SoCal SuperTrucks backed Team Rocky Mountain ATV/MC made their way east this past Saturday night, as round seven of the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross Series stopped at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. It proved to be a rough night for team rider Blake Baggett. That being said, this week’s race report also serves as an explanation and the reasoning behind the team rider not making it to the main event gate line up. Also included is an update on Blake’s current health status and plans for the upcoming weekends Dallas SX.

We here at SoCal SuperTrucks are very pleased to let everyone know that Blake Baggett will definitely be lining up for this upcoming weekend’s race in Dallas. This news comes just a few days after Baggett and his team made a last-minute decision to pull out from the Tampa main event, based upon the rider’s health after very hard crash on lap 1 of the Heat Race.

Upon crashing with another rider on lap 1, Baggett himself was hit hard by the bike of a third rider resulting in a severe case of whiplash. He would hop back on his bike and put on an amazing comeback ride, securing a transfer spot and closing within less than 2 seconds from the 6th place of Anderson.

Unfortunately, when returning to the team hauler after the race, Baggett’s neck and upper back muscles began to spasm and lock up from the whiplash. Within 20 minutes, and roughly 15 minutes before the 450 main event gate drop – the muscle spasms and pain had rapidly escalated to a point where Blake could not even hold his head up. After trying everything within the team and Blake’s power, the team made a final decision that it would be impossible for him to complete the race, and it was not worth the risk of further injury. While at the same time not knowing the extent of what could have already been a potential injury.

Baggett would return home to see his doctor Sunday, and we are relieved to say that there was not any bone, ligament or tendon damage, nor any injury of that matter beyond a severe case of whiplash and muscle sprains. As of today, the team and Blake plan to take the week very lightly in order to be ready to battle for the podium at this weekend’s Dallas SX, and round two of this season's Triple Crown series.

Team owner Forrest Butler had this personal note to add; “On behalf of our team, I would like to take this moment to actually thank and recognize our rider Blake Baggett for what has simply been an amazing streak of SX stats. Upon starting with the team in 2017, up until this past weekend’s 2020 Tampa SX – Blake has amassed 57 straight 450 SX main event starts. And though his main event start streak will reset this upcoming weekend in Dallas, Blake still qualified for the Tampa SX main event, making Blake a perfect 58 450 main event starts, in 58 attempts with his Rocky Mountain – KTM – WPS team. Thank you, Blake, and I know the best is still to come!" – FB

Team RMATV/MC will now travel to Arlington, TX, for round eight of the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross Series and the second Triple Crown race of the season.