Category Archives: Events
Lance Coury to compete in XGames Brazil
MEDIA ALERT:
April 16th, 2013
Hart and Huntington Rider Update – Lance Coury will compete at X Games Brazil Riding for Hart and Huntington Clothing and RCH Racing.
Lance Coury will compete in Foz Do Iguacu, c for the first stop of Global X Games in Brazil April 18th-21st in Moto X Speed and Style. RCH Racing team owner Carey Hart pioneered the Speed and Style event and is looking forward to Lance following in his footsteps. “I’m very excited to see Lance finally get his shot at X Games Speed and Style. He has been training with me over the last 2 years and I know he is definitely qualified to go give the top guys a run for their money.”
Lance may be competing in Speed and Style at X Games for the first time, but he is no stranger to the Hart and Huntington team or the motocross world. “I have been involved with Hart and Huntington for over 4 years now, the relationship started very naturally with being friends with Carey. I ride for Hart and Huntington clothing as well as under the RCH Racing tent riding a Dodge/Hart and Huntington/Sycuan/Suzuki.”
Lance got his first motorcycle at the age of 4, and has been competitively riding motorcycles since he was 5 years old. With his strong riding background and an awesome training facility at his disposal, Lance is focused on being one of the top Freestyle Motocross riders in the world and is hungrier than ever to succeed. In 2013 he will be competing at X Games, Dew Tour, X Fighters, and will be riding in exhibitions around the world.
Make sure to keep up to date with the riders and the Hart and Huntington team by following online:
Twitter: @LAnceCoury @HandHofficial @RCHRacing
Instagram: @LAnceCoury @HandHofficial @RCHRacing
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hartandhuntington
Ryan Beat Las Vegas Off-Road Preview
HILL EARNS HEAT WIN and EIGHTH-PLACE FINISH IN MAIN
MINNEAPOLIS – (Saturday, April, 13, 2013) – Dodge’s Josh Hill earned his first Heat Race win of the season en route to his second consecutive top-10 Main Event finish Saturday night to lead RCH Racing at Round 14 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series.
A packed Hubert H. Humphrey Dome welcomed riders for the first time since 2008 on a chilly day in Minnesota. Riders and mechanics had to brave the outdoor working conditions that saw the ambient temperature drop into the 20’s by time the gate dropped for the evening session.
Hill’s comeback continues to be the feel-good story inside the 450SX Class paddock as the defending event champion had his most impressive ride aboard his Suzuki this season. The numbers tell the story as Hill was sixth in both afternoon practice sessions to earn the third gate for his Heat. He used a slick maneuver early in the eight-lap qualifier to claim the lead and never looked back, leading all eight laps. He edged Chad Reed by 1.131-seconds to secure RCH Racing its first qualifying race win of the season.
“I was fourth (after the gate dropped), a decent start for me,” Hill said. “I set myself up where I could get one clean shot on those guys and I made a pass on all three. I was in the right place at the right time and took advantage of what was in front of me. Reed was coming fast but he made a small mistake and I was able to hold him off. It was cool. I got the jump on (Ryan) Villopoto and just pinched him off a bit. It was a solid ride. It was cool.”
With the second gate selection for the Main Event, Hill was able to bang handlebars with the leaders early, riding as high as fourth on Lap 8 in the 20-lap Main Event until falling off the lead-pack pace in the second half of the race.
“It’s been a long road,” he added. “I’m getting closer to where I want to be, happy about the stepping stone the last few weeks. I still have years of work to do to get to where I want to be. A few good weekends, for sure. I’m going in the right direction. I’ve worked so hard to get to this point and it would be stupid to give up now. I’m just going to keep working as hard as I can and keep challenging the best riders in the world.”
Teammate Broc Tickle finished outside of the top 10 for the first time since Round 11 in Toronto. He finished 13th in Saturday night’s Main Event. His fate was determined early as a pack of riders went down, blocking the racing line and slowing the pace. Tickle was 15th after Lap 1. He managed to gain two positions over the final 19 laps.
“After the whoops section, some guys crashed and went down,” said Tickle. “I had nowhere to go. By the time I could react, I just basically ran into the guys in front of me. There wasn’t much I could do; three of us got together. I think it was (Phil) Nicoletti who went down, not quite sure. Just a tough deal.”
Hometown favorite Ryan Dungey was the event winner, beating two-time defending series champion Ryan Villopoto by a mere 0.903-seconds. Davi Millsaps, Justin Barcia and Chad Reed rounded out the top-five.
The series heads west for the final three races of the 2013 season. Next week, riders visit Century Link Field in Seattle.
RCH RACING’S BROC TICKLE USES OFF-WEEK FOR MORE SEAT TIME AT RICKY CARMICHAELS TEST TRACK
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (Wednesday, March 26, 2013)
Although it’s the first open weekend on the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross Series schedule since the season-opening event in Anaheim, Calif. in January, RCH Racing’s Broc Tickle has his priorities. He knows the only way to build upon his momentum in the 450SX rider standing is to get back on the bike and train.
Forget the aches and pains the world-class dirt acrobats deal with during the three months of body-pounding racing. There’s no break to heal. Riders continue to do what riders do. Ride.
“I’ve was consistently scoring 10th and 11th at the beginning of the season but my numbers are trending upward now…8th, 9th, 10th,” Tickle said. “I feel like I’m riding really well, hitting my spots, making good passes and I feel strong. When I’ve gotten a good gate, we’re riding top-five or so. The Main Event starts are where I’m losing positions and shots at podiums. The only way to get better is to get on the bike and train.”
Instead of traveling back home to spend the season’s only off week, Tickle packed his bags after Round 12 in Toronto last Saturday and headed back south to team owner Ricky Carmichael’s test track in Tallahassee (Fla.) to log more hours on his Dodge/Sycuan Casino/RCH Racing/Bel-Ray/Suzuki RM-Z450.
Tickle, 23, has been under the careful watch of Carmichael, the 15-time champion, whose role with the team includes rider development coach where he shares his expertise to help craft the skills of his young riders. Along with teammate Josh Hill, Tickle will pound out laps under the watchful eye of Carmichael, one of the most talented riders to ever throw his leg over a motorcycle.
“With it being Easter weekend, these guys have been in the grind since well before the season started back in January and this would be a good weekend for a rider to take off,” said Carmichael. “Some guys do and it works for them. Some guys like to stay in the grind and that’s what Broc’s doing, riding down at my place this week. We’re moving up in points and he had a really strong charge in Toronto after a tough start.
“We’re keeping our nose to the grindstone and building on our performances. He wants to get better, keep going. I respect that and want to help him do it.”
Tickle’s issue this season has been race starts in the Main Event. Breaking through Turn 1 mayhem has been the key for success in the sport’s elite division. Win the race for the first 200 feet after the gate drops and a podium seems almost certain.
Dodge/RCH Racing Off-Week Story – Brock Tickle
Through the first 12 events this year, the rider leading the first lap has won 10 times. Only at Anaheim 2 (Round 3) and Toronto (Round 12) has that trend been broken.
“Historically, the race start has been critical in our sport but, for some reason, this year it’s just off the charts,” added Carmichael. “There is so much parity in the 450SX class right now. The guys are so close in speed that a holeshot is a must to get a podium.”
Tickle quickly points to two-time defending series champion Ryan Villopoto as the trendsetter.
“Villopoto is the best rider out there right now,” Tickle said of Villopoto. “He’s riding the most (timed practice) laps and just grinds. I’ve been getting better each week riding more laps which is helping me get the track dialed in, finding the different lines and knowing where I can make passes.”
Despite a disappointing 18th-place finish at the season opener in Anaheim, Tickle has scored seven top-10 finishes and vaulted nine positions in the standings. Despite the consistency, race starts have been the Achilles Heel for the Michigan native and negated even better finishes. He hopes the extra practice this week will provide valuable at the next event in Houston.
“What I’m seeing the last five weeks out of Broc is that he’s been more consistent,” said Carmichael. “You can see his confidence; he’s racing and battling with guys. He’s around guys that he needs to be racing with. Some guys are falling out of the point’s battle because of injuries. This is the toughest part of the season. If you can stay to the grind and keep pounding it out, you can take advantage of the guys who are beaten and battered. It’s an important time of the season and his riding is coming into form which gives me a lot of confidence in him.”
With two days of scheduled rides this week at Carmichael’s complex, the 2012 AMS Supercross Lites West champion hopes to polish his craft in quest of his first podium of the season. Tickle knows now is no time to rest.
“I felt that I rode really well in Toronto last Saturday,” he said. “The only thing that I was disappointed in was the start in the Main Event. Our Suzuki’s are fast but so are the top-10 riders. You just can’t afford to take time off.”
RCH Suzuki Race Recap from Toronto
TORONTO (Saturday, March 23, 2013)
Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series in Toronto proved to be a familiar scene as Ryan Villopoto picked up his seventh win of the season and extended his winning streak to four straight. Brock Tickle led RCH Racing with an eighth-place finish, his sixth top 10 of the season.Teammate Josh Hill was 13th.
One of the longest tracks on the circuit, lap times in the one-minute range made conquering the 20-lap Main Event inside the Toronto dome as much physical as mechanical. Featuring a long straight at the start followed by the combination of rhythm, bowl turn and whoop section, Rogers Centre proved to be a true test for riders.
Tickle posted the eighth quickest lap in practice – 58.528 seconds – which seeded him fourth for Heat 1. When the gate dropped for the eight-lap qualifier, Tickle broke eighth but was running fourth by Lap 6. He slipped one position in the final laps, finishing fifth which earned him his 12th consecutive Main Event berth of the season.
Tickle’s ride in the feature event was challenging as the rider of the No. 20 Suzuki was bottlenecked in Turn 1 on the opening lap, leaving him 11th in the running order. He used patience and perseverance over the next 10 laps, stalking the mid-pack riders. He gained three positions over the second half of the race for his second consecutive top-10 finish. With the finish, Tickle is tied with Justin Brayton for ninth in the 450SX Class point standings. Teammate Josh Hill rode mid-pack in afternoon timed qualifying sessions. He started seventh in Heat 2. The Oregon native was running ninth when he slipped passed Ben Lamay to finish eighth and earn a berth in the main event.
Hill was less than satisfied with his ride in the Main Event. When the gate dropped, the RCH rider was pinned outside which led to handlebars banging. Multiple riders went down. “Just not my night,” said Hill. “I got a bad start in the Main. I locked bars with the guy next to me. I just didn’t get a good start. With how rutted the track was, it made it really hard to move forward.”
Hill’s shot at scoring his first top-10 of the season fell solely on his start and the ability to gain spots in the first 200-feet of racing. The task proved extremely difficult as he was pushed outside and could not secure the track position he needed.” “There was a pile-up in the first corner, bikes everywhere, and it was tough,” he said. “It seemed like every time that I made a good move, I’d make a bad one right after it. At one point I was 17th or 18th and just settled down a bit and worked my way up the field. I ended up 13th and just tried to make passes when I could.”
Villopoto, the two-time and defending series champion, proved again why he’s the fastest man on the planet in Supercross competition. He charged to the lead on Lap 12 and never looked back, beating Davi Millsaps by 3.598-seconds for the win. Ryan Dungey rounded out the podium finishers.
The series is off next weekend before heading to Houston in two weeks for Round 13 at Reliant Stadium on April 6.
H&H Off Road Turns Up The Heat in AZ, “No Sweat”
March 15th, 2013 – Chandler, Arizona
The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series has arrived to Chandler, Arizona for the opening rounds of the 2013 season and brought record setting temperatures and an early spring to the region. It is blazing hot for this time of year but soaring temperatures is regularly dealt with for veteran LOORRS Racers like the Hart and Huntington Off Road Team. Watch the video to see how they prepare.
“We are very excited to be here,” declared Ryan Busnardo, Premiere Motorsports Group Team Leader. “We put in a lot of work during the off season and are looking forward to what can be accomplished this year. We always have many irons in the fire, so we have made special preparations and pre-planned considerations that are already making our lives easier during this first race weekend. Our drivers, Josh Merrell, Rob Naughton and Ryan Beat participated in all the practice sessions to take down as much data as we could get. Our master engineer, “Buzz” is observing, analyzing and discussing with crew and drivers. [No Sweat, We Got This! We are fast and are going to get faster.] Are his words.”
“From this point, we are looking for podiums. Our successful race program depends on capturing exposure for the team sponsors,” Ryan continued. ”Winning races and podiums produces the most exposure and branding impressions. Hart and Huntington Off Road is marching down that path and we owe it to our loyal partners like MAVTV, Lucas Oil, General Tire, and Lunarpages. We work very hard for these companies on and off the track and are always making a point to participate with and promote their functions.”
Lunarpages has garnered great success stemming from their involvement with Hart and Huntington Off Road. So much that Lunarpages has signed on as a sponsor partner for the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and is developing a stream of promotions that will benefit the fans. Read more here about the partnership and/or Enter To Win a #54 Lunarpages replica RC-10.
Ryan Beat, Driver of the #51 Lunarpages V8 ProLite has quickly made a name for himself finishing 2nd overall as a rookie in his division. Ryan worked non stop through the off season to better his program. His efforts paid off and Ryan was picked up by Loanmart as part of the Loanmart Racing Team and has also been officially labeled as a Rockstar Energy supported athlete. Beat showed up to the track with a freshly prepped truck wearing a great looking Dodge Fiberglass body by FiberwerX and nailed the practice sessions despite very wet and sloppy track conditions. Look for Ryan to hammer down for the top of the podium.
Saturday starts with morning qualifying and than moves into Round 1 Competition. Get here early and bring the family and friends because it will be a full day of great wheel-to-wheel action, huge air jumps and seriously fast fun. Gates open to the public at 9:00am and it is rumored that nearby gas stations have discount coupons. Lucas Oil Off Road Racing is finally here!
Hill Regains Form, Earns Season-Best Finish of 12th
INDIANAPOLIS – (Saturday, March 16, 2013) – The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series
returned to the Midwest this weekend as Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis played
host to Round 11 of the 17-race series Saturday night.
Broc Tickle finished 11th while teammate Josh Hill was right behind in 12th on a track where
passing was near impossible. Tickle’s ride was more impressive after it was discovered in a
post-race exam he had sustained a broken right pinky finger in the Main Event.
Wicked obstacle sections and a very short whoops section proved to be a major challenge for
the riders. Add a treacherous sand section and wall jump to the mix and riders faced one of the
toughest circuits of the season. With so many riders in such a small amount of space, the
advantage belonged to the race track.
Only one premier series rider dipped into the 50-second lap range (James Stewart, 50.565) in
the afternoon timed practice sessions. Broc Tickle, who posted a lap of 52.929-seconds in the
first timed session, led Dodge/RCH Racing.
Both RCH riders were seeded in Heat 2. Tickle (No. 20 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/RCH Racing/Bel-
Ray/ Suzuki Z450) finished seventh in the eight-lap heat, earning a berth in his 11th consecutive
Main Event this season. Hill (No. 75 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/RCH Racing/Bel-Ray/ Suzuki Z450)
finished ninth to grab the final transfer spot.
In the Main Event, Tickle and Hill both had poor gate selections for the 20-lap feature, making
the race start even more critical. When the gate dropped, the charge to Turn 1 ended in a multirider
mishap which collected Tickle. Hill managed to weave his way through.
“I’m pretty pumped,” said Hill of his season-best finish. “I had a great start and thought that I had
a holeshot when the gate dropped. I went for it; I went for broke. I tried to cut off the top side or
go down trying. I’m tired of riding around16th and just pinned it going into Turn 1.”
Tickle’s ride turned out to be equally impressive considering the Michigan native gave up 17
spots to the leaders on the opening lap. He methodically carved through the field, working his
way to 11th at the checkered flag.
“I had a good jump (start) in the Main and tried to stick the Suzuki in there, got hit and crashed in
the first corner,” Tickle said. “From there, it was like starting last. I had to fight my way all the
way back through the field. I felt like I rode pretty well tonight. I liked the track. I had a lot of
confidence all day.”
Tickle’s finish keeps the first-year RCH rider 10th in rider points, three shy of ninth-place.
Ryan Villopoto won his sixth Main Event of the season, edging Ryan Dungey by 6.537-seconds
with James Stewart finishing third. The SX Series heads north of the border next weekend for
Round 12 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ont., Canada.
Soldiers of Havoc Mike Mason Rider Profile
Carey Hart and the Suzuki Holeshot Experience
Since Carey Hart launched the Hart and Huntington race team, the squad has always caused quite a stir in the Supercross pits. Though dancing go go girls don’t quite fit the bill for the newest evolution of the team, RCH Racing, that hasn’t stopped Hart from concocting yet another spectacle in the pits. The Suzuki Holeshot Experience allows fans to don a helmet, mount a real Suzuki RM-Z450, and bust out a simulated start on top of a real Dynojet dynamometer. How’s that for fan interaction? In the edition of Pit Pass Video, hear from Hart himself how he came up with the idea…
