Rockstar Energy Suzuki Race Report: Jax
March 30, 2010, 11:10pm
Jacksonville, Fla. – The Rockstar Energy Suzuki riders came to Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville riding a wave of emotion after Lites rider Blake Baggett earned his first race win in Dallas. The momentum generated by that victory helped drive Blake and his Supercross-class teammate Tommy Hahn to put in some of the best rides of their season, but the world of Supercross racing is an unpredictable one, and even the best rides can’t guarantee victory.
Blake, with his recent success still fresh in his mind, was hungry for another shot at the podium. That hunger showed in his riding, as Blake pushed himself and his RM-Z250 to a new season-best qualification of fifth during practice, and a third-place finish in his heat. The Lites main did not go as smoothly for the young rider, however. In one of the rhythm sections, Blake collided with another rider who had missed a shift, and both riders went down. Blake was forced to watch the rest of the pack pass by before he could safely pick up his bike and get back in the race. In an impressive display of both talent and will, Blake recovered eight positions before the end of the race, resulting in a 12th-place finish. Blake’s efforts allowed him to salvage enough valuable points to move him up into the top five in the season standings.
In the premiere class, Tommy Hahn also faced some difficulty Saturday night, finishing eighth despite his solid performance. “I felt really comfortable all day,” said Hahn. “The track layout was pretty basic, and I got the rhythm sections down quickly.” Tommy got off to a mid-pack start in the main, but managed to climb a few positions to his final result. “I caught up to the seventh-place rider, but I couldn’t make the pass,” Tommy said. “This was actually one of my better rides this season, I just wish my results could have been better.”
Noticeably absent from the lineup in Jacksonville was Jake Moss, who was forced to sit out due to injuries sustained during a crash in Dallas. “I’ve got a fractured knuckle, and a ligament that pulled away from the bone,” said Jake, who visited his own doctor last week for a full assessment of the damage. Team manager Bill Keefe has decided to keep Moss off his bike in order to give him a chance to recover. “Jake has been battling injuries all season,” said Keefe. “We want him to be back at 100 percent before he goes racing again.”
There is a break in the series this week, but the championship will head back to Texas next week for the 13th round at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Saturday, April 10.
About Rockstar: ROCKSTAR is the world's most powerful Energy Drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, ROCKSTAR is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars. ROCKSTAR Energy Drink is available in fourteen amazing flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Zero Carb, Juiced Mango, Juiced Guava, Juiced Pomegranate, Tropical Punched, Punched Citrus, Energy Cola, Recovery Lemonade, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte, Roasted Light Vanilla, and Roasted Espresso. ROCKSTAR ENERGY SHOTS are available in Wild Berry and Tropical Punch flavors, and coming in 2010 - ROCKSTAR ENERGY GUM.
About Suzuki: The Motorcycle/ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., was founded in 1963 by Suzuki Motor Corporation. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries. www.suzukicycles.com
Canidae All Natural Pet Foods: CANIDAE Pet Foods was founded out of love for pets, the importance of family, and the belief in having fun and enjoying life and CANIDAE is excited to be able to share with the passionate fans of Supercross and Motocross racing our philosophy of “Responsible Pet Ownership” through proper nutrition and care featured at www.canidae.com and on our racing site at www.canidaeracing.com.
Blake, with his recent success still fresh in his mind, was hungry for another shot at the podium. That hunger showed in his riding, as Blake pushed himself and his RM-Z250 to a new season-best qualification of fifth during practice, and a third-place finish in his heat. The Lites main did not go as smoothly for the young rider, however. In one of the rhythm sections, Blake collided with another rider who had missed a shift, and both riders went down. Blake was forced to watch the rest of the pack pass by before he could safely pick up his bike and get back in the race. In an impressive display of both talent and will, Blake recovered eight positions before the end of the race, resulting in a 12th-place finish. Blake’s efforts allowed him to salvage enough valuable points to move him up into the top five in the season standings.
In the premiere class, Tommy Hahn also faced some difficulty Saturday night, finishing eighth despite his solid performance. “I felt really comfortable all day,” said Hahn. “The track layout was pretty basic, and I got the rhythm sections down quickly.” Tommy got off to a mid-pack start in the main, but managed to climb a few positions to his final result. “I caught up to the seventh-place rider, but I couldn’t make the pass,” Tommy said. “This was actually one of my better rides this season, I just wish my results could have been better.”
Noticeably absent from the lineup in Jacksonville was Jake Moss, who was forced to sit out due to injuries sustained during a crash in Dallas. “I’ve got a fractured knuckle, and a ligament that pulled away from the bone,” said Jake, who visited his own doctor last week for a full assessment of the damage. Team manager Bill Keefe has decided to keep Moss off his bike in order to give him a chance to recover. “Jake has been battling injuries all season,” said Keefe. “We want him to be back at 100 percent before he goes racing again.”
There is a break in the series this week, but the championship will head back to Texas next week for the 13th round at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Saturday, April 10.
About Rockstar: ROCKSTAR is the world's most powerful Energy Drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, ROCKSTAR is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars. ROCKSTAR Energy Drink is available in fourteen amazing flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Zero Carb, Juiced Mango, Juiced Guava, Juiced Pomegranate, Tropical Punched, Punched Citrus, Energy Cola, Recovery Lemonade, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte, Roasted Light Vanilla, and Roasted Espresso. ROCKSTAR ENERGY SHOTS are available in Wild Berry and Tropical Punch flavors, and coming in 2010 - ROCKSTAR ENERGY GUM.
About Suzuki: The Motorcycle/ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., was founded in 1963 by Suzuki Motor Corporation. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC's parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries. www.suzukicycles.com
Canidae All Natural Pet Foods: CANIDAE Pet Foods was founded out of love for pets, the importance of family, and the belief in having fun and enjoying life and CANIDAE is excited to be able to share with the passionate fans of Supercross and Motocross racing our philosophy of “Responsible Pet Ownership” through proper nutrition and care featured at www.canidae.com and on our racing site at www.canidaeracing.com.
