KEN ROCZEN - GRIT 241 450SX

GRIT-241 | 450 SX

Following his recent race win in the 2024 SX series, Suzuki's Ken Roczen was ecstatic to return to the racetrack in Texas. Throughout practice, the German rider's natural talent was displayed with a series of whips and scrubs that few others could mirror - translating to an optimal gate choice in the first heat, where he trailed only Aaron Plessinger and Eli Tomac in the early going. He took advantage of the revised racing format, and would use every inch of the raceway as a means of gaining traction and "hooking" onto the flow that the Colorado native had established per se. Around the halfway point, he had appeared to figure out all of the lines in which the leaders were using - making quite the run toward the Yamaha combatant in front of him, however unable to make the move as the three-quarter mark of the moto came to fruition. Ultimately, both Tomac and Plessinger would do just enough to create a gap that couldn't be overcome...leaving Roczen third, as the checkered flag waved respectively. The main event was a platform to gain as many points as possible, and Kenny rounded the opening circuit in eighth, while making two quick passes into sixth on the second circuit. It was on the third lap where he and Vince Friese would come together at the end of the whoop section, which subsequently took-down Malcolm Stewart as well...though all involved remounted rather quickly. Re-firing his engine in thirteenth, Ken was able to infiltrated the top ten by roughly lap eight...where he and Justin Cooper seemed to be on a similar pace. All the while, Eli would make his way by once more, and the German rider would do his best to stay attached to the rear wheel of the Colorado native. This enabled Ken to embody a solid state of momentum...though the rookie (Cooper) wasn't folding under pressure. Roczen could also sense that Stewart was applying a tremendous amount of force in trying to catch him as well...but the ninety-four machine wasn't going to budge as the checkered flag neared. He appeared solidified in eighth place as the white flag was thrown, and resided here as all settled in Dallas. Though not necessarily the position he had aspired for, Roczen remained in the hunt for a championship as round eight of the series is set to be completed next Saturday.

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