A resurgent Ken Roczen made it back-to-back 450SX victories with a win inside The Dome at America’s Center, closing to within five points of the championship lead with only five rounds remaining in Monster Energy Supercross 2026. In this Debrief feature, the Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki rider speaks on his exceptional form and more following the main event.

Image: Octopi Media.

Race day

Today took some work for me, honestly. I didn’t feel all that comfortable. I’ve been great for most of the year and just today, I don’t know, like leading up to it, I just was a little bit at unease. And of course, I don’t let that define my entire night, but it is a little bit more work at times compared to other weekends. And so this one definitely did not come easy to me, starting off with the first qualifying. And it was just a really tricky track. You know, it was big. The rhythms were big. And ultimately, just because the dirt was so soft. So I ended up doing like three, four, five laps or something in first qualifying, and then I went down, and I hadn’t even done all the jumps yet. So then you have like a couple of minutes left on the clock, right. So I was like, hey, I just got to do the jumps and get some, get a time in. And I ended up being ninth or something. Now that’s how my day started, but I didn’t let that, you know, fully derail me. And it was a perfect night, honestly, after Q2, I won that one and then winning the heat race and an amazing main event. And I’m honestly just still over the moon. Really, I can’t… I’m just riding my butt off out there and I’m just trying.

Title fight

I mean, of course, it’s hard to ignore when you cut down the points, but Larry [Brooks] keeps telling me, don’t even look at the points, just go race. And I really try to do that. Now again, you mentioned it, like it’s hard to ignore, right? But so it’s fun. I’m honestly just so thankful to be in this position. I haven’t been in this position this late in the season in a Supercross championship at all. So I’m just really enjoying every minute of it. Doesn’t matter what anybody says out there. Like I’m obviously the one racing. And even if it goes south, like it’s been really cool ride so far. And like I said, I try not to look at the points too much.

Image: Octopi Media.

Winning STL again

After my arm injury, this was the place where I got my first win back. Yes, correct. I don’t know. Honestly, the track was way different than it even was for SMX last year. Way more hardpack last year, and this year was super soft. I was a little bit surprised. It was almost like a new venue, I guess. Just the dirt was so incredibly soft. So I don’t know. It has nothing to do with this venue. I think it’s just that I’m locked in at the moment. It doesn’t matter where I go.

Love Moto Stop Cancer weekend

Well, honestly, I’ve loved kids my whole life. And then once you have your own, like honestly, I’m racing for them – they mean everything to me. So over my entire career, I’ve always reserved my jerseys for auctions, people that are in need or sick. And I’ve done that for a long time. That’s why I feel bad telling fans that, if they ask for jerseys or whatever, I always say no, I just stick to it because I’ve done it for so long. But it is for a good cause even – not that they get mad – but most of them understand, of course. And then our bike giveaway is, it’s just a huge deal. I mean, over the last, you know, three, four, five years, whatever it is, like we’ve almost raised around half a million dollars, so it’s incredible. And then, you know, cool graphics, everybody does something with their graphics, cool gear, it just all comes together. That’s what makes this win even extra sweet.

Image: Octopi Media.

Back in contention

Honestly, at one point, I never thought I would be in this position again. Even once I started racing after my arm injuries, you know, it just, I didn’t feel the same physically, mentally, like things, you know, there were just a few years where it just was tough. And sometimes when you’re, excuse me, sometimes when you’re at the bottom like that, it’s just, it’s way harder to dig yourself out of that, you know. So, yeah, the hard truth, I never thought I would be in this position again, but part of me also believed. And I don’t know, here we are. I’m just, this is kind of new to me too, right? So I’m just enjoying every bit of it. And a lot of work has been put in by my team, by me personally. And I’m, yeah, just thankful to be in this position. And like I said, if it goes south, so be it. You know, I really have nothing to lose.

Racing stress-free

I mean, we keep talking about that I’m happy with my bike and that’s the absolute truth. I don’t change anything on it, so I’ve ridden it on so many different tracks, different soils, all over the world, really, and I think it’s ultimately just the trust. And when the track breaks down and I really only have to adjust to the track and not tinkering with the bike and trying to do both. So I don’t really know. Obviously, I’ve done a lot of motos over the last six months or so. You got to be fit physically, mentally, and you got to be one with the motorcycle, happy with what you’re doing, and I got a great crew behind me. So even in the pits, everything’s lighthearted and the team lets me do whatever I need to to feel comfortable and the other way around as well. So there’s nothing really in particular that I can mention. And I would say that I’m trying just as hard as I did last year, but I’m just really riding well right now.