Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen posted a fifth-place result at the AMA Supercross series’ 14th round, held at Salt Lake City, Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium.
After suffering from health issues during the last two rounds, the German enjoyed a great start in the 450SX main event, grabbing the holeshot and completing lap one in second place. He briefly assumed the lead on lap seven, and then after a minor slip-up, his momentum dropped and he slipped a few positions. Lap 20 saw him drop to fifth, where he remained until the finish. The result relegated Roczen to third place in the series standings, a mere two points behind second.
“Coming back after two days of trying to get everything lined up again following a tough race, I had a lot more fight and felt a lot better today,’ said Roczen. “I had a good heat race and was able to put up a fight at least for some of the race. I’m not 100% yet obviously, because two days unfortunately is just not enough to get everything lined up, but it was much better than the last race. We’re going to just continue fighting because this stuff is out of our hands and we have the speed and good starts and everything. We have to get my body right and I think we can be on the top step much more consistently.”
Roczen’s teammate Justin Brayton, who had suffered from stomach issues throughout the day, wasn’t able to ride to his potential in the 450SX main event, finishing 12th. Brayton enjoyed a decent start, completing lap one in sixth place, but he lost momentum and slid to 11th by the midway point of the 26-lap race. Struggling to feel comfortable on the track, Brayton eventually fell to 13th, but he regained a spot in the late going.
“It was my roughest one yet. I’m not really sure what went on, but today was just kind of a struggle most of the day,” said Brayton. “The best thing about this format is that we race again in a few days, so I’m going to try and forget about that one. Overall, I honestly can’t really pinpoint anything other than kind of a stomach bug for most of the day; I didn’t have the energy I needed for that main event. Definitely a bummer, but it’s all good and we’ll come back fighting in a few days.”
The 250SX West main event proved to be a difficult one for Red Riders, the best-placing one being GEICO Honda’s Christian Craig, who recovered from 20th place on lap two to finish eighth. Craig’s teammate Jett Lawrence, in his first race back from a broken collarbone, ran in the top five in the early going, but a mistake on lap 11 put him back in the pack. He finished 11th ahead of his brother Hunter in 13th. Also making the top 10 was Penrite Honda’s Mitchell Oldenburg.