Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/723849
IN THE WIND P40 RCH TAKES OVER FACTORY SUZUKI SX/MX DUTIES T he Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John's Suzuki and Yoshimura Factory Suzuki Super- cross/Motocross Teams will merge as one starting in 2017. The new team will be called RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing and will focus its attention on the 450SX and 450MX classes. Full details of the merger have not been announced yet. Obviously, the big questions are who and how many will make up the new race team? As of now, the RCH/Yoshimura team is not officially con- nected with any one rider. James Stewart's con- tract had not been renewed with the now former Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Team, and Stewart's teammate, Blake Baggett, has been linked to the BTO KTM Team for 2017. Ken Roczen, of the RCH Team, is expected to be with Honda next year, and his current teammate, Broc Tickle is looking for a new gig next year. "Suzuki has supported RCH Racing since its inception," said Carey Hart, co-founder of RCH Racing along with 15-time AMA Champion Ricky Carmichael, "and Yoshimura has been an impor- tant factor in our success, as well. Having just clinched the 2016 AMA Pro Motocross Cham- pionship, we have proven that we can win titles. We are excited to bring our strengths to the new RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team." "Everyone at RCH is excited about the op- portunity ahead of us and the partnerships we've created," added Carmichael. "RCH always strives to be the best team in the paddock and this rela- tionship positions all parties involved to do exactly that. It all starts with hard work, determination and uncompromised support from Yoshimura and Suzuki. With everyone working together focusing on the same goals, we expect to race for wins and championships for years to come." RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing will be led by Kyle Bentley as team manager. The new team will make its debut at the 2017 AMA Super- cross opener on January 7, in Anaheim. "Yoshimura and Suzuki have been racing partners for more than 40 years, both in the U.S. and in Japan," said Don Sakakura, president of Yoshimura Racing and Development, "and over the past few years, we have developed a strong relationship with RCH Racing as well. Everyone at Yoshimura is excited to be a part of this new fac- tory effort and we look forward to building an even stronger racing presence." "Combining RCH and Yoshimura into a single team is part of our goal of strengthening the Suzuki brand in supercross and motocross," said Kerry Graeber, SMAI's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Simultaneously, we are growing our grass roots programs, developing a new 250 effort, which will be announced shortly, and estab- lishing RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki as the recognized top rung of the ladder. All of this is being done to increase sales of Suzuki motocross and off-road products." CN The RCH Suzuki Team will now also manage Suzuki's factory racing effort in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross starting in 2017. Riders—and we expect all new ones—have not yet been announced. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB KOY