Relaxed. That was Ken Rozcen’s word of the day during the press conference for Saturday’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross season opener.
After a hectic offseason in 2022 that led to an 11th-hour deal between the German rider and the H.E.P. Motorsports Suzuki squad, Roczen recalled a difficult start to last year’s campaign.
“Last year was brutal. I didn’t get on the bike until the beginning of December, so we didn’t have much time at all,” Roczen said. “Showing up to the races (at Anaheim) and testing here is tough, so I’m in a much better position now.
After spending a year on his No. 94 Suzuki RM-Z450, Roczen is feeling more at ease with everything — from his comfortability with the bike itself to the inner team dynamics to his degree of preparation.
“We’ve put in a lot of hours to try to get better. I feel the most relaxed I’ve ever felt going into Anaheim,” Roczen said.
On Saturday night, the 29-year-old will line up alongside 21 of his peers for the season opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., It will be his second season with H.E.P. Motorsports and 11th in the premier class.
During the press conference, Roczen noted he’s treating the upcoming season with “the utmost respect,” recognizing the level of talent that will be on the starting line.
“Overall, mentally and physically, I’m in a much different position than I have been in years past,” Roczen said. “But I also know that you can win or be on the podium one weekend and you can finish 10th (the next week) in a heartbeat, and I’m aware of that.”
While the Suzuki rider has experienced both sides of the coin, Roczen pulled off a fourth-place finish in the Supercross standings last year and ended up second overall in the SuperMotocross World Championship.
He also added a 21st career Supercross main event win to his record.
If Roczen had to denote one major difference between last year and the start of 2024, it would be his confidence in the bike setup, considering the increased time the team spent testing during the offseason.
“I think I can just focus on racing instead of always focusing on the bike, what we need to change and what it needs to feel like,” Roczen said. “Having said that, I know when we come to the first race, you usually have to mess around with the bike and do some clicks and stuff.”
Last year, Roczen finished fifth in his debut with H.E.P. Motorsports at Anaheim.
Overall, he earned 12 top-five finishes, six podium efforts and one win last season.
“I’m just really relaxed and ready to go,” Roczen concluded.