Gas Cash credits on RockyMountainATVMC.com. (One cash credit per rider, per event) You will receive an email after registering letting you know that cash has been put into your account, what event you received it for and the expiration of that credit.
"The determination and hard work that it takes to earn a spot at the National Championships makes Loretta Lynn's one of the most exciting motocross events of the year," said Dan Thomas, CEO and Founder of Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. "We are happy to be able to support these riders as the title sponsor for Loretta's. Their passion for racing fuels the motocross community and promises a bright future for the sport. We congratulate all of the riders who have qualified and wish them luck at the National Championships."
MX Sports recommends that you order your official 2018 Loretta Lynn's number plate backgrounds from Attack Graphics to ensure your bike meets all MX Sports / AMA requirements. Along with receiving a $20 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC credit in your email, Amateur National registrants will also receive a 10% off promo code for Attack Graphics pre-printed number plate backgrounds. Attack Graphics offers a Limited Edition Loretta Lynn's number plate background design. By using the $20 credit and the 10% off promo code, you can get a set of pre-printed number plate backgrounds for only $12. Stay tuned for the email with our friends at Rocky Mountain next week after the final group of riders are seeded.
Don't miss the opportunities from Attack Graphics and MotoTees for your bike graphics and personalized bib.
- Derek Garcia
MotoTees is once again offering the opportunity to put your last name on your official Loretta Lynn's racing bib! All bibs are fully sublimated and will include your last name above your number. No press on numbers or letters! Purchase extra bibs to frame after the event or have on hand during the race week. To ensure you receive your correct number, the link to purchase will be made available when numbers are released - tentatively by Thursday, July 12. Once open the deadline to order is Sunday, July 22 to have your bib ready at the ranch.
Online registration is preferred. If you wish to submit an entry by mail, please download the form HERE. Your Entry must be received by July 5, 2018. In order to submit an online entry, please enter your current AMA membership number below, then select Purchase Registrations. Complete all fields accurately. Upon submission of entry, you will receive an email with your Entry Receipt and applicable release forms. Print the release and have all signatures notarized. Bring the notarized forms with you to registration. Youth riders need not attend registration if forms are properly notarized in advance.
Onsite registration is required for ALL racers. Registration will be held at the Arena on Sunday, July 29, 2018 from 12 pm - 2 pm for Youth (Classes 18-34) and 3 pm - 5 pm for Amateur (Classes 1-17) and Monday, July 30, 2018 from 8 am - 10 am for ALL CLASSES.
Let the world know you made it and qualified for the Amateur National with this special edition Racer X Brands Officially Qualified Shirt! Available in adult and youth sizing. Only $20 on racerxbrand.com.
Get your "Officially Qualified" shirt today, only $20 on racerxbrand.com.
- Racer X
About the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross racing program. The national qualifying program consists of 57 Area Qualifiers (February through May) and 13 Regional Championships (May through June), hosted at select motocross facilities across the country. The qualifying system culminates in the National Final (first week in August) hosted annually since 1982 at the home of country music.
Race Gas Info:
The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Race Gas program will be in full effect at the National Championships. Every racer who competes in at least one class at the National Championship will receive one $20 credit, redeemable toward products on the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC website. Participants will receive an email within three weeks explaining the amount, the event it came from and the expiration date. Credit is applied to the account associated with each rider's email address. Those without Rocky Mountain ATV/MC accounts will be able to sign up for a new account through the email they receive.
About Rocky Mountain ATV/MC:
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC is the trusted online source for high-quality riding gear, parts and accessories for dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs, dual sport bikes and street motorcycles. Rocky Mountain ATV/MC has provided low prices and unparalleled customer service for over 33 years. With the RM Cash program, a fit-guarantee apparel exchange, free three-day shipping and a price match guarantee, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC continues to deliver a premier shopping experience for the off-road enthusiast. For more information, visit www.RockyMountainATVMC.com.
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join.
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Shelby Rolen Earns First-Career WMX Win at High Point RacewayWomen's Motocross Championship Round 4 Race Report
MORGANTOWN, W.Va (June 26, 2018) - Round four of the Women's Motocross Championship (WMX) Series took place Friday, June 15, in conjunction with the 42ndAnnual Red Bull High Point National. Thirteen women lined up to compete on the challenging track, which features plenty of natural elevation changes. Although the track was fairly slippery during practice, by the time the motos came around riders had said that it was "pretty much perfect."
Shelby Rolen took home her first WMX overall win at High Point Raceway.
- Eric Doty
Shelby Rolen, a longtime WMX competitor, took home both her first-ever moto win and first-ever WMX overall win at High Point Raceway! She went 3-1, which was just enough to edge out current points leader Jordan Jarvis' 1-3 finish. Following her in third place was Jamie Astudillo with a 5-2 finish.
After the gate dropped for moto one, it was Kylie Fasnacht with the holeshot, followed by Jamie Astudillo, Jordan Jarvis and Shelby Rolen chasing her down. Rolen and Jarvis locked bars battling for the third place spot, and both narrowly avoided crashing. Rolen was able to pass Astudillo quickly and move into second for a brief period of time, before being passed in turn by Jarvis.
Fasnacht was able to keep Jarvis bottled up for a decent chunk of the moto. Eventually Jarvis made a pass, and Fasnacht stayed relatively close, but not close enough to make a pass before the checkered flag waved. Rolen got a little bit too relaxed in the first moto, falling off the pace of the leaders by a significant amount, but still riding well enough to finish third in the moto.
Jordan Jarvis came away with second overall after a crash in the second moto.
- Eric Doty
Astudillo did not appear to be riding up to her usual standard in the first moto. She ended up dropping all the way back to fifth, her lowest moto finish of the season. On the other hand, Marissa Polencheck charged her way up from a second corner crash for a season-best moto finish of fourth place. Eve Brodeur, Amanda Brown, Amanda Henderson, Cheyenne McGuin and Morgan Johnson rounded out the top 10.
In the second moto, Fasnacht again took the holeshot, with Jarvis right behind her. In an attempt to pass Fasnacht, Jarvis hit the "quadzilla" jump in the back stretch. She was the only WMX racer to attempt to quad the jump, and though she landed it cleanly, she carried too much momentum into the next corner. She overshot it and her front tire lodged in some deep mud, sending her over the bars.
While this was problematic for Jarvis, Fasnacht would have even worse luck. About halfway through the moto, her timing chain broke, turning a possible moto win into a DNF, and dropping her back to eleventh overall for the day. She said that "it's a total bummer" but that these things do happen and it's a part of racing. With Fasnacht out, and Jarvis on the ground, this left Rolen and Astudillo, who had shaken off her earlier bad moto, battling for the moto win.
Jamie Astudillo went 5-2 for a third overall finish at round four.
- Eric Doty
Rolen would take that win, aided by another crash by Jarvis who was struggling to make her way back through the pack. According to Rolen, "I wasn't sure where Jordan was in the field but I knew she was charging. I had the opportunity to do something I had never done by winning a WMX moto. I just put my head down, focused on my race and was able to put some distance between myself and Jamie and bring home the moto win. I wasn't sure if that was going to give me the overall but turns out it was enough to get the job done. Bringing home my first WMX moto win and overall was the most amazing feeling and I can't thank everyone enough for all the help and support!"
Jarvis was able to salvage a third place in the second moto despite losing massive amounts of time on the ground, which was enough to still put her in second overall. She told us, "the track was a little slick but so much fun. It was a good race and I'm ready for the next one!" Astudillo's second place moto finish was enough to compensate for her first moto finish and give her third overall. She posted, "Today was a tough one! Wasn't riding anything like myself in morning practice and moto 1, but at least we could manage a podium." before heading off to a road race the next day.
After finishing second in the first moto, Kylie Fasnacht found herself with a DNF in moto two after her timing chain broke.
- Eric Doty
Polencheck finished fourth again. Her pair of fourth also gave her a fourth place finish in the overall, while Brodeur took the final top five spot in the moto, also finishing fifth overall. Henderson, Johnson, McGuin, Jaden Carlson and Taylor Schuck rounded out the top ten.
On June 30th, the WMX series will resume with round five and six, a double header called the Jessica Patterson Classic. The race is a new addition to the WMX circuit, and is named after former WMX champion Jessica Patterson. She not only owns the South Carolina facility, but will also be putting on the race.
For more information about WMX racing, please visit the official website at ww.racewmx.com or call (304) 284-0101. Also, follow the official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for exclusive content and to catch the latest news.
Shelby Rolen (center), Jordan Jarvis (left) and Jamie Astudillo (right) rounded out the WMX top three at High Point Raceway.
About The Women's Professional Motocross Championship:
The Women's Professional Motocross Championship (WMX), an AMA National Championship, features the world's fastest female outdoor motocross racers. The 8-round series begins with the Ricky Carmichael Amateur Supercross at Daytona International Speedway in March and concludes at the Ironman National on August 24. It includes stops at premier motorsport facilities across America, with events in Florida, Texas, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Indiana. These top female pro racers compete in a two-moto format on machines ranging from 125cc to 250cc. The WMX series is managed by MX Sports Pro Racing, a West Virginia-based company and industry leader in power sports event production. For more information, please visit www.racewmx.com or call (304) 284-0101.
About the American Motorcyclist Association:
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join.
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Payson, UT (June 25, 2018) – It was another top ten weekend for Team RMATVMC-KTM-WPS as round five of the 2018 Pro Motocross Championship series made a stop at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, TN. With the Gear Alloy Jeep on display under the team tent, Blake Baggett charged to 5th place overall, while Benny Bloss used solid starts to score a 9th place overall finish.
Rider Report:
Photo Credit: Kardy Photos
After qualifying 4th, Blake Baggett let his Dunlop tires dig in as he launched off the start gate in moto 1, rounding the first turn outside the top ten. It would take a few laps for Blake to move himself inside the top ten. He made a push forward and worked his way to 4th place at the finish.
Moto 2 started with Blake again working his way from outside the top ten after the first lap. As with moto one, the Hurly-supported rider charged his way to the front, taking the checkered flag in 5th place. His 4-5 score earned Blake 5th overall and 5th place in championship points.
“I felt good out there today,” said Baggett. “I didn’t have the best starts and had to work my way up through the field in both motos. I’m ready to get inside the top three next weekend at Southwick.”
Benny Bloss‘s day started on the gas, as he posted the 8th fastest qualifying time. Moto 1 saw Benny use that speed to get a good jump off the gate and end the first lap just outside the top ten. He quickly worked his way into the top ten and while running a solid 7th place he went down with four laps to go, costing him two spots. He would remount and eventually finish the moto in 9th place.
In moto 2, another good jump off the gate propelled Benny to 4th place at the end of lap one. The WP Suspension-supported rider battled inside the top ten the entire moto, taking the checkered flag in 8th place. His 9-8 score earned him 9th overall, and Benny continues to hold down 7th place in championship points.
“Today, my starts were a huge benefit,” said Bloss. “I had two good starts, and that really helped me stay inside the top ten. We’ll do some work this week and look forward to a top ten finish at Southwick.”
Dakota Alix was still sidelined and did not suit up for Muddy Creek. Both Dakota and the team are planning for his return to action at Southwick this coming weekend.
Team Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-KTM-WPS now faces the only full sand track on the championship circuit as they head to the Southwick National in Southwick, MA, for round six of the 2018 Pro Motocross Nationals on June 30.
Blountville, TN (June 23, 2018) – The GEICO Honda team was dealt a big blow over the weekend at round five of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Former series’ points leader Jeremy Martin won the first moto of the 2018 Tennessee National, but then collided with Justin Cooper on the first lap of the second moto, which led to a massive crash and a severe back injury. The injury will end Martin’s bid for a third AMA 250 National Motocross Championship, but he is expected to make a full recovery. Martin suffered a burst fracture of his L1 vertebrae, and is being attended to at Bristol hospital near the track. He will undergo back surgery on Monday, June 25th. Recovery time is expected to be around two months, and Martin should be able to begin therapy almost immediately after surgery.
A bright spot for the team was Chase Sexton’s 8-4 finishes for third overall, marking the first pro motocross podium of his career.
“I actually had really bad starts today,” said Sexton. “I started outside the top ten both motos, so I was pretty bummed on that. But I was excited with my first lap. I made a lot of passes. I think I was in third for most of the second moto. I actually saw Dylan [Ferrandis] and Alex [Martin] in front of me. I started catching them a little bit. I had no idea Shane [McElrath, overall race winner] was behind me. He came out of nowhere and blew by me, and then from there on it was pretty much it. These guys rode good. The track was pretty good. It was a little tough to pass, but it was fun. I’m happy to get my first podium. It wasn’t the moto scores that I like to have, but third is third. So, it’s been good.”
RJ Hampshire crashed out of moto two in a similar situation as Martin, and it cost him a potential overall podium for the day. He was fortunate to escape without a major injury.
“Practice didn’t go so well but I got a good start in that first moto and found the pace early,” said Hampshire, who ended up with 4-19 scores and 12th overall. “Felt strong all moto and had good speed. Second moto had a decent start but when Jeremy and Cooper went down I hit someone and went way off the track. Was able to come through the pack pretty well and had a good battle going with Jordon Smith for about the last six or seven laps. Had a pass on him on the last lap and he jumped across the track where he hadn’t gone the entire race and we hit in the air. I hit the ground hard and I’m pretty beat up! Even if I hadn’t passed him, I would have had an overall podium spot, so the crash situation really bummed me out. We will do all we can this week to be on the gate next weekend.”
Cameron McAdoo, in his second race back from injury, logged a solid day with 13-8 scores and 11th overall.
“Muddy Creek was a big step in the right direction for me,” said McAdoo. “The first moto I didn’t come out with the start I was looking for but did my best and came back to 13th. Moto 2 I got a lot better start and was running in sixth for the first 20 minutes and ended up with eighth. It felt good to gain the experience running with the front group, and I look forward to doing a lot more of it as the season continues!”
The team next heads to the sand track known as The Wick 338 in Southwick, Massachusetts, this Saturday.
GEICO Honda Results
Tennessee National
Blountville, TN
3. Chase Sexton (8-4)
9. Jeremy Martin (1-40)
11. Cameron McAdoo (13-8)
12. RJ Hampshire (4-19)
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