race recap
KEN ROCZEN | GRIT-207 | 450SX
February 7, 2023 · Ken Roczen
KEN ROCZEN | GRIT-207 | 450SX
Though the track was a bit moist when practices began, Ken Roczen would be able to oblige to the conditions and acquire a bundle of serious lap-times throughout Saturday afternoon. With Chase Sexton running near the fifty-second mark, there were a myriad of riders that were following suit in the lower fifty-one and fifty-two second range. He, (Ken Roczen) was just near and seemed to be on the right track as practice would wrap up; showing that his confidence and self-belief were paying off in the form of optimal gate position, which translated into his heat race that followed. Packs of riders were congested and were having a hard time separating; though this track would offer an array of lines throughout the rhythm sections. Toggling between the inside and outside combinations (after the tunnel jump), he would stay to the right of the track while being pressured by Joey Savatgy. Though upon leaping into the next berm he would drift left and round the one-eighty in the second rut from the top. The sand section had already began to become "whooped-out" and forced him to stay light on the chassis while maintaining rigidity in his core. Pushing toward the "SX" triple time and time again, the gap that was rather brief in the earlier laps had now expanded to one of multiple bike lengths. Garnering fifth, he would take advantage of the downtime between that moto and the main event; rejuvenating both bike and energy sources prior to flying onto the racetrack. Though unable to do the monstrous quad on the middle of the track, he would still gain adequate time by tripling consecutively before flying over the makeshift double. Mindful of not leaving the door "too-open" when pushing to the outside of the following right-hander, his awareness of Savatgy behind would be key in remaining inside the top-ten. He too, was then able to rejuvenate his momentum following the restart, and proceeded to march forward as time pushed toward the conclusion of the moto. Laps then dwindled, with the championship front runners jousting over the lead. Though he couldn't be overlooked, as he wasn't too far behind Justin Barcia when powering toward the finish-line in the latter stages. Though he couldn't disregard Justin Cooper who was surging forward from eighth place (as Roczen was seventh). And in the final moments, it was Cooper who overtook Ken for seventh; leaving Roczen frustrated in eighth, but hopeful to rebound in next week's event.