Ken Roczen Withdraws From 2022 Supercross
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Team Honda HRC has announced that Ken Roczen will sit out upcoming rounds of the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship so that he can sort out ongoing health issues (a preseason illness that he talked about around Anaheim One and a case of COVID-19 that occurred around San Diego). Roczen has faced his share of highs and lows through the first nine rounds of the season, including a dominant win at the opening round, a worrisome crash with Chase Sexton in the whoops at Oakland, repeated run-ins with other riders, a trip to Denmark, struggles setting up the CRF450R, quick laps in Timed Qualifying, and 1-13-7-13-5-11-8-13-7 results for ninth overall in the 450 Class championship standings.
The team press release states that the hectic schedule of the Supercross season, which will still has three rounds to go before a single weekend off, has taken a toll and slowed the recovery. Roczen and Team Honda HRC are hopeful the indefinite hiatus will allow the rider a chance to get back to full-fitness and content for championships in the near future.
““The continued support of Honda is just second to none,” Roczen said in the PR. “I couldn’t be more appreciative of how we work together as partners and make these decisions together, even when they’re really difficult. I owe them a championship, and that’s my focus going forward.”
“I’m sorry to see Ken in this situation,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Sports & Experiential at American Honda. “He proved at Anaheim 1 that he still has the speed to run with anyone, but the strains of this sport are such that expecting to compete at a disadvantage isn’t realistic. Ken has so much heart and wants to be out there, but that’s not in the best interests of anyone involved with things as they are. Health comes first, and we know that time off has helped him in the past. Ken is a part of the Honda family, and I’m happy he is taking steps to improve his situation. Everyone here is behind him as he works to return to the level where we all know he deserves to be.”
We spoke with Roczen about the recent issues during Friday’s media session at the Daytona Supercross. “This is really the first season where I’ve really had this kind of let down at the start,” he told us. “This year has been super tough for a few different reasons. But I’m learning, too. This is the first time where I’m in this position and I’m learning as we go. Obviously, I’m not an 8-12th place guy. But these things come at you without knowing it and it’s tough. But at the same time, I want to fight back from it. This is kind of all new to me, being in the back there and with things not feeling right. We’re trying and we’re going to get it figured out.”
“Qualifying is only one lap, but it’s good for me to see that the speed is still there after struggling with a few different things,” he said of his overall pace amid recent problems. “Certain things, luck wise, haven’t really been on my side either. Even in the last Main, finally getting a good start but the thing with Marvin and then being on the ground too much. It’s a combination of things that haven’t been ideal. Sometimes you reach a point where you just laugh at it. We’re trying to keep the spirits up.
