Progress Key for RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing in San Diego

Sometimes the smallest strides set up athletes to make the biggest of leaps.
 
RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing riders Justin Bogle and Broc Tickle took significant strides toward the ultimate goal on Saturday night when Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, rolled into PETCO Park.
 
After finishing outside the top 10 in the season opener two weeks ago, Bogle made positive strides in Round 2 by notching his first top-10 finish of the season. Tickle upped his game by three spots and earned a solid 13th-place showing, a net gain of three spots over the week before.
 
“There were a lot of positives,” explained Tickle who now sits 15th in points. “I made it out of the heat race directly into the main and that’s the first time I’ve done that since the series adopted the new format with timed races. The track was fun and I felt like I was flowing well. Unfortunately, I got a bad start in the main and I had my work cut out for me from there. I struggled a little bit with my lines and pulling it all together but those are things we’ll work on this week.”
 
Bogle finished fourth, one spot behind Tickle, in the first 450SX heat race of the night and, like his teammate, transferred directly into the feature.
 
The Cushing, Okla., native started the second main event of the year eighth on the gate but slipped as far back as 14th in the running order. Over the next 23 laps, Bogle earned positions one at a time, eventually cracking the top 10 and securing his first top 10 since last April. The solid showing powered the 2014 Eastern Regional 250SX Class Champion from 12th to 10th in points where he sits just two points outside ninth.
 
“Overall, San Diego was better than the week before,” commented Bogle. “We still have a lot of room to improve but practice was better and we qualified a lot better than we did at Anaheim (Calif.). We qualified for the main right out of the heat race, which was a big plus. Got in the main event and just got a bad start again. It’s tough to make it through with these guys when you start in 18th-place. We’ll do some work on starts. That’s been one of my strengths so I’m not too concerned. I’ll get it figured out.
 
“We’ll dial some things in, make a few minor adjustments and keep it moving. With a good start, I’m very confident I can be up front. We’ll keep trying to improve and come back with the intent of being better than the week before.”
 
Monster Energy AMA Supercross returns to Anaheim this weekend for the second and final stop off the season at the the home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The third of 17 races on the 2017 supercross calendar will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 Saturday, Jan. 21 beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 7 p.m. Pacific.  

Adam Sinclair