Rockstar Makita Suzuki on Indianapolis Podium in Both Lites and Supercross

Brea Calif. - February 21, 2010 - The
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis was the site of round seven of the
AMA/FIM Supercross Series and the first round of the Eastern Regional
Lites Division. The outside weather was frigid, but under the dome, it
was warm and comfortable. The track was unusual and tricky with an
off-camber hairpin, some difficult whoops, and overall, very technical
obstacles.


Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Austin Stroupe was debuting the 2010 Suzuki
RM-Z250 in the Lites class and in practice promptly put up some blazing
fast times. He ended up qualifying second overall by a few tenths.
Going into the heats, the new bike and Austin were looking very quick. 
Ryan Dungey was also on the gas on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450,
posting fast times initially, but slower traffic balked him from going
after the number one qualifying spot. Heading into the heats, though,
the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team was looking very strong.


The first Lites heat race saw Stroupe get a little tangled up coming
off the gate and found himself in fourth place -- not where he wanted
to be. At the start of lap three however, Austin put the brand new
Suzuki RM-Z250's fuel injection to good use motoring into a commanding
lead by the checkered flag. On the victory podium Stroupe was clearly
happy with the bike, and his own performance. He hoped to repeat last
year's win tonight.


The 450 Supercross heat race was pretty stacked. Due to a penalty
assessed to Ryan Dungey and Jason Lawrence, both riders had last gate
pick in their heats. Even with the handicap, Dungey blasted into turn
one in third place. Half way into lap one, Dungey passed up into second
and took off after the leader. The gap was about three seconds the
entire heat race and that’s pretty much how it settled out. Dungey
crossed the line in second, a good starting spot for the main assured.


The final for the Lites class saw Austin Stroupe get a close second
place start. But a bobble halfway into lap one put Austin back one
spot. At the end of lap two he was still running third.  At the
beginning of lap four, the second place rider slid out putting Austin
back into second. The positions remained pretty constant up until
around lap ten when the top four riders got into a crowd of lappers. In
spite of some very creative line selection on the part of the lappers,
Austin maintained his second place spot at the checkered flag, making
it a great start for the new RM-Z250!


"Tonight, the race was good," Austin said from the gate of his race
transporter. "We did what we wanted and got on the box. The track was a
little slick and so we settled in and it was fine. We are good in
points and look forward to moving up a spot. My bike worked so good.
The fuel injection and everything about the new RM-Z250 is spot on.
It’s a really great bike."


The 450 Supercross event was a great race. Dungey got off the line in
fourth place.  But after a bobble by the third place rider, he quickly
moved into third.  Dungey was in third for many laps but finally ran
down the third place rider, Kevin Windham, and passed him for second.


As in the Lites race, Dungey chased the leader but both were balked by
lappers numerous times. Dungey closed on the last lap but it was not to
be, and he settled for a justly deserved second place and tied for most
points in the series. Overall, Dungey was happy with his ride and his
team’s efforts:


"Things turned out considerably good," Dungey said after the event. “We
did a lot of work, a lot of testing coming into this first East Coast
race, so it was good. First practice was a little tough, in the end we
really worked together and we ended up having a good event. We ended up
salvaging a second, so that was good for points.


Team Manager Roger Decoster was philosophical at the end of the
evening: "The night started off really bad in the qualifiers. Lawrence
was out there playing his games and Ryan retaliated on the last lap,
and on the very last corner the officials were right there and instead
of penalizing just Lawrence, they penalized both of them. Had Ryan not
retaliated, only Lawrence would have been penalized. But Ryan maybe
lost his cool a little bit, and so the officials put both of them last
pick on the gate for their heats.


It was a big loss for Ryan as he was one of the fastest guys on the
track. But he did a good job and came out second or third in the first
turn and got second in the heat. Then in the main, he got second again.
Considering everything that happened he was tough, hung in there, and
is back in the hunt for the championship. Next week we should be even
stronger."


In the 250 East Coast Lites division, Roger was very happy with young
Austin Stroup, who debuted the new Suzuki RM-Z250. “Austin did a very
good job tonight. Everyone knows that Pourcel is good -- in fact, a lot
of people think he should have moved up to the 450 class. He’s been in
the Lites for a while now, and has dominated the East Coast in the
past.  But that considered, Austin was right there. He was really good
and really fast and in contention for the win. I think when he gets a
little more confident and smoothes out a little bit more, he will be
able to race Pourcel… and win."

Indianapolis Results:

Supercross Series


1. Ryan Villopoto

2. Ryan Dungey


3. Kevin Windham


4. Justin Brayton


5. Davi Millsaps

6. Chris Blose


7. Grant Langston


8. Nick Wey


9. Josh Hill


10. Jason Lawrence

Eastern Regional AMA Lites Class Series


1. Chrisophe Pourcel

2. Austin Stroupe


3. Justin Barcia


4. Ryan Sipes


5. Brett Metcalfe

6. Dean Wilson


7. Kyle Regal


8. Nico Izzi


9. Martin Davalos


10. Troy Adams