Page 12 - ISSUE 29

KEN ROCZEN
Ken Roczen has likely ended his tenure with RCH Suzuki strong by dominating the 2016 outdoor series. Strong speculation and rumors around the industry are suggesting that Roczen is going to take his talents to Factory Honda HRC this offseason. This potential move is puzzling to many fans and
community members because of the sheer dominance he displayed this year aboard a Suzuki. Last season in his first year with RCH was definitely a struggle for the defending champ as an ankle injury in supercross combined with failure to find a comfortable bike set up hindered him drastically. He rebounded this year beginning in the second half
of supercross where he and the team seemed to have finally found the proper settings and he started reeling off wins and legitimately challenging Dungey each race. He carried that swagger into the outdoor series and the rest is history. He put forth one of the more dominating championship winning seasons in recent memory with only a few blemishes along the way. He handled the defending champ, Dungey, with ease beating him handily before the KTM riders untimely injury. Tomac was able to sneak in a pair of wins along the way but Roczen was clearly the dominant figure. Entering the final round this weekend Roczen was anticipating racing an RM 250 two stroke, with the title already in hand, but an AMA rule shutdown that idea. Nevertheless Roczen will be lining up at Indiana ready to cap off the season with one more victory.
12
GRITMOTO • AUGUST.29.16
>>