Team Suzuki Press Office – February 15.
After missing a round nursing a sore shoulder, Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Blake Baggett made his return to Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross competition on Saturday night in front of 40,528 fans at Petco Park in San Diego, California.
Unfortunately, a slick track caught Baggett out and he tumbled twice at inopportune times and as a result failed to make the Main Event.
Baggett reported great improvement of his recently surgically-repaired shoulder, which he battered again in Oakland two weeks ago, but he admitted he was still far from 100 per cent fit.
He slid out and fell while running second in his Semi-Final and then again in the first turn of the Last Chance Qualifier, ending Baggett’s final shot of making San Diego’s final.
“Blake knows trying to come back and work his way back into race shape in the middle of the season is a tough thing to do,” said Yoshimura Suzuki’s Team Manager Mike Webb. “But credit to him, he’s willing to take his lumps and fight his way back up the ladder.
“Things didn’t work the way we’d hoped in San Diego, but we’re happy to have Blake out there competing and representing the team. He showed flashes of what he’s capable of at times, but after being out so long, obviously he’s going to have to get through these kinds of nights before it all starts clicking for him. We admire his willingness to tough it out and race his way back into shape and we’re confident Blake will get back to his normal self as the season progresses.”
Baggett’s Yoshimura Suzuki team-mate James Stewart was on hand to meet fans and sign autographs in San Diego. Stewart is slated to test this week and hopes to be back ready to race, possibly as soon as this coming Saturday in Dallas, or perhaps by Atlanta in two weeks.
The Yoshimura Suzuki squad will be on hand as the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season continues next weekend with the championship's annual visit to the home of the Dallas Cowboys, Arlington, Texas, and AT&T Stadium on Saturday, February 20th.
