Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan hosted round six of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season with a rare daytime-run event. With snow falling outside, the enclosed venue provided ideal racing conditions for the tight track that wound around the stadium floor.
Ken Roczen (94) rode strong from the start of the day, posting his season-best qualifying session and overall positions. In the main event, Roczen took over the lead and control of the race after an intense, early battle. Then Roczen and another rider, with Roczen in front, broke away from the pack to make it a two-rider fight. Roczen fended off repeated attacks, and with just over one minute remaining on the race clock Roczen found himself in a heightened, back-and-forth scuffle for the lead. At the checkered flag Ken Roczen crossed in second place, putting his Suzuki RM-Z450 on the podium for the fourth time in only six rounds and moving into the top three in the point standings.
“I knew I had to rebound quickly after [what happened in] Tampa or else it would be a drag. So I had to execute in Detroit, and I did that,” said Roczen. “It’s awesome being in it. I think this race was important for me and I’m happy with how it went. Everything is good and we still have a lot of racing to go.”
Colt Nichols (45) delivered his season-best heat race result for a direct transfer into the main. Nichols emerged from the first corner of the main event well back in the pack. Nichols put his head down and clicked off consistent, fast laps and progressed toward the top-ten. With his performance at the Detroit Supercross, Nichols took sole control of his place in the points and showed signs of his pre-season track speed that he is working back toward after some early-season setbacks.
“It was a better weekend for me in Detroit,” reported Nichols. “We figured out a little adjustment with the bike set-up for the main event. I felt more comfortable and rode it into a P11. I need a better start to get in the mix earlier but I’m trending the right direction.”
Kyle Chisholm (11) got some extra media attention prior to the main event when the NBC broadcast team pointed out that his Premier Class All-Time Starts statistic stood at 173, a tie at eighth highest of all time along with the sport’s winningest Supercross rider. When the gate dropped for the main event, Chisholm found himself in a tough spot back in the pack. He steadily found his way around other riders, but Chisholm was not able to match his season-best performance from the weekend prior.
“The bike was good, I just didn’t gel with the track,” Chisholm admitted. “I made it right out of the heat race [with a direct transfer to the main event], which was good, but it just wasn’t my best riding. In the main event I definitely want to be at least in the top 15, and really, I’m trying to battle closer to the top ten… I’ve been feeling good on the bike, though, but we have those weekends when we have off days, and that’s part of it. I’m a little bummed, but all in all I think that’s a good thing: I’m bummed because I care, because I want to do good, and because I want to do better.”
“It was a rebound weekend for Ken Roczen.” Larry Brooks, Team Manager for Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance, went on to explain, “He had a bit of a problem with a lapped rider last week and didn’t finish, losing quite a few championship points. So, this weekend was important to rebound and try to do as good as possible. He led for the majority of the race, 17 or 18 laps out of the 22 laps, and finished second in the end. It was good, we’re proud of him, we’re happy that he was able to lead all that time and finish on the podium. Colt Nichols had his best finish of the year, he finished 11th on the night, and Kyle Chisholm finished 17th. All the riders were in the top 20, and Colt Nichols is knocking on the door to break into the top ten.”
The Supercross season lines the racers up again this Saturday night, February 22nd inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the season’s second Triple Crown race. The Arlington Supercross will also mark the season’s Military Appreciation race. The Suzuki riders and team members are eager for another opportunity to again advance the Suzuki RM-Z450 race bikes further up the championship point standings.
