Blake Baggett is the latest rider to confirm a move to the premier class for 2015. The 2012 250MX champion has signed a two-year deal with Yoshimura Suzuki that will pair him with James Stewart on an RM-Z450.
While the Baggett-to-Suzuki rumors had begun to pick up steam in recent weeks, little was known on Baggett’s future plans immediately after the end of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season, other than the fact that he had a desire to move up to the 450 Class. Behind the scenes, he opted to take a bit of a gamble with a patient approach to silly season. In an interview with Racer X, Baggett – who is coming off a second-place finish in 250MX points – stated that the deal with Suzuki came together late in the game.
Baggett brings the #4 back to a factory Suzuki bike. (Photo: Suzuki)
“There were options to ride 250s, and there were actually other options to ride other 450s as well,” Baggett said in the interview. “I had a plan set in stone in my mind, and that’s what we were going for. Just basically waiting it out. Sometimes you wait it out and it turns out good. But we were gambling on it.”
Baggett will join Jason Anderson, Cole Seely and Dean Wilson as new full-time entrants into the premier class in 2015. In the interview with Racer X, Baggett admitted that he hasn’t been on a 450 since 2009 but “wanted a new challenge and something that [he] could build on and go for a long career.”
Baggett’s addition expands the factory Suzuki lineup to a 2-rider team for the first time since Stewart came onboard in 2012.
Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing welcomed former AMA Pro 250 Motocross Champion Blake Baggett to the team today during the 2015 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) Dealer Meeting at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Baggett will join Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart in the premier class for the 2015 AMA Pro Supercross and Motocross seasons, but his first race on the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 will be Las Vegas’ Monster Energy Cup later this month. Baggett’s Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Stewart won the prestigious stand-alone Supercross race last year.
“I’m really excited to be a part of the Yoshimura Suzuki racing team for the 2015 Supercross and Motocross seasons,” Baggett said. “Testing on the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 has been going great and I’m looking forward to racing the bike for the first time at the Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas.”
Baggett comes to Yoshimura Suzuki after finishing second overall in the 2014 AMA Pro 250 Motocross Championships, thanks to overall victories at the Thunder Valley, High Point and Budds Creek Nationals. Prior to that, Baggett celebrated a spectacular 2012 Motocross season, where he held the 250 class points lead for 11 consecutive rounds before winning the championship. Baggett also was a member of the 2012 Motocross of Nations team that finished third overall for Team USA in Belgium.
“Everyone at Yoshimura Suzuki is pleased to welcome Blake to the team,” said Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Mike Webb. “He has shown tremendous talent in the 250 class in both Motocross and Supercross. After just a few weeks of testing the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450, he has the potential to be extremely competitive in the premier 450 class. The whole Yoshimura Suzuki team is looking forward to helping Blake live up to his potential in 2015.”
Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s next race will be the 2014 Monster Energy Cup on Saturday, October 18, at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.