Dodge/RCH Racing Weekend Preview
April 4, 2013 1:15pm
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – After a well-deserved weekend off from racing, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series returns to action Saturday at Reliant Stadium in Houston for Round 13 of the 17-race series.
RCH Racing’s Broc Tickle (No. 20 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/RCH Racing/Bel-Ray/Suzuki Z450) heads to the Lone Star state in quest of his first podium finish of the season. Despite six top-10 finishes in the first 12 races this season, Tickle continues to look for a breakout performance and a top-three finish. He is currently tied for ninth in the 450SX Class rider standings, 26 points shy of eighth.
“I think that if I broke through and scored a top-five or podium that I would be able to get them more often,” Tickle said in preparation for Saturday night’s race. “I think when it happens, it will happen more and more which will help me be more consistent in riding for podiums and top-fives.”
The Michigan native scored a seventh-place finish in his only 450SX Class start in Houston last year.
“I like racing in Houston a lot,” Tickle said. “The dirt is really, really good. It’s softer clay that’s not as hard as Georgia clay that gets powdery at the end of the night. The track will rut up and I like that. Last year’s 450 race was my best class finish (seventh) of the season up until I busted out a sixth-place run in Salt Lake City. I rode well the last four or five races last year. I feel really confident heading into Houston this weekend.”
Teammate Josh Hill (No. 75 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/RCH Racing/Bel-Ray/Suzuki Z450) used the off-weekend to head back to California and recharge for the final push of the season. A few days of relaxed riding helped prep the healthy and eager Hill for his first top-10 finish this season. After missing the first five Main Events due to a broken right-hand suffered in Round 1 at Anaheim, Hill has battled through both mental and physical challenges and readily admits that it’s “go time” when the gate drops on Saturday.
“It’s just time for blood. I just need to ride these races out as hard as I can,” Hill said.
With a scoring average of 8.0 in three Monster Energy AMA Supercross races at Reliant Stadium, the racy red Texas clay could be just the remedy that the Oregon native is looking for. With the SX season quickly winding down, Hill knows that there is much yet to prove in his comeback year of racing.
“I think it’s been an eye-opener that we’re down to the last five races,” Hill said. “It’s time to put the hammer down. I haven’t gotten the results that I expect out of myself. The hand injury in Anaheim 1 was a big setback. The injury wasn’t so much physical but mental and confidence. I had to reassess how I was riding. Now, it’s time to drop the hammer and get those finishes that I really felt I was going to get at the beginning of the season before I got hurt.”
RCH Racing To Celebrate Grand Opening of Dealership
RCH Racing riders will get an early start to the race weekend as the team participates in the grand opening of the all-new Texan Dodge in Hubble, Texas on Thursday night. Team members Ricky Carmichael, Broc Tickle, Josh Hill along with Miss Monster Energy Dianna Dahlgren will join in the festivities that include live music by Sundance Head and an on-site Livfast freestyle motocross demo. Events are scheduled from 6-9 p.m. (CT).
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Race: Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series – Round 13 of 17
The Place: Reliant Stadium, Houston
The Date: Saturday, April 6
The Time: 8:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: SPEED (live), 8:30 p.m. (ET)
RCH Racing’s Broc Tickle (No. 20 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/RCH Racing/Bel-Ray/Suzuki Z450) heads to the Lone Star state in quest of his first podium finish of the season. Despite six top-10 finishes in the first 12 races this season, Tickle continues to look for a breakout performance and a top-three finish. He is currently tied for ninth in the 450SX Class rider standings, 26 points shy of eighth.
“I think that if I broke through and scored a top-five or podium that I would be able to get them more often,” Tickle said in preparation for Saturday night’s race. “I think when it happens, it will happen more and more which will help me be more consistent in riding for podiums and top-fives.”
The Michigan native scored a seventh-place finish in his only 450SX Class start in Houston last year.
“I like racing in Houston a lot,” Tickle said. “The dirt is really, really good. It’s softer clay that’s not as hard as Georgia clay that gets powdery at the end of the night. The track will rut up and I like that. Last year’s 450 race was my best class finish (seventh) of the season up until I busted out a sixth-place run in Salt Lake City. I rode well the last four or five races last year. I feel really confident heading into Houston this weekend.”
Teammate Josh Hill (No. 75 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/RCH Racing/Bel-Ray/Suzuki Z450) used the off-weekend to head back to California and recharge for the final push of the season. A few days of relaxed riding helped prep the healthy and eager Hill for his first top-10 finish this season. After missing the first five Main Events due to a broken right-hand suffered in Round 1 at Anaheim, Hill has battled through both mental and physical challenges and readily admits that it’s “go time” when the gate drops on Saturday.
“It’s just time for blood. I just need to ride these races out as hard as I can,” Hill said.
With a scoring average of 8.0 in three Monster Energy AMA Supercross races at Reliant Stadium, the racy red Texas clay could be just the remedy that the Oregon native is looking for. With the SX season quickly winding down, Hill knows that there is much yet to prove in his comeback year of racing.
“I think it’s been an eye-opener that we’re down to the last five races,” Hill said. “It’s time to put the hammer down. I haven’t gotten the results that I expect out of myself. The hand injury in Anaheim 1 was a big setback. The injury wasn’t so much physical but mental and confidence. I had to reassess how I was riding. Now, it’s time to drop the hammer and get those finishes that I really felt I was going to get at the beginning of the season before I got hurt.”
RCH Racing To Celebrate Grand Opening of Dealership
RCH Racing riders will get an early start to the race weekend as the team participates in the grand opening of the all-new Texan Dodge in Hubble, Texas on Thursday night. Team members Ricky Carmichael, Broc Tickle, Josh Hill along with Miss Monster Energy Dianna Dahlgren will join in the festivities that include live music by Sundance Head and an on-site Livfast freestyle motocross demo. Events are scheduled from 6-9 p.m. (CT).
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Race: Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series – Round 13 of 17
The Place: Reliant Stadium, Houston
The Date: Saturday, April 6
The Time: 8:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: SPEED (live), 8:30 p.m. (ET)