Eight days ago, Ken Roczen cited “consistency” as the biggest stumbling block in his bid for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross championship.
On any given night, it seemed the Suzuki rider would either find the podium or finish far outside of the top five, with little in-between.
As one would expect, following his third-place result at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala., on March 9, Roczen made it clear he was keen on keeping a little more momentum in his corner from one week to the next.
“I’ve not been riding the same as I did at the beginning of the year. In the main event (at Birmingham), I finally showed up,” Roczen said in the immediate aftermath in Alabama. “We’re trying to get more and more podiums and hopefully I can get a little more consistency in.”
During Saturday night’s Triple Crown at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Roczen executed his plan to a T with a 2-2-3 record at the event.
Though it wasn’t enough for the No. 94 rider to earn the overall win — rather that went to Jett Lawrence, who swept all three motos — the podium result was still a sign of things trending in the right direction.
Roczen also pulled the holeshot in two of the three sprint races.
“I’ve been riding really good, just not good enough to keep it in the same range (as Lawrence). But I’ve been making up points on the other guys,” Roczen said, referencing Cooper Webb and Chase Sexton, who are ahead of him in the points. “I am getting closer, just not to Jett.”
In the wake of his runner-up in Indianapolis, the German rider is now fourth in the 450SX standings — 35 points behind Lawrence, who also leads the class in wins (five).
It’s fair to say the 20-year-old rookie has been a bit of a stumbling block to the entirety of the premier class this season, as he’s managed to find his footing among the world’s best Supercross riders.
With only seven races left in the season, Roczen admitted the championship feels a bit out of reach, considering how well Lawrence has been riding.
But the 450SX veteran also knows it’s never over until it’s over.
“There’s plenty of racing left and you just never know, so I’m just gonna keep trucking along,” Roczen said. “Whether it’s the championship or not, I’m just trying to put it on the podium every weekend and maybe get another win or two — that’d be awesome.”
In his 11-year premier class career, Roczen has yet to win a Supercross title.