Dodge/RCH Racing Post-Race Recap - Round 17 - Las Vegas‏

TICKLE 10TH AT VEGAS, FINISHES NINTH IN SX RIDER STANDINGS

Hill Misses Top 10 After Late Race Mishap

LAS VEGAS (Saturday, May 4, 2013) – The 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series concluded its 17-race season Saturday night in Las Vegas. Dodge/RCH Racing was led by Broc Tickle (No. 20 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/RCH Racing/Bel-Ray/Suzuki Z450) who finished 10th while teammate Josh Hill (No. 75 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/RCH Racing/Bel-Ray/Suzuki Z450) slowed late in the race and ended up 14th.

“A real physical ride tonight,” said Tickle after the Main Event. “The start was really tricky, the entire track was tough tonight. I felt pretty good in the Main. I was there with a group of guys and kind of lost them for a bit.  I regrouped with them near the end of the race and brought home a 10th.”

Sam Boyd Stadium, home to the University of Las Vegas Runnin’ Rebels, is known for its huge SX layouts and the season finale continued the tradition. Riders were challenged by the ultra-fast “Monster Alley” – a section with a sweeping left-hand turn that took riders outside the stadium and back into a long straightaway where speeds reached 60 mph. The highly-technical rhythm section and gnarly 180-degree turns added to the challenge. Riders willing to grab a handful of throttle were rewarded.

Hill and Tickle were among the eight fastest riders during the afternoon timed practice session which provided better gate selections for the Heat Races. Tickle was seeded fourth for Heat 1, Hill fifth in Heat 2.

Tickle raced as high as fifth in the eight-lap qualifier but a slip on Lap 4 dropped him to sixth were he finished to earn his 17th consecutive Main Event start this season.

“I felt really solid on the bike,” Tickle added. “The track was really hard-packed and kind of tough to figure out for the Main. You had to focus on getting into a good rhythm and not make a mistake.”

Hill’s fate in Heat 2 was nearly disastrous. He jumped the start causing his front tire to lodge against the starting gate, pinning his Suzuki while the other 19 riders rode off into Turn 1. Despite the hiccup, Hill stormed back and gained 13 positions over the next seven laps to finish sixth and advance to the Main.

“Just a little too aggressive, Hill said. “I had a great gate selection and just tried to anticipate the gate drop.”

In the Main Event, gate selection and the race start were once again key factors in the outcome. Tickle overcame a sluggish start (14th after Lap 1) but quickly regained a fast race pace and was running 10th by Lap 10. He would advance no further over the final 10 laps.

“It was a solid run,” said Tickle. “We were able to move up to ninth in points.”

Hill got a fast start but got caught in slower traffic that inhibited his preferred racing line. As a result, he was shuffled back to 11th by midrace and fell three more positions after a late-race incident.

“I made a little mistake and fell back to 10th where Broc (Tickle) and I were banging handlebars a little bit,” Hill said. “Once he got around me, I was trying to pace myself and right around Lap 19 I crashed coming over the ski jump. My front tire felt like it went flat. It knifed out and I went sliding sideways like I was road racing. It just wasn’t a good race. It was miserable. I was trying so hard to get to the front that I just beat myself up.”

SX Series champion Ryan Villopoto earned his 10th Monster Energy AMA Supercross win of the season edging Ryan Dungey and Davi Millsaps. The three-time champion led the final 19 laps to win by 2.843-seconds.

Race Results
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series
Round 17 of 17
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Saturday, May 4, 2013
  1. Ryan Villopoto
  2. Ryan Dungey
  3. Davi Millsaps
  4. Jake Weimer
  5. Justin Barcia
  6. Chad Reed
  7. Weston Peick
  8. Justin Brayton
  9. Andrew Short
10. BROC TICKLE
11. Phil Nicoletti
12. Robert Kiniry
13. Kyle Regal
14. JOSH HILL
15. Chris Blose
16. Cody Gilmore
17. Kyle Partridge
18. Nicholas Schmidt
19. Tevin Tapia
20. Trey Canard

AMA Monster Energy Supercross
Final Provisional Point Standings
(After 17 of 17 events)
  1. Ryan Villopoto       371*
  2. Davi Millsaps         338
  3. Ryan Dungey        337
  4. Justin Barcia         277
  5. Chad Reed            239
  6. Trey Canard          221
  7. Andrew Short        214
  8. Justin Brayton       190
  9. BROC TICKLE     176
10. James Stewart      174  
11. Jake Weimer        157
12. Matt Goerke          139
13. Mike Alessi            107
14. Weston Peick        105
15. JOSH HILL             93
16. Robert Kiniry           66
17. Phillip Nicoletti         58
18. Eli Tomac                52
19. Chris Blose              50
20. Vince Friese            45
*450SX Champion

California Resident Wins 2013 Dodge Dart
Guillermo Bustillo, 28, of Daly City, Calif. received a new 2013 Dodge Dart on Saturday during a pre-race ceremony in the RCH Racing paddock area outside Sam Boyd Stadium. He was the Grand Prize winner in an online text-to-win sweepstakes sponsored by Dodge, RCH Racing, Hart and Huntington, Sycuan Casino, Bel-Ray, FOX, and Loctite. Fans were encouraged to register via texting in the season-long contest which included an all-experience trip to the SX season finale.

“I’m still in shock,” said the thrilled Bustillo. “I can’t believe that I won. To see such a cool looking Dodge Dart and know that it’s mine is awesome. Kenny (Watson, RCH team manager) called me and I was just stunned. This never happens to me. I just want to thank RCH Racing, Sycuan Casino, Dodge and all the sponsors who helped make this come true.”.