Page 28 - Issue50

BROC TICKLE
450 MX / 8TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / KUHLHOFF DESIGN / MPG
>> “All is good. Broc will be on the line.”- RCH Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Rac- ing Team after a gas-induced fire broke out in their pit area, throwing flames at the number 20 machine of Broc Tickle, resulting in the replacement of several bike parts. If anyone had to feel nervous on the line at Thunder Valley, it was Broc Tickle. The gates dropped for the first moto and Broc Tickle quickly over- came the mental obstacles of the morning when he found himself sitting in the fourth place spot early in the race. The RCH Team was proving to everyone that they had a winner’s mentality as both of their riders, Bogle and Tickle, were cruising within the top five. Even with some very heated battling hap- pening on every corner of the track, Tickle’s fire did not go out (pun intended). The Michigan native was able to cross the finish line in the eighth place spot. Tickle lined up for the second moto and everyone was rooting for another impressive ride by the RCH Team and once again, Broc did not disappoint. The gates dropped and Tickle shot off the line and grabbed the Holeshot. With quick passes by Baggett and Tomac, Tickle now found himself fighting to hold onto a spot within the top five. Broc persevered after a short battle with his teammate, but afterwards was passed by a determined Anderson and Mus- quin. Tickle continued to put in consistent laps but a war between Webb and Grant was quickly approaching and within the heat of battle, they both passed Broc Tickle before the end of the moto. By the time the checkered flag flew, Tickle found himself in eighth place once again. Broc Tickle put in a great, and incredibly consistent ride at Thunder Valley and seized eighth overall for the day. Fingers crossed, but I would love to see Tickle grab another Holeshot and hold onto it at round four in Pennsylvania.
28 GRITMOTO • JUNE 4, 2017