Your cart is empty

YOSHIMURA SUZUKI’S BAGGETT SCORES PODIUM AT BUDDS CREEK

YOSHIMURA SUZUKI’S BAGGETT SCORES PODIUM AT BUDDS CREEK

 

Shorai Suzuki Battery Charging Lithium

A 4-2 in the Mud Earns Blake Baggett His Second-Career 450 MX Podium

 


MECHANICSVILLE, MD (June 27, 2015) – Blake Baggett not only survived, but actually thrived in atrocious conditions at the Budds Creek National Saturday in Mechanicsville, Maryland. Baggett raced his Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450 to third overall with a 4-2, in spite of facing a track turned into a mud bog in the second moto. Thunderstorms hit the facility and delayed the second moto turning the hilly Maryland circuit into one of the most challenging adventures the riders would face all season.

 

The strong podium finish moved Baggett up to fourth in the series standings (just eight points out of third) at the halfway point of the 12-round AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

 

In timed qualifying Baggett provided no clue of the amazing day he was about to have. He clocked a decent 2:17.228 on his Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450, which placed him ninth.

 

At the start of the first moto Baggett used the power of his RM-Z450 to run fourth in the early going. He ran rock steady inside the top five the entire moto and had to make his way around fellow Suzuki rider Ken Roczen in the final two laps to take home fourth.

 

The second moto was delayed for a couple of hours after thunderstorms postponed the proceedings. The track was badly flooded in several sections so that also took time for officials to remedy.

 

In spite of track maintenance’s best efforts, the track was far from ideal in moto two. Throughout the moto riders crashed left and right and many dropped out or blew up before the end. However Baggett found the tractable motor of his Yoshimura Suzuki working flawlessly despite the conditions. He ran in the top three the entire way in the moto and he and Christophe Pourcel engaged in a torrid battle in the closing laps. Both riders pushed so hard they fell, but it was Baggett finding a way to get past the Frenchman in the closing minutes to earn him second place.

 

The runner-up result in the second moto was the best moto finish so far for Baggett in his rookie 450 Motocross campaign.

 

“Christophe (Pourcel) went down and I got around him,” Baggett explained of his late battle. “And then I went down and he got back around me. Then I made a last-ditch effort and got him at the off-camber corner there at the end. All in all it was a good weekend. This place is always awesome to me whether I win or I don’t. I love this place and I always love coming back, rain or shine it doesn’t matter. I’ve got to give it up to the whole Yoshimura Suzuki team for sticking behind me.”

 

Yoshimura Suzuki and Baggett return to racing in the 2015 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship on Independence Day next Saturday, July 4, as the series moves to the legendary Red Bud National in Buchanan, Michigan.

 

Baggett will be on hand for a meet and greet with fans at North End Cycle, 2426 Cassopolis Street, Elkhart, Indiana, on Friday, July 3 from 6-7:00 pm.

 

Budds Creek 450 Motocross Results:

1.  Justin Barcia (3-1)

2.  Christophe Pourcel (2-3)

3.  Blake Baggett (4-2)

4.  Ken Roczen (5-4)

5.  Ryan Dungey (1-12)

6.  Jason Anderson (7-7)

7.  Broc Tickle (6-9)

8.  Phil Nicoletti (11-5)

9.  Tommy Hahn (12-6)

10. Wil Hahn (8-14)

 

450 Motocross Standings:

1.  Ryan Dungey, 256

2.  Ken Roczen, 219

3.  Justin Barcia, 193

4.  Blake Baggett, 185

5.  Jason Anderson, 178

6.  Broc Tickle, 158

7.  Christophe Pourcel, 157

8.  Weston Peick, 140

9.  Phil Nicoletti, 132

10. Eli Tomac, 125

 

Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing is grateful for the support of their sponsors: Yoshimura R&D, Suzuki Motor of America, Dunlop, Motorex, Showa, Renthal, Vortex, Shorai, Elf Racing Fuels, Seven, Hinson Clutch Components, RG3, Matrix, Works Connection, GET, Excel, NGK, D.I.D., Twin Air, Moto Tassinari, Roy’s Cyclery, Guts Racing Products, Mechanix Wear, Kokusan Denki, N-Style and Ogio.

 

About Shorai:

Founded in 2010 and based in Morgan Hill, CA, Shorai, Inc. has quickly become the world's best-known producer of lithium ion power sports batteries. Shorai is leading the conversion from traditional lead-acid batteries to lighter, more efficient and higher performance lithium starter batteries. For more information visit www.shoraipower.com.

 

About Yoshimura R&D of America: Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com.

 

About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Outboard Motors and Automotive Parts and Accessories via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. SMAI’s supplier, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles and Outboard Motors. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has 147 distributors in 201 countries. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com