Motocross: Suzuki T.E.A.M. Day
Kit Palmer | May 25, 2016
Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart was one of the many Suzuki-backed motocross stars that attended today’s Suzuki T.E.A.M. Day at the company’s corporate offices in Brea, California. The event was hosted mainly for the employees of SMAI (Suzuki Motor of America, Inc). who were given the opportunity to meet the racers, as well as many of the race team personnel. They also got to get a close-up look at the team rigs and race shops. One of the racers who was unable to attend was Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Baggett who suffered a broken collarbone at Hangtown. He had surgery on the collarbone yesterday and will be out of action for a few weeks.
Despite his left arm in a sling from the Hangtown National MX, Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart attended the event and signed autographs for many of the Suzuki employees and their families. He said that his shoulder is very sore, but he is still going to try and race the Glen Helen National this Saturday. He’ll officially make the decision to race or not Saturday morning. He said that the shoulder actually “popped out” when he hit a bump which actually caused the crash that took him out of the first moto and the rest of the day at Hangtown. He added that’s he’s had trouble with the shoulder before but that was many years ago. Stewart is obviously very discouraged how the year has gone so far but is trying to stay positive and plans to stick it out. Photography by Kit Palmer
Hangtown winner Ken Roczen was on hand. The RCH/Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s Factory Suzuki Team rider signed autographs and made some of his fans very happy. Roczen said that he feels that things are coming along well with his team and is very happy with his bike right now. It certainly showed at Hangtown. Photography by Kit Palmer
It was good seeing MicroBilt PRBC Suzuki’s Ronnie Stewart on hand. He suffered a big crash at Hangtown and was hauled off the track on a stretcher. He suffered multiple injuries, the worst a partially broken collarbone that will keep him off the bike this weekend. Photography by Kit Palmer
RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s Suzuki’s Broc Tickle was on hand. Photography by Kit Palmer
Ken Roczen and Broc Tickle go at it in the Slow Race. Photography by Kit Palmer
Roczen doesn’t do well going slow. Photography by Kit Palmer
MAD Racing Yoshimura Suzuki’s Luke Clout and Matt Bisceglia went 1-2 in the Slow race. Suzuki Amateur Racing’s Rich Taylor took third. Photography by Kit Palmer
As they say, a good time was had by all. Photography by Kit Palmer
