Broc Is Back

After two years and five days of sitting on the sidelines, Broc Tickle will be back at the starting gate this Saturday for the seventh round of the 2020 Supercross series in Tampa, Florida. Racing a Suzuki RM Z450 for the JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Racing Team as a fill-in rider for Fredrik Noren and Joey Savatgy, who are both injured, it will be a bitter sweet return for Broc as his absence was due to a suspension handed down by the FIM for violating Article 7.9.2 of the FIM Anti-Doping Code-of which he has proclaimed his innocence throughout the entirety of his suspension.

Tickle was provisionally suspended on February 10, 2018 after a urine test showed positive results for 5-methylhexan-2-amine, a specified substance under Section 6 (Stimulants) of the 2018 FIM Prohibited List. During the provisional suspension and then onto the formal suspension that was announced a year after later Broc has stated that he never intentionally or negligently took any banned substances. Falling into the web of the WADA and FIM Tickle was met with the same frustrations and echoed halls that other riders have found themselves in due to the organizations' poor communication and not responding to questions or not being forthcoming with support for those seeking additional information.

Riders and fans have had plenty to say about WADA and the FIM, and most of it is not how much they love these organizations or how they are happy these organizations are involved with the Supercross series. Thankfully last summer details were released from a meeting with FIM's board of directors that they had approved a new procedure for anti-doping tests for the AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, which would make for a quicker and easier process. It was revealed that sample collection and analysis would be taken care of by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the same firm that handles those duties for the Pro Motocross series. The FIM would still be responsible for the rest of the processes and punishment if necessary.

While Tickle's suspension officially ended two days ago, it unfortunately cost him more than just two years of racing, he also lost his contract with KTM. However, even though he couldn't race Tickle continued to train and practice so that he would be in prime shape and ready to line up at the starting gate in Tampa. The JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Racing Team is there to support Tickle in his efforts and signed him to finish out the season, you can read the full press release from Suzuki below. This will likely be one of the most memorable and emotional races of Tickle's professional career and you can bet fans will be on their feet rooting for him.

Broc Tickle will be joining the JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Racing Team this weekend in Tampa, Florida for round seven of the Monster Energy Supercross Series as a fill-in rider for both injured Fredrik Noren and Joey Savatgy. Tickle, who has spent more than half his 450 career on Suzuki, will make his Supercross comeback at Raymond James Stadium and compete in the premier class with the team for the remainder of the Supercross season.

"I'm really excited for this opportunity with the JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Team," said Tickle. "I had a great thing put together but there were still some missing pieces that on race day can really come into play, and JGR has those pieces being the Suzuki effort. I've had success in the past with Suzuki, so when we got to communicating and putting things together, it just ended up working out and made sense to move forward with the JGR Suzuki program.

"I'm ready to go racing and looking forward to just getting back in the mix. The overall goal is to go out, enjoy it, have fun, and do the best I can do. Two years of not racing is a big deal but I'm up for the challenge and eager to be back on the gate as well as being back to training, riding, and doing this at the highest level."

The Michigan native began his pro career in 2006 and has been a competitive racer since, earning eight podiums, 21 top-five and 93 top-ten positions during his 450 career. Tickle also earned the 2011 250 West Coast Lites Supercross Champion.

"I'm excited to see Broc back on a Suzuki this weekend in Tampa," said Jeremy Albrecht, Team Manager. "He has been testing and riding in North Carolina with our team for a couple weeks and will finish out the Supercross season on our team. His speed and fitness are good so we will see this weekend where he ends up. I'm happy that we have great partners that helped make this happen."

The JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki team is excited to welcome back Broc Tickle to racing.