RICKY CARMICHAEL:

What have you seen so far in the 450-class series so far this season after four rounds?

"A lot of inconsistency from everybody. The only guy that has been consistent is Davi Millsaps. He's been a factor in every race so far this year and that's why he's in the position that he's in. It seems to me that Ryan Villopoto the last few weeks is starting to get back to his winning ways. I think that he's getting back to where I expected him to be. Overall, the inconsistency of all the riders has been unreal. One weekend a guy finishes fifth and the next he's 18th because of a wreck.

"It's been good for us at RCH Racing; and outside of A1 - where we had a throw-away race when we got caught up in Villopoto's stuff - Broc has been really consistent and helped us points-wise and we haven't fallen too far behind. With one good weekend, we could be seventh in rider points."

Broc continues to make improvements at each race. How would you evaluate him through the first month of the season?

"I think that all the pieces of the puzzle are getting closer. The bottom line is he's getting better, but he's a little frustrated because he knows how good he can race. He's improved every week, he knows that he has to start the races better and we've talked about that all year. I can see the fire starting to get lit in him and he's getting better results every single weekend. His best finish last year was a seventh and he almost beat that last weekend in Oakland. I'm interested in seeing where everyone is going to be a few months from now. I like the direction we're heading. Broc's fire is lit and I think he's ready to go and ride inside that top-five, top-six."

With gate position so critical in the Main Event, is there more emphasis needed in timed-qualifying sessions?

"Absolutely. It all starts in the timed-qualifying sessions. We're making big strides in the second timed-qualifying session, which gives Broc a good starting position for the Heat. These guys are so close in riding levels that having a good starting position in the Heat and in the Main is really determining who is riding up front. Broc was seventh in practice last weekend' and if he rode two-10ths quicker, he'd be inside the top five. We're putting all our emphasis on race starts and making passes quicker."

Big-named riders were collected again during the first lap at Oakland. What advice can you give a rider like Broc in anticipation of riders hitting the dirt early in the Main Event?

"You have to complete every lap. And as hard as it is sometimes, you have to put yourself in good position, knowing that things are going to get sketchy those first few laps. You really have to focus looking forward and predict what's going to happen until things thin out. It's simple maths: you have to be in it to win it. You have to put yourself in the best possible position early in the race to get the best result possible. Every weekend it's 'gotten better for Broc and I'm looking forward in seeing how he rides in Anaheim."