by Aaron Hansel
250 Words: Anaheim 1
Monday, January 10, 2011 | 4:30 PM
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PrintYou already know who won the races. Each week, Sunline's 250 Words gives you a different look at a different story in the 250 class:
“We’ll see.” Those two words have concluded many a bench racing session in the last few months, and as A1 drew near, the amount of question marks surrounding the upcoming season were endless. One of those question marks was positioned directly over the head of 16-year-old Ken Roczen of Germany.
Ken Roczen was solid in his Supercross debut, finishing seventh.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Aside from a few internet videos and an outstanding performance at the MXoN, American fans have little experience with Roczen’s speed. That would change in a hurry when the Lites class rolled out for the first practice sessions of the year in Anaheim. Roczen spent free practice eyeballing obstacles, rolling jumps, and experimenting with different lines, but when it was time for the first timed practice, he went out and nailed down the fastest qualifying lap in the first AMA Supercross qualifying session of his life. The performance shot him to the top of the radar in Angels Stadium, but unfortunately, Roczen crashed hard going into the whoops in his final practice session, bruising his left leg bad enough to cause him to walk with a pronounced limp for the rest of the night. When the main event rolled around, a banged up Roczen rode tight, and was unable to challenge for the win. He finished the night with a respectable seventh.
How much did Roczen’s bruised leg affect his performance in the main? Will it continue to affect him in the upcoming rounds? Was his blazing qualifying speed at A1 a fluke? Next week in Phoenix, we’ll see.
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I kinda thought the lites class was a bit of a let down. I almost fell asleep.
I agree, the lites class looks like it might be a little boring this year, It will be a pro circuit runaway imo.
Yeah, I agree. PC flexing their podium sweep is kinda boring. Bummer about Wil Hahn, a true threat to the PC stranglehold. Hopefully "Das Roc" can shake off injury & come out firing @ Phoenix. Same for Tomac, give these PC guys a run for their umpteenth title on the door. Davalos looked good as well, maybe it's his time....
i hope that Christian Craig can take out Hanson.. he had the best start he has ever gotten and Josh Hansen takes him out 1st lap. That's racing but hope Craig doesn't let that slide... Go get em! I am looking forward to the East coast unfortunately, i think there will be some better races.
I thought the racing was far from boring. PC did their homework and it showed. The TLD riders will step up as will the Suzuki boys, and of course watching K Roc should be exciting. This is far from over.
Christian Craig on the 144 was super solid..Hansen jumped in on him and it was hard for me to tell how much was incidental and how much intentional. I will be rooting for him the next round.Tedesco was a disapointment after riding so well in qualies and getting the hole shot in the main.. not sure why he stopped doubling the little left handed 90 that was just after the right field triple, but that was where he lost his time in the main on every lap.
Why didnt Craig do the triple in the first lap? Paluzzi jumped over to avoid him and if you watch the section again you will see Craig lean into Hansen. Criag is tough for sure and probably had the jitters. But enough with Roczen already. Geez this is the USA... we have great rookies here too.
Lites = boring
Am I the only one who think it stinks that a 27 year old and 25 year old are on the podium in the 350 class?? I hate that. Nothing against Hansen, I'm glad he has turned it around, but he is older than Stewie, Dungey, RV and the same age as Reed if I'm not mistaken. And Rattrey, a GP Champiuon in the 250 class, is still running the 250 class and is older than all of those guys I named except Reed. I just think with all the pro racing expeirience, they should be in the premier class..
Roczen looked great....but i agree, let's focus on our USA boys.....like Bruce Rutherford....he's a true privateer in his first ever Supercross, sponsored by mom and dad, !!! Give the kid a ride somebody, will ya, so we can see this kids true potential!!!!!
Ken "Everts" Roczen, I see a remarkable resemblance to Stefan Everts here! Maybe Kens mom dated Stefan back in the day, HMMM.
I agree with BD200..perhaps put an age limit on the 250s or limit the years allowed in the class ..BTW the track, was a friggin yawner to watch and the racing reflected the tracks layout. Wish I would've saved my money for a different round.
Age limit? It is cool that the old guys can beat the young guns. Go Hanen!
I think that if a guy is smaller, he is better suited to riding a 250 than a 450. Therefore, he should stay on a 250 his whole career. A smaller guy could be "the greatest" 250 rider ever. I know the AMA wants the 250 class to be viewed as a lesser class than the 450s, where the 250 riders cut their teeth and then graduate, like going from apprentice to journeyman, boy to man or whatever. Some guys are physically more large, and weigh too much to be competitive on a 250, so they shouldn't be stuck on 250s just because they haven't been pro that long. They should ride the bike that fits them and will pull them. Even though the ergos are almost identical, a larger dude can throw a 450 around and deal with big whoops easier than a midget (unless the midget trains like RC). To me, it's a shame that the 250 class is given less official status than the 450s. Some years, the 250 class action is what carries the series. Sometimes, that's where the action is. Back when it was two strokes, when I went to the races, the three main classes I liked to watch were the 250 pros (for the awesome racing), 125 pros (for the berserk aggressiveness and awesome racing) and the 125 novices or beginners (for the first turn crashes). I learned that when you get to a certain weight - and I was 6'4" tall - a 125 (two stroke) can't pull you quick enough to keep up with the 5'7" tall guys down the straights, so you have to go to the 250 (two stroke) class. Now that it's 250 and 450 four strokes, the same concept applies. If the AMA and FIM didn't try to suppress the 250 class riders and make them appear to be like some kind of schoolboy class, the more physically diminutive riders could stay on 250s their whole career and achieve the greatness they deserve on bikes that are perfect for them. There's no need to hold the 250 riders down into some kind of submissive, subservient position. Seems too much like redistribution of wealth to me. Let the 250 riders make some money too.
Hansen turned pro in what 2002. Time to get out and race with the big boys Hansen. Put a time limit on the 250 class. When you race the first race in the 250 class you have like 3 years then you have to get out for good. Oh and no world champs ever in it.
man i agree with garjan 111 hansen is awesome but bro its time to move up to the bigs also i think roczen is the real deal he is 16 and flyin so he is just learning the ropes but he will win some motos 3 years and your done son..........
Mitch Payton has to hire 27 year old Hansen and 26 year old Rattray to win against the 16 year olds in the lites class. Hanson could'nt even make a main in the 450's. Pro Circuit are a joke with a bunch of punks too afraid of the 450's, so they race the teenagers because they can't cut it in the mans class. Hansen the wanne be rock star.
In case you guys did'nt know- Hansen already raced the 450 3 years ago for JGR in their first year and could'nt even make mains, so they fired him. So what does he do? Just drops back down at 27 years old to race the 16 year olds fresh out of the amateurs. Its how he and Mitch race because they can't cut it in the 450 class fair and square, so just drop down to kindergarden with the kids and take people out all day and then claim you're the best.
Rocs leg was hurting big time, he bumped into to me in the pits. I think a guy should be able to stay in the 250 class as long as he wants. This bull about it being a "training class" is crazy, its a professional class, same obstacles, they sell the bikes for almost the same price, they have a semi. When Carmichael, Stewart, Lamson, Johnny O'Mara, Jeff Ward, Lechien, Smith, were winning titles I never thought of it as a "lesser class" With that thought process...you must think the 250 class wasnt anything when Bailey, Johnson, Bayle were winning the 500cc championships.
I agree that the 250 class is legit and you should stay as long as you want or can....truthfully, I think it takes more of an agressive rider on the smaller bikes and the younger riders would do better! As for Hansen, If he puts in the work, he'll be a threat in either class. It's just of late that he has taken racing serious and the results are showing....Congrats to lil Hanny, Mitch and the crew!
I am looking forward to Jimmy D on geico honda starting at Phoenix round. Get well asap Wilbur with that back injury.
Yeah kind of a boring lites debut. The PC guys are kinda lame. I hope K-Roc comes down strong on those guys in Phoenix!!!!
Mitch has been nothing but good for the sport of moto/supercross. Did Mitch need 27 year old Hansen or did Hansen need Mitch. I say Josh needed Mitch. Mr. Payton is a class act. Quit the whining & just work toward trying to beat him.
I'm surprised there are no comments regarding Hansen actually stayed up! Seriously, when he led the Heat race, I kept thinking...not for long. So, when he lead the Main, at any given second I thought it was going to be a yard sale. Roczen? This kid's the "real deal" & will certainly prove himself...possibly in Phoenix.
Hansen didn't get fired. They parted ways because Hansen had back problems and personal issues so they parted ways. He made the mains you guys need to pull your heads out of your a$$ and stop hating on a person because he won a race. How many titles have you computer chair racers won huh? Oh yeah none cause all you do is sit there jealous of somebody's career. Get a life, stop complaining and enjoy the sport that we get to see every weekend. If not go find a new hobby like bowling.
And another thing, Hansen didn't take out Craig. Craig was leaning on Hansen trying to take him down with him cause he had nowhere to go. He could of jumped off track and then back on but no he decided to take somebody down with him. I watched the same race everybody else did and it wasn't a take out on Hansen's part. It was a racing incident, shiz happens. A take out is what that moron Tedesco tried to do to Stewart in the heat but nobody talks about that huh? Tedesco is joke.
Roczen impressed me, so did Davilos. I wanna see Davalos get a clean holeshot and see what happens. Think Roczen, Craig, and Eli were jittery which is to be expected. With a good start & track they like, I see these 4 making the old dudes earn their paycheck. Brock, dammit, ya let Hansen off the hook too easy but I understood, good ride dude.
With Hansen what goes around comes around. Was anyone watching the rookie T Baker, good heat finishing 3rd and in the main with a bad start and made his way up to 8th behind Roczen. I think they have some young riders that may come on as the year goes on, could be interesting. Good luck and heal fast Hahn.
K ROC will be a force to be reckoned with.. A! is a different element. lets see what happens over the next few races when things settle down.
Roczen looked pretty good for his first SX. I think the presure got to him in the main but a packed house at A1 under the lights is a tough place for any 16 year old racer. He will be a threat when he settles down and it wont take long.
I love the 250 class. Good on Hansen, he has turned it around and showed that all the hard work down in OZ paid off and helped him find his focus. A happy Hansen is a fast Hansen. For the 250 SX class to be taken more seriously you need to get rid of the regions and race both coasts together like the 450s do. The best racing each other is always the way to go. Cole Seely impressed me at A1, with very little commentary.
I Agree, combine both coasts to get better racing like 450 class. Lites class name continues to be lame as it is a professional class period!!! It is truly a joke to call this class a development class as these riders have all been racing since they were 3-4 yrs. old. I also agree to limit yrs in class to three and out. World champs have no business in this class and and is a true mockery of the sport!
People shouldnt be so harsh towards Hansen. Doesnt anyone listen to the PULPMX show? Kenny clearly stated on there that lil hanny is a sensitive boy. He takes these things personally... so be nice, ok?
I don't agree w/ the "No world champ in 250 SX" mentality. Look @ most euros entering SX: they either injure themselves (Musquin, Townley, Tortelli, Albertyn, Langston, etc.) or they don't adapt. I'm as big a "homer" as anyone but, they need an opportunity to develop the special skill set. Also, as far as staying to long in the 250 class goes, Ping would have a little something to say about that. If I remember right, he was (in) the middle of a big controversy regarding that & lived it. I think I heard something to the effect of "paycheck in the 250's or annonymity in the 450's" If they change the 250 class from regional to 17 straight rounds, it will definitely attract veteran riders and teams will seek out the same. I don't know if that will help or hurt the growth of the sport but, I've proposed before (which is why it's such a fantastic idea) they do a sub-series for rookies & 17rnds. for the rest.
Cant wait to see Jimmy DeCotis he looked really good last year I'm sure he has gotten better
I still think they should move expierienced guys out of the class. Its not a training class, its a stepping stone. That is even a quote I read about the class when it was created. So young inexpeirienced riders wouldnt try to race the bigger more powerful bikes. RC, Stewie and others moved out of the class after a few years. jairtime, persons size has nothing to do with it. RC is about 5'-6" if hes lucky. Stewie is a pretty small guy. Look what Alessi did on the Suzuki 450 a few summers ago. If not for hitting a gate and hurting his knee. He wins the 450 title that year. It is pro racing experience that counts. When a guy is a former GP champion, then comes here and races as a "rookie" it gets under my skin. And I dont have a problem with Hansen, he is a fine rider, I like him. I just feel he is cherry picking, racing against less experienced riders. All that experience means alot. And these young guys have no chance against these guys. There is a reason they have classes in moto racing. I would feel the same way if a guy leaves the "A" class and wins a "C" class race. Its not much different than what Rattrey and Hansen are doing.
I dont really care that Hansen won, he's still a turd in my book. He will be an also-ran even IF he wins this regional title. I hope that Craig, Roczen, Tomac, etc hit the "flush" handle on Hansen...
Hansen Cleaned Craigs clock, Craig was wide, and hansen punched him off. It was pretty interesting to see how ggingerly hansen lapped him, not knowing if Craig was going to get even. I bet Craig would have if he was a privaterr and not a factory guy.
I hope Phoenix is way better than A1. All the riders said the track was a challenge. I think thats why it looked real boring and slow paced. Real glad the season is finally under way tho!!!! Bubba will probably take the next race but RV will keep him in check. Hansen should join metal mulisha, he would fit in perfect(dont ask dont tell).
Hansen is a sandbagger!!!!!!! He should be getting his okole kicked in the 450 class instead of hanging out in the lites class so he can win a title!!!!! What a scrub!!!