22/04/2010
Team Suzuki Press Office - April 23.
Coming into the 2010 Supercross season, Rockstar's involvement has grown considerably from the amateur ranks to the top of the Pro Class. It also marked my first year managing Rockstar's onsite efforts in the Pro Ranks at every round of the Supercross series - as I had only done amateur stuff in years prior.
We have completed a new "pipeline" with stepping stone teams to keep our top riders from the 85cc class all the way up to the upper echelon that is our Premier Team; Rockstar Makita Suzuki. Coming into the season I think my expectations were higher than others and I believed we had a shot at the title in every class, with Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey in the 450 SX Class; Austin Stroupe contending for the Eastern Regional Lites title; and Rockstar Energy Suzuki's Ryan Morais out West.
There have been a few injuries this season, and while some have helped us, some have definitely hurt as well. But that's racing. While some critics may downgrade Dungey's run for the Championship title due to these injuries, I do not: Coming into the season I knew he had a chance; not only because of his speed, work ethic and drive, but also his consistency. While others have hurt themselves, Ryan has stayed healthy all season, thus putting himself in position to win the Championship as a Rookie. That is an amazing feat for any rider, and only one other racer has won the title in his Rookie season.
It's in the Lites classes where we ran into some bad luck with our own injuries. In the East, Austin Stroupe was having an awesome season; he has matured greatly and learned that keeping it on two wheels is the key to his success. Unfortunately another rider's mistake collected him when he was doing his best riding of the season which ended his title run. But he will be back! Then finally, in the Western Regional Lites series, Ryan Morais was also taken out of the series by another rider's error. Always a podium threat, he was injured pretty badly early in the season. Ryan has three races left and is thinking only of the top spot on that podium.
With three races left to go in the Supercross season, we're proud of all that our team has accomplished.