Team Rockstar Energy Suzuki scored a top ten finish in the sixth round of the 2011 AMA/FIM Supercross Lites West Championship season on Saturday night at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.
Ryan Morais rode a strong race in the wet conditions, powering his Yoshimura-equipped Suzuki RM-Z250 to a ninth-place finish. Team mate Martin Davalos had a tough night, finishing 12th in the 15-lap Lites Main Event.
After a delayed and shortened practice and qualifying, Morais had a decent ride on his RM-Z250 in his heat race, finishing fifth. A mid-pack start in the Main put Morais 10th after the second lap. An incident on lap two sent him to the back of the pack, but he dug deep and his RM-Z powered him through the pack to a ninth-placed finish.
“I just didn’t get a good start in the Main,” said Morais. “After that, I was trying to make something happen in the first couple laps and ended up crashing. I got back up nearly last but I put my head down, felt pretty good, and clicked off some pretty good laps on my Suzuki RM-Z and ended up finishing ninth. I’m not real happy with the result but I felt I actually rode pretty well. I plan on working hard over our break and come back to Seattle strong.”
Davalos started his day with a decent time in practice and qualifying. After a problem in his heat race, his Suzuki RM-Z250 powered him to a win in the last chance qualifier. In the Main, the Rockstar Energy Suzuki rider had a tough start and ended up on the ground a couple times before crossing the line in 12th place.
“I started out decent in practice,” said Davalos. “But I made a couple mistakes in my heat race and ended up having to go to the last chance qualifier, which I won. I crashed twice in the Main Event, struggled a bit, and ended up 12th. I’m going to go back home to Georgia over the break and try to get ready for the last three rounds. I really want to win and I know I can put my RM-Z on top of the box.”
The 2011 Rockstar Energy Suzuki team’s next event is Saturday, February 26th, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.
San Diego Supercross Lites Class Results:
1. Eli Tomac
2. Tyla Rattray
3. Broc Tickle
4. Cole Seely
5. James Decotis
6. Joshua Hansen
7. Ken Roczen
8. Ben Evans
9. Ryan Morais (Rockstar Energy Suzuki)
10. Kyle Cunningham
12. Martin Davalos (Rockstar Energy Suzuki)
2011 Supercross Lites West Standings:
1. Joshua Hansen – 128
2. Broc Tickle – 125
3. Eli Tomac – 116
4. Ryan Morais (Rockstar Energy Suzuki) – 96
5. Cole Seely – 88
6. Ken Roczen – 83
7. Tyla Rattray – 80
8. Kyle Cunningham – 71
9. Martin Davalos (Rockstar Energy Suzuki) – 69
10. James Decotis – 67
