(Madera, CA, March 13th, 2023) – Remarkable night for anyone who owns a Suzuki. Ken Roczen had the entire Lucas Oil Stadium cheering right out of the gate as he led the race for all 27 laps, giving the team its first win. It was a historic night for the team, Suzuki and Ken Roczen.
Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Suzuki, presented by Progressive Insurance, riders Shane McElrath and Kyle Chisholm also had commendable nights on their Suzuki RM-Z 450s. McElrath finished in 13th place, and Chisholm in 14th place. 250cc East Coast rider Marshal Weltin finished 14th on his Progressive ECSTAR Suzuki RM-Z 250 Suzuki.
Ken Roczen #94: What a night for Ken Roczen, Suzuki, and the Progressive ECSTAR Suzuki Team. Nabbing the holeshot and leading 27 laps until the checkered flag was waived. Ken showed that hard work and perseverance pay.
“Indy was next level,” said Ken Roczen. “We knew all day the track was going to be pretty much an enduro track by the end of the main. We couldn’t have executed the main any better. I got the holeshot and led all the way to the finish line. It was a race I will probably never forget. Up there in my all-time greatest accomplishments. We are definitely going to celebrate tonight and enjoy tomorrow, but the work doesn’t stop. It was a historical night for me, the team, and Suzuki. Really hard to describe how good it was.”
Shane McElrath #12: Solid night for Shane McElrath, finishing in 13th place. Shane had a good heat race with 6th place and carried that momentum into the main event.
“Really good night for everyone on the team,” said Shane McElrath. “It was probably one of the toughest races. I’m excited about where we are at. We are starting to make fewer changes due to the progress we have been making round to round. I’m excited about Detroit next weekend. I’m excited for where we are at.”
Kyle Chisholm #11: Excellent night for Chisholm. Kyle came into this round having sat out the previous weekend due to a practice crash leading up to race day. He had no trouble getting back on track with 7th place in his heat race. Kyle looked strong in the main event, running in the top 15 and finishing in 14th place.
“The track was gnarly, but I felt pretty good out there,” said Kyle Chisholm. “I was bummed about missing the last round due to a crash the week before, so to come out here to race and be in the main event was a step in the right direction. I felt good in the main, but I lost my rhythm towards the end due to missing some time on the bike. Top 15 is good, but I will try and get closer to the top ten in Detroit.”
Marshal Weltin #50: Getting the job done in Indy. It was a good round for Marshal Weltin. He finished 14th overall on his RM-Z 250 Progressive ECSTAR Suzuki.
“Really tough day, I felt off all day, but I tried to shove all that to the side and race,” said Marshal Weltin. “I was able to make it into the main. I nearly pulled a holeshot, and I was super stoked about that. I rode pretty tight overall and wasn’t comfy in the ruts like I should be. I think it comes down to a lack of prep. I am ready to get to work this week going into my home race.”
“Indianapolis was a huge milestone for everyone,” said Larry Brooks. “It was the team’s first win. Ken got the holeshot and led every lap. We had Shane McElrath in 13th and Kyle Chisholm in 14th, so it was great to have all three in there. Our 250 rider, Weltin, finished 14th, which is okay. We have some work to do there but are inching toward the front every weekend. I’m happy for the whole team, we’ve definitely put some time in these last few months, and it paid off tonight.”
The series heads to Detroit, Michigan, for the 10th round of the Suprmotocross series. Racing starts at 4:00pm PST. You can catch all the action live on PEACOCK TV and follow along with us on race day through our social media channels.
