Words by: Dan Lamb – Interview by: Chase Yoccom – Photo by: Justin Westhead
RCH / Soaring Eagle / Suzuki’s Ken Roczen got off to a slow start for the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series, with a fifth and a sixth in the first two main events, but since then, he’s scored nine podiums and two wins, but he still trails Red Bull / KTM’s Ryan Dungey by 48 points. At this point the Championship is all but over, but the #94 is doing everything in his power to end the 2016 season by straight up beating the soon to be back-to-back Champ.
Over the last three rounds, Kenny has spent fifty-nine of sixty logged laps on the #1’s rear wheel. At all three rounds, the German was the faster of the two riders on paper, but starts and mistakes have not allowed him to make a pass stick for the win. It has to be frustrating to follow the same rider for three straight races and not record a win, but the former World and National Champ just keeps coming.
After his third-straight 20-lap battle and second place finish, MotoXAddicts’ Chase Yocom caught up with Kenny to talk about his night in St. Louis.
Ken, second place on the night. I know you’re obviously disappointed, but the last few weeks you’ve been riding really well. Are you at least happy with that?
Yeah, I’ve been really happy with my riding and the steps forward that me and the team have been making. Again tonight we were fighting for first place. I had a pass made, but he got me back. I came in a little bit too hot after the finish line and washed the front end. That sent me back to third, and I made the pass happen [back to 2nd] in the last turn. I finished second again. I don’t know if Ryan [Dungey] was just taking it easy or if we were reeling him in lap after lap. It was a tough race out there; the track was really, really slow and technical.
It seemed like you were reeling him in every lap. Up until lap ten, you were right on him and even got passed him. Were you liking the track tonight? The dirt looked awesome.
The track was a little bit odd. Some of the transitions in the rhythm sections were really short and steep, but it made for great racing. It was really tight in some spots, and it got a little bit rutted again and pretty rough. It made for good racing.
You’ve been talking quite a bit lately about some of the changes you made with the bike a couple of weeks ago. It really seems like that’s been a huge factor. Would you attest to that being the case?
Absolutely, absolutely! We’ve been making some great changes that have been helping me out. It’s late in the season, but we’re all trying really hard and I’m enjoying the ride. I can guarantee you we’ll be back next weekend in Boston giving it our all to finally, hopefully, get on the first step.
It was a day race today in St. Louis. How different is that racing at a different time?
It is really weird because the schedule was pretty tight today. It was quite a bit different. I’m not a big fan of it.
(laughs) I have to admit, I was pretty tired this morning.
Yeah, it wasn’t too bad for me because Florida is an hour ahead, so it wasn’t that bad. But still, overall, I like the old schedule better.
Alright, well, thanks for your time, Ken. Congrats on the second.
Thank you.
