Story and Photos By Shan Moore
Newly signed by Ricky Carmichael’s and Carey Hart’s RCH Suzuki team after two years with Mitch Payton’s Pro Circuit team, Broc Tickle had his best finish of the year this weekend in Oakland with an eighth place finish. At the series opener in Anaheim, three weeks ago, Broc Tickle had a solid top-five finish going until he tangled with Ryan Villopoto and went down in the main. In 2013, the Michigan rider is looking to break into a podium position, which is looking promising.
Dirt Rider sat down with Broc to get his thoughts on his new team and his future.
Q: Talk about your new team, what are your thoughts on RCH Suzuki?
A: Everything is going awesome so far. The team has come together really well and we got the bike working really good after just a few testing days. Ricky Carmichael worked with us on our test days and that was a huge help. I’m really looking forward to putting us out front.
Q: How much input does RC give on the bikes and on you technique?
A: Yeah, when we’re riding he tells us things to work on, and he also helps with bike setup because he obviously has been on the Suzuki for a while. We get factory Yoshimura parts, so he knows all those parts, so that is a big help too. He knows the ins and outs of every piece, so I think at this time our bike can’t get much better. We might be able to make setup changes at each race to make it better for that track, but overall, I think the bike is right where it needs to be.
Q: Where are you at personally.
A: Ricky Carmichael put me and Josh [Hill] on a riding schedule the last two and a half months and we’ve been sticking to that and I think I’m ready. I’ve been doing a lot of work and a lot of testing and I’m in a lot better place than I have ever been.
Q: You were with Mitch Payton for two years; did you learn a lot from Mitch?
A: Oh yeah, for sure. With Bones and Mitch Payton, that’s an awesome team and I really learned a lot. I learned a lot about bike setup and that just gives you a little more confidence when you understand what the bike is doing, and now I am able to use that with this team.
Q: Was it a big transition from the Kawasaki to the Suzuki?
A: Honestly, no. There is really not much difference between the two, but I really don’t think there is a much better bike than the one I’m on now. The stock [Suzuki] bike is awesome too. I have one at home and that bike is easy and fun to ride too.
Q: You had some good finishes in last year’s outdoor series, does that carry over into Supercross?
A: Oh yeah, for sure. I’ve been working really hard on Supercross. Last year, I made progress in Supercross as the series went down the schedule. And that’s what I want to do, just keep making progress and that’s going to put me where I want to be.
Q: Are you stronger in outdoors?
A: I thought so, there at the end of the outdoor series I was pumped and I was having fun, but I am feeling good on the supercross track too, so I think I can do both just the same.
