Page 12 - ISSUE25

KEN ROCZEN
Leading up to last weekend at Southwick, where he witnessed his first non-Dungey obstacle in the form of Eli Tomac, the yellow #94 of Ken Roczen has completely destroyed the competition thus far. Now, over half through the season and entering round eight, five rounds stand between Kenny and his first championship
since the 2014 outdoor season. The difference, this year, being the supporting camp changes that have lingered with Roczen since the beginning of 2015, a time when he ended the relationship with his, then, trainer, Aldon Baker. Rigorous daily schedules, understandably, aren’t for everyone, so the #94 dropped the routines and moved towards his own methods. As luck would have it, though, Roczen became a runner-up for the duration of that season while Baker continued to guide potential contenders. Well, with one of those contenders being Ryan Dungey, Baker actually continued his winning ways and Roczen was left to figure out how. As we all know, Roczen also failed to overtake Dungey indoors earlier this year. So, what’s different about this season? Many may say that Ken’s success is only a result of Dungey’s absence but those close to the #94 camp know that Roczen is finally seeing his hard work pay off. In fact, putting on clinics in five of the first seven rounds, it’s hard to point out a weakness of Roczen to this point. Millville’s whoops could be the hands that bring the hope of the world’s fastest German to a sudden halt but Ken is great at keeping it on two wheels. What Kenny well need is a to drop the hammer early, using the horsepower on the Minnesota hills to get one step closer to having 2016 be the year he does it all on his own.
12 GRITMOTO • JULY.18.16
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