Team Suzuki Press Office – April 29.
Kyle Peters # 55 – 250 Class – 6th
Alex Martin # 26 – 250 Class – 7th
Justin Hill # 46 – 450 Class – 10th
The JGRMX/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing Team was in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the penultimate round of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross Championship, and the eighth stop of the 250 Eastern Regional Supercross Series, where Suzuki RM-Z250 rider Alex Martin grabbed the main event holeshot and set the pace before falling to seventh, while teammate Kyle Peters continued to show speed and determination with his sixth place finish. Suzuki RM-Z450 rider Justin Hill also strung together his second straight top-10 finish.
Martin made big strides at MetLife Stadium on his RM-Z250: After placing an exciting second place in his heat race, he grabbed the main event holeshot and looked extremely comfortable as he set the pace. Unfortunately, he fell on the opening lap and remounted in 10th. Thanks to his strong-minded attitude, ‘A-Mart’ worked his way up to seventh by the completion of the night show. He trails fifth place in the overall points heading into the Las Vegas finale.
“I was able to get a nice gate pick for the main with a second-place finish in my heat race,” said Martin. “I was really pumped to get the holeshot in the main! Of course, I’m bummed that I made a few mistakes, but I came up to salvage a seventh.”
Teammate Peters once again showed impressive speed on his RM-Z250: He led his heat race for three laps, but a costly mistake ended the bid for his first heat race victory of the season. In the main, Peters rebounded to finish sixth place which captured his seventh top-10 finish in eight races.
“Kyle had a great start in the heat race and was leading, but he ended up crashing,” said Team Manager Jeremy Albrecht. “The track was difficult, as a lot of riders went down. Kyle was disappointed, but he was riding super well.”
Despite a few challenging rounds throughout the series, Hill has become a strong top-10 regular and notably continues to be one of the most naturally talented riders in the 450 class. Although Hill ran a top-five pace during the opening laps in the main, a lingering back injury slowed his advance, placing him in 10th. He is looking forward to giving it all he’s got at the final round next weekend then regrouping for a strong effort in the upcoming outdoor motocross season.
The JGRMX/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing Team will venture to Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, May 4th for the final round of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross Championship. This will also serve as the second 250 East/ West Showdown.
Kyle Peters [250 Class, 6th Place]:
“I was feeling really good when I woke up on Saturday morning. However, I kind of struggled throughout the day. I don’t know if it was the dirt or the track layout. I should have been more willing to hang it out and not be so calculated. I crashed twice in the same turn. In the heat race I started riding better, but then I fell and knocked my front brake down and couldn’t use it. I had a decent start in the main and got stuck. It was tough to pass, and guys were riding well. I’m disappointed in sixth, because I have a lot more in me.”
Alex Martin [250 Class, 7th Place]:
“I enjoyed racing at MetLife Stadium. Practice went well, but we had less track time than usual due to the revised schedule. I was able to get a nice gate pick for the main with a second-place finish in my heat race. I was really pumped to get the holeshot in the main! Of course, I’m bummed that I made a few mistakes, which put me back to 10th at one point. I came up to salvage a seventh.”
Justin Hill [450 Class, 10th Place]:
“After the weekend off and having some time to do therapy on my back, I was looking forward to MetLife Stadium. Things were clicking, as I was inside the top 10 in overall qualifying times. I finished fourth in my heat race and was ready to get a great result in the main. I had a pretty good start, despite some carnage around me off the start, and was just outside the top five. Then my back tightened up, and I brought it home in 10th. I’m not happy with my result, but I’m looking forward for what’s to come.”
Jeremy Albrecht [Team Manager]:
“The track crew did a great job to make the track dry on Saturday for how much rain we had on Friday. It was cool that Alex Martin was part of ‘The Trolls Experience’ in New York City. Several families went and had a great time. The dealer signing was also very good. Kyle Peters had a great start in the heat race and was leading, but he ended up crashing. The track was difficult, as a lot of riders went down. Kyle was bummed, but he was riding super well. Alex Martin finished well in his heat, and then got the holeshot in the main. He messed up in a corner and went down, but he came back to seventh. Two top-10 finishes in the 250 class was a decent showing.
“Justin Hill rode with more aggression, and it showed. He had some moments in the middle of the race where he tweaked his back again, but he recovered. We’ll move on to Vegas and end the Supercross season strong. We will have four 250 guys for the East/ West Showdown, and then Justin Hill on the 450. At this time, we’re unsure whether Chad Reed will be able to race. More information will be available in the coming days.”
