Team Yoshimura Suzuki

James Stewart returned to action at High Point after recording no points in Colorado. The two-time race winner this season battled his way through the field to finish fifth in the first moto, but ultimately wasn’t able to compete in Moto 2 due to soreness in his throttle hand. Stewart’s status for Budds Creek remains uncertain. He currently sits fifth in the 450 Class standings.

“My Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 was working great and I was trying to do my best, but in the first moto I got a horrible start – outside the top 20,” said Stewart. “I was able to work my way up to fifth, which was pretty good, but about halfway through the race I was barely able to hang on. It just didn’t make sense to race the second moto. It was a tough decision to make between the races – especially because everybody worked so hard. We’ll go back and reevaluate the situation. I’ll probably just wait until the end of the week and see where we’re at, and go from there.”

Brett Metcalfe posted another top-10 effort in Pennsylvania to continue his solid start to the season. Metcalfe’s 7-5 moto scores landed him sixth overall, where he also sits in the championship standings, two points behind teammate Stewart.

“I got great starts in both motos at High Point,” said Metcalfe. “The Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 was awesome off the gate and that helped me get up there with the front-runners. We made big improvements throughout the day and I’m looking forward to carrying that momentum to Budds Creek.”

Star/Valli Yamaha

Nico Izzi is carrying the Star/Valli flag high this season, starting the year off in impressive fashion during his first full season of 450 Class competition. At High Point, Izzi’s 8-10 moto efforts resulted in a ninth-place finish overall and now Izzi is looking forward to continued success.

“I felt like I rode really well all day at High Point,” said Izzi. “Budds Creek should be good. I like the track and I have the speed, I just need to work on my starts.”

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki

Broc Tickle has been a regular presence inside the top 10 during his rookie season of 450 Class competition. In Pennsylvania that continued as Tickle posted a seventh-place finish (6-9) to solidify himself in eighth in the championship standings.

“I’ve been working hard during the week and doing everything I can,” said Tickle. “Budds Creek is one of my favorite tracks and I’m looking forward to it. I want to be back on the podium again and be in the top five every moto.”

Jeff Ward Racing Kawasaki

Josh Grant didn’t have the day he was looking for at High Point. Following a 10th-place finish in the opening moto, Grant encountered misfortune in Moto 2 en route to finishing 38th. As a result, Grant finished 15th overall, but still sits ninth in the points.

Grant’s teammate Kyle Chisholm fared better in Pennsylvania, relying on 14-12 moto scores to finish 12th overall. In the championship, he sits 18 points behind his teammate in 10th.

Team Honda Muscle Milk

Justin Brayton’s season hasn’t gotten off to the start he was hoping for, but over the last two weeks, he’s begun to turn things around. At High Point, Brayton battled his way to an 11th-place finish (11-13), narrowly missing out on the top 10. His recent efforts have helped Brayton rise in the championship, where he currently sits just two points outside the top 10 in 11th.

“(High Point) went okay for me,” said Brayton. “I’m going to work on some things this week for Budds Creek and hope to improve on my 11th overall finish.”