Chino, CA (May 22, 2016) – It was a tough weekend for Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing at the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship season opener at the Hangtown Motocross Classic on Saturday. Unfortunate crashes left both riders departing the Sacramento California area racetrack wearing arm slings.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart’s day ended early in the first moto. Stewart swapped in the turn before finish line and crashed over an embankment landing hard on his shoulder. The injury was painful enough that Stewart didn’t attempt to race in the second moto. His status for next week’s race in San Bernardino is day to day.

Blake Baggett’s day was more productive since he finished third in the first moto, but Baggett ultimately left Hangtown with injury as well after a crash in moto two left him with a broken collarbone. Stewart and Baggett qualified eighth and ninth respectively in combined timed qualifying aboard their Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450s.

Stewart ran in 14th in the early going of moto one when on lap five he crashed out. “I had a decent practice, but got a horrible start in the first moto,” Stewart said. “I was just riding around trying to get comfortable. I came across the mechanic’s area and the next thing I know I was grabbing and hanging on to my bike trying to hug it. I went off this steep embankment and landed on my shoulder.

“I’m bummed. I keep putting in all this work and things keep happening. I can’t quit. As hard as it is now I refuse to quit. I know I’m not done. I’m going to go back to work after I have my shoulder checked out. I’ll see how I feel. Hopefully I can get back into action next week. I’ll be back, it’s just another setback.”

The first moto was a major success for Baggett. He ran ninth on the first lap before tapping into the power of his Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450, charged and worked all the way up to third by the end of the moto. In the second moto he again worked his way through the field up to sixth when he crashed with four laps to go and suffered the collarbone injury.

“Moto one went about as good as it could get, charging up from the back and working my way all the way back to a podium spot,” Baggett explained. “I really felt good and thought everything was working. I went out in the second moto and got a decent start and was working my way through the pack. I think I needed one more spot to get a podium for the overall. And then I caught a rock and did a little high side. It was slo-mo, but I ended up going down pretty hard and breaking my collarbone.

“We’ll see where we’re at and be back to fight for sure. I know where I am right now. Hangtown is one of the gnarliest tracks there is and if you can go good there you can do it anywhere. So I’ll regroup and hopefully be back soon.”

The Yoshimura Suzuki squad heads to Southern California and Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, CA on Saturday, May 28th. The races will be televised on MavTV and NBCSN.

Words: Press Release | Image: Suzuki Racing