RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Embracing the Process as Series Returns to Anaheim
. By Bikeland Staff
Former World Cup alpine ski racer and United States Olympic gold medalist Barbara Ann Cochran was once quoted as saying, “The secret to success is doing the best that you can do. Forget about whether you might win or lose. By working hard and practicing the skills that you need to perform, the results will take care of themselves. Being successful is about doing your best.”
Those sentiments ring especially true for RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing riders Justin Bogle and Broc Tickle as Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, returns to Anaheim (Calif.) this weekend for Round 3 of the 2017 championship.
After opening the new season with promising results, coupled with measured progress, the potent RCH duo is focusing on the process of combining practice, patience, hard work and mental toughness to produce a solid 17-race season.
Bogle, the 2014 Eastern Regional 250SX Class Champion, started his first season under the RCH canopy with a 12th-place finish in the Anaheim opener and followed it up with his first top 10 of the year last weekend in San Diego. And while Bogle is just 23-years-old, his outlook and philosophy about his new situation is wise beyond his years.
“For me, it’s never been about focusing on a specific result,” said Bogle who returns to Anaheim 10th in points. “I’m not going to say we need to finish in a certain position to have a successful weekend. I know if I go out and do everything I can as well as I can, I’ll be satisfied and if I do that, it’ll be a good night. We all have expectations and goals but at the end of the day, focusing on a specific finishing position and letting that define success or failure will really cloud what we’re trying to do. You have to trust the process. If you don’t trust the process or fully trust what you’re doing and the people around you, it’s easy to get frustrated and go backwards. I’ve been there and done that plenty of times so I’m trying to learn and get better with a little bit of age.”
In two previous career starts at Anaheim aboard a 450, the Cushing, Okla., rider finished 13th and 12th, respectively and looks to keep building on his sophomore season with a single-digit showing Saturday night.
“I believe I’m more than capable of being up front,” continued Bogle. “I’d like to keep it moving, keep progressing and get closer to the front, get a single-digit finish and go from there. I just need a start. If I can buy myself a start this weekend, we’ll be just fine. To come through the pack when you’re starting 18th, like I’ve done the last two weekends is tough. We did a lot of testing and got a lot of things figured out with the bike. I figured some things out, technique-wise for myself on the starts this week and that was a big positive so I’m looking forward to this weekend. If I can get a decent start, I’ll be just fine.
“The goal is to keep progressing each weekend. We’re not that far off. If I can keep improving each weekend and taking realistic steps, then I’ll be where I want to be before too long. That’s the goal. Keep my head down and keep trying to just climb up that ladder and we’ll be where we want to be soon.”
Tickle was solid at the Anaheim opener and won his semi-final but a late-race spill in the main event left him 16th in the final rundown. The 27-year-old rider who calls Holly, Mich., home picked up his game last weekend, too, with a top-three finish in his heat and a solid 13th-place effort in the 450 main. He comes into tomorrow night 15th in the standings.
The rider of the No. 20 Suzuki has logged 16 Anaheim starts dating back to January 2010, including five Western Regional 250SX Class and 11 450SX races, compiling a 10.82 finishing average on a 450 and 4.8 average finish in 250 competition. His best showing at Angel Stadium on a “big bike” came in January 2015 when he rode his RM-Z450 to a fifth-place finish.
“There have been a lot of positives,” explained Tickle. “My heat was awesome and I had a good start so those were important takeaways from San Diego. I haven’t put everything in order in the first two races but I think I should be a top-five guy. I’m not going to set a certain result as an exact goal, I just want to make progress, ride the best I can and focus on that. If I do that I can let the finish come to me and not put some arbitrary expectation out there. Obviously, I already expect to do well but it comes down to execution. If I ride well and execute the way I know I’m capable, the rest will take care of itself. The goal is to keep making headway on my finishes and have all the kinks worked out once we head east.”
Before the gate drops on Round 3, Bogle and Tickle will meet fans and sign autographs tonight at Bert’s Mega Mall. Located 29 miles north of Angel Stadium in Covina, Calif., Bert’s Mega Mall is the nation’s largest motorcycle, watercraft and ATV superstore.
The third of 17 rounds on the 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross schedule will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 Saturday, Jan. 21 beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 7 p.m. Pacific.
About RCH Racing …
RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing is a professional Monster Energy Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross team co-owned by 15-time AMA Champion Ricky Carmichael and Freestyle Motocross visionary and entrepreneur Carey Hart. RCH was founded in 2012 and earned its first premier class championship in 2016. Stay up to date on all the latest RCH Racing news on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RCHRacing.
About Suzuki …
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Outboard Motors and Automotive Parts and Accessories via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
About Yoshimura R&D of America …
Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit
www.yoshimura-rd.com.