Suzuki Teams Push Hard as the Season Enters the Final Races
Brea, CA – (April 29, 2024) – The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship returned to Philadelphia for the first time in over 43 years. A short rainfall in the heat races created slick and loose track conditions on the stadium floor of Lincoln Financial Field for Round 15 of the 17-round Supercross season.
Race Highlights:
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Shane McElrath put in fast laps and a strong charge in the main event.
- Kyle Chisholm toughed out fast lap times despite an ankle injury that kept him off his bike mid-week.
- 450 Class
- Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Anthony Bourdon stepped up to the 450 class and posted the fastest lap times in his group’s second session.
- 250 Class
- Preston Boespflug, a Supercross rookie pro, earned his first top-ten result.
- 450 Class
Preston Boespflug (128) had the race day rookies dream of, and capped it off with a pro career-first top-ten result.
Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki rider Preston Boespflug (128) had an incredible pace from the start of the day. Boespflug posted his career-best qualifying position in both the second 250 A-group session and the overall qualifying rankings.
Boespflug had a strong start in his heat race and pushed forward, finishing just one spot away from a podium result. In the main event, Boespflug nabbed a top ten start and was on the move early. Boespflug quickly advanced two spots, held strong throughout the race, and brought home a top-ten result in only his eighth professional Supercross race.
“The team and I had my Suzuki set up great in practice and I had a good race!” said Boespflug, “I was really comfortable on the track all day, and I felt the track really fit my style well! I’m happy to get my first top ten!”
Shane McElrath (12) again showed great speed. McElrath ran with the front group in his heat race and charged in the main.
Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented By Progressive Insurance rider Shane McElrath (12) tried an inside line in his heat race to pass into sixth place and unfortunately went down. McElrath charged forward in the LCQ to earn a second-place result and transfer to the main event. In the main, McElrath’s gate pick didn’t lead to a good start, but he put his head down and charged. McElrath ended the day with more championship points heading into the final two rounds.
“I felt good on my Suzuki all day,” said McElrath. “I was comfortable, and overall my day went pretty well. This track really favored track position and that is something I did not have today. I need to be better in qualifying; a second faster during qualifying would have set me up way better for the heat race and potentially not having to race the LCQ. I'm frustrated because come main event time, I'm starting with a deficit on gate position. I'm excited to get back to work today and I’m ready to turn it around for the last two races. I like being at and I've always rode well at altitude, so I'm excited to get to Denver next week.”
Kyle Chisholm (11) pushed hard but ran out of time in his drive for a transfer to the main.
Twisted Tea Suzuki rider Kyle Chisholm (11) didn’t benefit from Philadelphia’s unique schedule, that ran the 450 class qualifiers before the 250 class qualifying races. The veteran racer ran out of time in the LCQ while making up positions throughout the race. Chisholm missed a transfer result by just one position.
“I felt strong going to the heat race and had a decent start, but man, the track was tough,” Chisholm explained, “It was a tough track to pass on and really make up time. There wasn’t much to separate us, a lot of flat corners, so it just made it tough if you didn’t get the start you needed. I just missed it out of the heat race, then in the LCQ I knew the start would be important and I didn't execute the start; I wheelied and didn’t come out where I needed to be. After that, I caught up and with another lap or two would have qualified, I’m not happy with fifth place but I am happy with my riding, so that was good, That’s racing, I have to work and be better. We have two more races, so I want to have a good last two races.”
Anthony Bourdon (100) moved up to race the 450 class for the third time this season.
Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki racer Anthony Bourdon (100), while riding brilliantly in his rookie Supercross season in the 250 class, made his third effort at racing the 450 class. Bourdon impressed, topping his second qualifying session with the fastest lap time in his group. Bourdon followed that up with a career-best 450 heat race finish, and a direct transfer to the 450 main event.
“For me, any race here is a great opportunity to progress and get experience, so I was happy to ride in Philadelphia,” reported Bourdon. “I had a particularly good timed practice, P16 overall and only 1.4 seconds from the championship leader. I felt fast all day on my Suzuki and on the track. I finished ninth in the heat and went straight to the main, which was also good I had strong first laps in the main, fighting with fast riders. Then I had a crash which cost me five positions. I know I can do better with more training, but I learned more tonight and that’s important.”
“We were missing a rider this weekend. Ken Roczen didn't race this event due to injury; we had Kyle Chisholm and Shane McElrath,” reported Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “Kyle had a bit of a rough night. He had a good start in the heat, rode well but just got shuffled back there at the end, and didn't finish where he needed to. In the last chance Kyle rode well but again had a bad start, so he didn't qualify. It’s a little bit disappointing. Shane McElrath fell down in the heat race and didn't qualify, so he had to go to the last chance. He finished second in the LCQ; and rode well. In the main event he tried to start on the inside and was pinched off; he was dead last going around the first corner. He came back to 15th and rode well. I just know Shane’s a lot better than that, so we're anticipating that fire to spark and have Shane ride like we think he can ride, but it's getting better every weekend.”
“Tonight was a great night for us as a team,” said James Coy, Team Manager for the Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki team. “The work we have been putting in was evident as both our riders were competitive throughout the program. Preston made the most of the testing we have done, and had his best race so far. Anthony filled in for us on the 450 and was able to transfer directly to the main through his heat race. Outside of his one mistake, Anthony was on track to have a very respectable result as well. Nights like this rejuvenate our team and help motivate us to keep pushing.”
The Supercross series heads next to Empower Field at Mile High in Denver for the penultimate round of the season. The Suzuki teams look forward to the challenges of the higher altitude and traditionally hard-packed dirt that await the racers in Colorado.
Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com for more team news.
Photos by BrownDogWilson Photography