Cycle News Staff | January 5, 2023
Suzuki will support two squads under the HEP Motorsports umbrella.
The following is a press release from Suzuki…
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC has announced its continuation with H.E.P. Motorsports for the 2023 season. Suzuki will support two squads under the H.E.P. Motorsports umbrella: Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki and Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance.
Brea, CA (January 4, 2023) – Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki will include Ken Roczen (94) on the Suzuki RM-Z450, while riding the RM-Z250 will be Dilan Schwartz (85) and Marshal Weltin (50).
Roczen, who has a strong affiliation with the brand and won his most recent AMA championship with Suzuki, will be reunited with the RM-Z450 and bring his exciting style, determination and grit back to the RM Army. Schwartz is back on a Suzuki for 2023 after a rollercoaster season in 2022. After impressive performances aboard the RM-Z450 at the beginning of last year’s motocross season, Weltin joins the RM Army full-time and is looking to build on his momentum.
The Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance effort continues with veteran rider Kyle Chisholm (11) from Clearwater, Florida; crowd favorite Shane McElrath from Canton, North Carolina, (12); and Brandon Hartranft (37), who hails from Brick, New Jersey.
Joining the team for 2023, Chisholm brings solid racing and setup experience to the team and is looking forward to competing aboard the RM-Z450. Alongside Chisholm, the exciting racecraft of McElrath augments the RM Army, and McElrath is looking to make serious strides in 2023. Back again with the Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance team is Hartranft. Injured at a pre-season training session incident, Suzuki Motor, USA wishes Brandon a speedy recovery as he looks forward to returning to the track.
“We are excited to take on the 2023 Supercross season. Our program has grown for 2023, and we are in the best position possible to have a successful 2023 campaign,” commented H.E.P. Motorsports Team Principle Dustin Pipes. “Testing and development have been going well, and we are still finding new advancements to help the riders take the next step. With these new additions, it is an exciting time to be a fan of Suzuki Racing, and we are eager to show off our hard work at the first event in Anaheim.”
Suzuki is excited to compete in the 2023 Supercross season and looks forward to seeing the entire RM Army at the venues and tracks throughout the year. The 2023 Supercross season debuts on Jan. 7, 2023, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, for Anaheim 1.
The following is a press release from December 7, 2022:
Ken Roczen has inked a deal with H.E.P. Motorsports to ride a Suzuki RM-Z450 in the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross and outdoor Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Roczen says he feels “right at home” on the Suzuki and that he will be “ready to go racing come January 7” for the start of Supercross.
Ken Roczen
From Suzuki Motor USA:
H.E.P. Motorsports is thrilled to announce that the team has signed Ken Roczen as its premier rider for the 2023 season. Former AMA motocross champion Roczen will be aboard a Suzuki RM-Z450. Roczen, who won his most recent championship on a Suzuki, will be reunited with the brand and bring his exciting style, determination, and grit back to the RM Army. Ken Roczen will compete in the upcoming 2023 Supercross and Motocross Championship series which is set to start on January 7 at Anaheim Stadium in Southern California.
“I am beyond excited to reconnect with Suzuki for the 3rd time in my career. We’ve had a lot of success in the past and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together in our future.” said Roczen, “ I have a lot of confidence in Suzuki and the H.E.P. Motorsports program and I am excited to finally get the new year going with a fresh start. From the moment I got on the bike I felt right at home. It has been a welcome surprise how quickly I’ve adapted to the bike and the team. We will be ready to go racing come January 7th.”
A homecoming of sorts, Ken Roczen and Suzuki enjoyed much success in the past, including a very successful amateur career in his native Germany on Suzuki motocross machines. Aboard the prior generation Suzuki RM-Z450 Roczen won the AMA 450 Motocross Championship in 2016. Roczen and Suzuki are determined to continue this tradition of success in 2023 on the Suzuki RM-Z450 in Supercross and Motocross competition.
Ken Roczen
“We are pleased to have Ken back on a Suzuki and part of the RM Army,” said Chris Wheeler, Motorsports Manager for Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. “ Ken’s experience, determination and incredible skill are everything we need to help Suzuki and H.E.P. Motorsports achieve the success we are all striving for in 2023.”
“Everyone is super excited to have Ken Roczen on board,” said Dustin Pipes, Team Principal at H.E.P. Motorsports. “Having Ken as part of our team is sure to elevate our performance and we can’t wait to go racing at A1 in January.”
H.E.P. Motorsports will debut the complete team lineup at round 1 of the 2023 Supercross Championship on January 7th, 2023 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
