Tuesday Conversation: Ken Roczen
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 | 1:00 PM
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Courtesy of Geoff Meyer/MXLarge
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that KTM factory rider Ken Roczen is still just 17 years old. Last weekend marked another 1-1 victory in his domination of the 2011 FIM World MX2 Championship. With just two rounds to go, he could possibly be crowned in Gaildorf, Germany, in two weeks. Before then, however, comes a trip to Costa Brava in Spain and the party city of Lloret de Mar to join some friends and celebrate his birthday. Roczen is a smart kid, though—don’t expect to find him face-down in a gutter wearing nothing but his pointy birthday hat Sunday morning.
We caught up with Roczen just before his trip to to Spain and after his victory at the Grand Prix of Great Britain.
Racer X: Ken, can you let me know how the weekend went for you?
Ken Roczen: The weekend was good. On Saturday the track was really nice and I loved it. I ended up winning the qualification race, which was good for me for the Sunday races. Also, the first race, I got a holeshot and made a gap, and that is where I stayed the whole time. I felt confident after that opening-moto win, and in the sighting lap I saw that the track was rough and hard to ride. I knew it would be hard, but I pulled the holeshot and got another win, so I opened up something like a 40-point lead over Herlings, which is amazing for me. I will go on holidays now and try and do my best in Gaildorf.
Does having the big lead make it easier for you to go to Gaildorf, or is so close now that you feel more nervous?
It doesn’t make me nervous. I am more relaxed now because the gap is bigger, but it’s important not to relax too much.
What did you like about the Matterley Basin circuit?
I can say again, it has good jumps and good speed and the dirt was grippy and really nice. It also flowed well.
Roczen went 1-1 for the overall at the Grand Prix of Great Britain.
Photo: Ray Archer
I noticed you had some friends from America visiting you.
I had Beeker from Fox Racing and Frankie [Latham]—he is Andrew Short's mechanic. My mechanic Carlos [Rivera] wanted to come too, but he didn’t make it. I was a bit disappointed about that, but it’s been fun having them here.
You mentioned you will go on holidays?
I will go to Lloret de Mar in Spain. I will go out—this is the best thing to do. It’s not about getting hammered or anything, it’s just go out with friends and be away from everything here and just lay on the beach and do some fun stuff. My friends are already down there and my dad will drop me off at an airport in England and I’ll fly down there to have some fun.
My son recently had his first holiday away from his parents, and he was really excited about that. How is it for you?
I mean, it’s my first holiday away from my parents, and I am pumped for that for sure. It is good to get away from the parents sometimes—that is all I can say!
When do you get back to work?
I will get back on the 27th, which is a Saturday, and then I will get prepared for Gaildorf.
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will be fun next year.
Sure will BillC. Rocky will become the new RC in America. He already talks like a yank.LOL. I like it. Most importantly, he´s got his feet well anchored, and that´s the main thing.
this kid is great, he is fun too watch and very fast. My son and I are big fans of this kid. It seems he has good people around him too. Which is big when the pressures of being a pro start coming down on these kids. If he can stay up he can do some damage in supercross too. He has a little expeirience there already. It will be fun when he gets here for sure.
No argument here. good kid. we are fortunate to have riders with his kind of talent wanting to compete here. I like marvolous marvin too.
anybody heard who he will be riding for next year ik ktm but....read jdr taking over ktm lites also heard possibilitiy pro-circuit might be switching to ktm taking over lites program...wonder which one is accurate
Just glad Ken Roczen is AMERICAN- yep, he is super fast so he has to be...(Mike, giving you a pre- STFU for comments to follow)
I read every word of that 3 times, and I know it was in English, and I speak English because I live in America, but I didn't understand any of it because he is German.
North Carolina says "Hey, Y'all!"
as far as moto goes, the world is at this kids feet. I don't think he's the next RC as ole Mikey says above me, their will never be another RC, but I reckon this kid has a few titles ahead of him. I for one am excited as hell to see how his career pans out. If he gets to the Nationals in one piece next year, I can't see anyone stopping him. Go K-Roc!
My 2 cents = There is NO WAY DeCoster is going to let this kid out of his sight, much less under somebody else's awning. While there has been speculation here that Dungey is going somewhere besides DeCoster's semi (a KTM supported Reed owned team), it's not going to even come close to happening for Roczen. Besides, his contract structure is almost certainly with / for FACTORY KTM, not JDR, not PC / KTM.
I don't see PC leaving Monster / Kawasaki for Red Bull / KTM several reasons:
1) Monster would never recover from the ridicule of losing the goose that lays the golden eggs to Red Bull.
2) Economy-wise, I don't think there is enough dollars available to leverage the deal into fruition, and in my opinion, you can forget about Dungey, that would be by far the biggest deal of the year meaning, it would take a LOT of dollars.
3) KTM is pretty stout in 250F talent right about now, lessening the need for PC.
4) 450 SX/MX exhaust drama aside, PC & Kawasaki have a long-term relationship that will stand the test of time...........or not.
5) I'd really like to see it happen therefore, it will NEVER happen.
we need a silly season weekly update on racerx it is that time of year.......i ll start it up heard a rumor troy lee designs might be on suzuki s next year...
my dad is a top guy at team hodaka. he said that Brian Dungey will be riding for the all new Salem ciggarettes / Montessa team! no joke!!!
James Stewart to team Vespa for 2012
The kid is like, "naw I'm not going to get hammered," dude, you're 17 you are not supposed to have already been hammered. lol And this guy wants to bring that sh*t to america son? You know there is a more dedicated canadian sounding scotsman of here, he is still learning faster than anyone he is racing against, coming where he has, and his put Roczen and his pink earrings to the schoolyard lad. Bank it.
Too bad Baggett is going to the Des Nation for the states, if Barcia would have been picked you might have had a chance to beat Roczen straight up. Sucks for you, now Germany is going to win. The states can't even go without fighting over numbers with each-other. "NOOO I don't be waannnaa be number 3 daddy. What's up Vilo? You can't handle supercross and crash yourself out of that series, outdoors, and yes the Des Nations. Someone else has to step up for you and wear the pressure filled number one plate. (cough)
@buddychrist... The drinking age in Europe is 18, so turning that age, like turning 21 in the U.S., alot of people will assume thru "right of passage" that this birthday is (18 in Europe) most kids (er adults) will have some drinking going on.
I do agree with you, Roczen, has his work cut out for him over here way more than in the g.p.'s.
Wilson, Baggett, Musquin, Tomac, Cunningham and many others aren't going to lay down for this guy, and his speed on our tracks and our dirt will be tested.
dude i like k-roc, i really hope he comes over and races here!
@jairtimeskus
actually it's 16yrs. you have to be 16 to "get hammered" in most central european countries
@buddychrist...Wanna put your money where your mouth is??? I have $1k on Kenny for the des Nations.
This kid already prooved he can win in the states... it's going to be exciting.
@Carlsbad, I agree. I dont see PC leaving Kawi or Kawi letting them get away. All of the time, effort and research and developement from Pro Circut to get every horsepower they could out of the 4-stroke Kawi's , then too leave for another brand and start over?? I dont think so. And Kawi has a bike or 3 on the podium every single race, so they both are getting the best possible ending.
And as far as him winning next year outdoors, He has as good as shot as anyone. the only disadvantage he may have is not knowing the tracks. But there are more fast guys here. He has had some tough competition in Herlings, but he is about it. He will have about 4 or 5 that can win any weekend here. But he is as fast or faster than those, so he will have success.
@Restinpeacelittlehanny, are you on drungs?? RV WON the supercross series genious. And he is winning the outdoors, catch up a year dude. And put the bong down.
Pro Circuit has just signed Adam Cinciarulo and in the interveiw he did wiv Matthers he says how much he loves kawasakis and that he always wants to be on them.. I don't believe AC would of signed with Pro Circuit had they been plannin a switch to KTM's. Although after the stuff that went down with Pro Circuit and Kawasaki at the start of the year I wouldn't blame Mitch for wanting to go somewhere else.. All those championships he's got for them an thats how they say thanks? And if you guys remember last year at the MXoN WHICH WAS HELD IN AMERICA K.Roc smoked the entire MX2 class on the sunday and he was sick.. Think what a healthy, 2 year older Roczen will do next year in the states. He's gonna own it.
I have talked with a few exchange students from germany and there really isn't a drinking age. from what they say its pretty much when your old enough to see over the counter. does anyone else find it funny the country with the most regulations on drinking is the country with the worst binge drinking?
In Germany we have two different drinking ages. You can get the soft stuff like wine and beer with 16 years. If you want harder stuff like whiskey you have to be 18 years old.
Hope K-Roc will perform well next year in Supercross and Nationals.