CHRYSLER GROUP LLC - Ram Truck and SRT Motorsports announced they have partnered with RCH (Ricky Carmichael and Carey Hart) Racing to field a team in the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
"The Ram Truck brand is looking forward to working with Ricky Carmichael, Carey Hart and Broc Tickle, and being part of RCH Racing's success in the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "Motorcyclists rely on durable, proven trucks. Look at any motocross parking lot and all you see are pickups. Motocross is especially effective in reaching younger truck buyers, and we expect our Ram Express will make a lot of new fans this year."
Michigan-native Broc Tickle will campaign the No. 20 RCH Racing Suzuki in the premier 450 class for the full 12-race series. He finished ninth in the recently completed Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, advancing to the Main Event in all 17 races. It was his first season of 450SX competition with RCH Racing.
"I'm really excited for the outdoor motocross season to start," said Tickle. "I feel like our RCH Racing team has made really big strides the last four months and we want to carry that over into the outdoor season. I had the best outdoor season of my career last year and when I think about how fast our Suzuki's are right now, it's really easy to get pumped. Working with Ricky – the greatest outdoor racer of all-time – is a huge bonus. I feel that we're in a great position to have success. I'm healthy and I have something to prove to everyone Having Ram on-board for the motocross season is really cool because our fans are die-hards and they love trucks. I can't wait to get to Hangtown (Motocross Classic just outside Sacramento, Calif.)."
Tickle finished third in last year's motocross championship. He had an average finish of ninth.
"I am really looking forward to my first motocross season as an owner," said Carmichael. "Broc had a great rookie season last year and we are hoping he improves this year on his Suzuki RM-Z450. The outdoors are a different animal from supercross and the whole RCH Racing team is looking forward to their first season racing outdoors."
Hart, the team co-owner, agreed. "I'm really excited to have the RCH team racing their first motocross season. To change from the supercross season, we will be representing the Ram brand and running Ram livery on all of our bikes and hauler. The outdoor series allows us to help promote the Ram brand to a whole new audience. We are very excited to be working with their team."
In addition to the traditional motocross stops, two new venues have been added to the schedule. The series makes its first visit to Muddy Creek Raceway near Bristol, Tenn. on June 1 and Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City on August 17. The season opened May 18 in Sacramento, Calif.
2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Schedule
May 18: Hangtown Motocross Classic - Sacramento, Calif.
May 25: Thunder Valley National - Lakewood, Colo.
June 1: Bristol National - Bristol, Tenn.
June 8: High Point National - Mt. Morris, Pa.
June 22: Budds Creek National - Mechanicsville, Md.
June 29: Moto-X 338 National - Southwick, Mass.
July 6: RedBud National - Buchanan, Mich.
July 20: Washougal National - Washougal, Wash.
July 27: Spring Creek National - Millville, Minn.
August 10: Unadilla National - New Berlin, N.Y.
August 17: Utah National - Salt Lake City, Utah
August 24: Lake Elsinore National - Lake Elsinore, Calif.