AMA/FIM SUPERCROSS

SUZUKI TEAMS READY FOR FLORIDA SUPERCROSS


Team Suzuki Press Office – February 9.

With three back-to-back rounds of the Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross completed inside the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, Suzuki racers are ready to head south to a two-round event in Orlando, Florida.

Adam Enticknap on his Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports/ Suzuki RM-Z450 finished off the Indy rounds matching his best finish of 2021. Team mate Brandon Hartranft and his Suzuki RM-Z450 had the nail biter ride of the night, and after putting in some laps in qualifying, it was determined that John Short would not be able to compete with his BarX/ Chaparral/ ECSTAR Suzuki RM-Z250 due to an injury incurred at the previous round.

The tight and technical track layout at Indy 3 worked to Enticknap’s favour. After a mid-pack start in the last chance qualifier, he put his skills and his RM-Z's handling to the test. In the short seven-lap race he passed five riders to secure a spot in the Main Event where he earned a tie to his best finish so far in 2021. 

Said Enticknap: "In the heat race I got a decent start. I worked my way through on the first lap, which was really good. In the LCQ, I was proud of myself. Last week, I was pretty frustrated because I tangled up with another rider and I told myself if I can just stay up and stay out of that chaos and ride my own lines I can make it into the main no matter what. Coming out of that first corner, I think I was marked in 11th, and I made my way all the way to fourth place. My race craft was awesome, I made great decisions, and I did what I was supposed to do. In the main event I improved a lot for the first 11 to 12 minutes, but I made some mistakes after that. We talked about it with the team, we got it all squared away, and I'm excited for what's to come in Orlando."

The track's soil was dryer after more than a week inside the domed stadium. The ruts were shallower, but the top soil afforded less traction. Whereas rookie Hartranft managed the deep ruts so well, he met less success when the conditions presented a less-technical track surface.

"In my heat race I got a good start; I think I got pushed around and then I fell, so I had to go to the LCQ," said Hartranft. "I didn't get a good start in the LCQ. I was in the back, but I fought hard and almost got fourth on the last lap. There are some positives to take away, but obviously I'm not too pumped on the night, so I guess we'll have to go get 'em in Orlando."

Short, in a class that's already seen five other top racers miss at least one main event due to injury, made the tough call to determine he had not healed sufficiently from a bad fall in the first corner at the previous round's main event. Short rode qualifying to earn a spot on the line but understood he would risk further aggravating his injury with a rush back to competition.

Said Short: "Unfortunately, I won’t be competing tonight. Tuesday’s main event crash left me a little banged up. I have a separated shoulder. It's not a major injury, I rode practice this morning, but I decided that it would be best to let myself get back to 100% so I can compete at my full potential. It’s unfortunate, but I hope to get back out there at Orlando on my RM-Z250."

"The race was okay, there were some things to build on," was Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports/ Suzuki Team Manager Dustin Pipes' overview. "I'm very happy with the way that Adam rode. His first 12 minutes or so he was catching riders that he normally doesn't beat, so that was a big plus. His speed is improving and I think that will come through in the rounds to come. Brandon, we need to go back to the drawing board and see what we can come up with. We're going to change some settings in the forks and shock and hopefully get him racing to his full potential next weekend in Orlando."

Indianapolis 3 Image Gallery (BrownDogWilson): CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

Championship points (after 6 of 17 rounds): CLICK HERE







 For more stories about Adam Enticknap, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.

For more stories about Brandon Hartranft, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.

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