KEN ROCZEN - GRIT 233 450SMX

KEN ROCZEN | GRIT-233 | 450 SMX

Suzuki's Ken Roczen would return to the racetrack with an encouraging pairing of results last weekend in Charlotte, and planned to do much the same while stationed in the Midwest for the second round of the playoff's in the SuperMotocross World Championship. The racing pedigree of the rider who sported the number ninety-four was phenomenal, and he certainly made sure to emphasize his talent level throughout practice laps on Saturday before embarking on the laps that followed. And once the thirty-second board went sideways for the first main event of the evening, it was the German rider who attempted to strike first and lunge for the race lead - though he garnered fourthon the first lap while on the brink of overtaking Justin Barcia. It was evident that the Suzuki athlete was on-point throughout this fast-paced layout, where he was making noticeable gains on Justin Barcia who was ahead...and as the fourth lap came to a close, it would be the number ninety-four who definitively surpassed Barcia once and for all. Now with both Honda athletes (i.e. Chase Sexton and Jett Lawrence) within the foreground of the racetrack, Roczen would proceed to engage in as fast of a pace as possible while attacking the Joliet racecourse. However, it would be too little, too late as the final flag flew - and Ken would reside third before returning to the racetrack one final time with redemption. Not long thereafter, would the field reunite for the second (and final) showcase of the evening, where Ken managed to obtain second as the green flag was thrown (after passing Phil Nicoletti) and the field began to sort themselves out amongst their fellow adversaries. Roczen was electric when scrubbing the fastest singles the raceway had to offer, where he landed on the rear wheel with the back tire continuously spinning before pummeling the braking bumps and rollers that were immediately thereafter. And by all means, would the German athlete prove that he could run the pace of Jett Lawrence as he mimicked the Australian rider on every facet of the course. Pushing the envelope to the furthest extent, Roczen was extraordinary as laps continued to amass - breaking away from the field while constantly bombarding Lawrence with pressure, where the number eighteen would have to acknowledge him. This would lead quite the unexpected twist in the second-moto narrative, where Jett would "slow-up" per se, and wave Ken to the inside when they raced atop the elevated portion of the circuit...and Ken wouldn't reject the offer. He took what Lawrence would give him, and proceeded to charge to the finish-line without hesitation at that point! Leading the final three laps of the process, it was Roczen who then took the moto win - which garnered second overall!

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