Dodge/RCH Racing - Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series Race Recap - Daytona  

March 9, 2013 , DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -  Daytona International Speedway transformed itself into a two-wheel motorsports haven Saturday night as the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series took to the hallowed grounds of the ‘World Center of Racing’ for Round 10 of the 17-race series.

Broc Tickle led RCH (Ricky Carmichael / Cary Hart) Racing with a ninth-place performance, his third Top-10 Main Event finish this season.

“I actually got a pretty good start, I just had a starting gate position too far out,” Tickle said after the race. “Tonight was good. We got off to a decent start in the Main and just started picking guys off. I just wanted to be strong for the entire race because I knew that stamina was going to be a big factor. I knew that guys were going to make mistakes and if you ran your own race, things would work out. It was just a solid race. That’s the thing here, you have to ride consistent and it can either make your or break you. It was really gnarly tonight.”

Once again, the Carmichael-designed track proved to be demanding. Riders faced a very technical course covered with a loose, sandy Florida soil. Riders had to maneuver through a series of jump combinations making “consistency” and “stamina” consensus buzzwords inside the paddock throughout the event.

“It was gnarly,” Tickle added. “You had to pick smart lines all night. It was a demanding track and it brought out the toughness in you. The sand is hard to maneuver and you have to be really accurate on your lines. RC built a great track here. It was demanding and fun at the same time.”

Near 90-second lap times were the norm as riders hammered through the deep-rutted dirt.

Tickle showed good speed in the afternoon practices. He posted the sixth-fastest lap in the second timed practice. Riding in Heat 1, Tickle lined up third and used an aggressive start out of the gate to claim a holeshot and eventual fifth-place finish in the eight-lap qualifier to earn his 10th consecutive Main Event start.

In the Main, Tickle started mid-pack (ninth) and had to overcome a log-jammed Turn 1 that dropped him three positions to 12th. Despite the heavily-rutted track that forced riders to navigate different lines nearly every lap, Tickle used his extensive motocross experience to thrive on the hybrid racing conditions.

“There were a few sections that I could run the same line and others that I had to change up,” he added. “When the track started to get eaten up, I had to change things up a bit and not try and use too much energy. Everybody in front of me rode solid. I’m really happy with this finish and think it’s another step in the right direction.”

JOSH HILL (No. 75 Dodge/Sycuan Casino/RCH Racing/Bel-Ray/Suzuki Z450) rebounded nicely from last week’s DNQ where the Oregon native battled a serious bout of Strep Throat. A podium finisher in his last 450X start at DIS in 2010, Hill finished ninth in Heat 2 to earn his fourth Main Event of the season.

Then things got interesting for Hill.

Starting 18th for the 20-lap feature, Hill was up two positions in the Main Event when a glare issues forced the rider of the No. 75 Suzuki to toss his race goggles to the dirt on Lap 8. He raced the final 11 circuits without eye protection. He finished 15th.

“He had such a glare and this is probably the worst place to have that,” said Hill’s lead mechanic Shawn Bell after his rider’s gutsy performance. “It’s so sandy, pretty much a sand dune. I’m guessing it was the hardest thing to do, ride around this place without goggles.”

Hill voluntarily sought care from the AMA Medical Staff after the race where he was treated for eye irritation and released.

Ryan Villopoto claimed the win, his third at Daytona and fifth of the season to take over the series point lead. Ryan Dungey finished second and Justin Barcia third.


The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series heads to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis next Saturday for Round 11 of the 17-race series.

Race Results
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series
Round 10 of 17
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
1. Ryan Villopoto
2. Ryan Dungey
3. Justin Barcia
4. Eli Tomac
5. Chad Reed
6. Trey Canard
7. Ken Roczen
8. James Stewart
9. BROC TICKLE
10. Davi Millsaps
11. Matthew Goerke
12. Andrew Short
13. Jake Weimer
14. Les Smith
15. JOSH HILL
16. Mike Alessi
17. Ben Lamay
18. Weston Peick
19. Phillip Nicoletti
20. Justin Brayton

AMA Monster Energy Supercross
Provisional Point Standings
(After 10 of 17 events)
1. Ryan Villopoto        202
2. Davi Millsaps          200
3. Ryan Dungey         188
4. Trey Canard           163
5. Chad Reed             163
6. Justin Barcia           152
7. James Stewart        135
8. Andrew Short          122
9. Justin Brayton         104
10. BROC TICKLE       99
11. Matthew Goerke    95
12. Mike Alessi             79
13. Jake Weimer          78
14. Weston Peick         45
15. Eli Tomac               40
16. Josh Grant             40
17. Jimmy Albertson  38
18. Kyle Chisholm      38
19. Matt Lemoine       34
20. Vince Friese         30