Motocross: Ken Roczen Takes Lakewood MX Win

Shan Moore | June 7, 2014
Ken Roczen

Lakewood, CO (June 7, 2014) – Ken Roczen claimed his second-straight 450-class victory at round three of the 2014 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Thunder Valley MX Park in Lakewood, Colorado, this weekend, the Red Bull KTM rider turning in 2-1 moto finishes to do so.

The win extended Roczen’s lead in the championship points to 12 points over his teammate Ryan Dungey, who went 4-2 for third overall. Meanwhile, Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart got his first moto win of the season in the first moto and finished out the day in second overall after taking third in moto two.

In the first moto, Stewart passed Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s Josh Grant on the opening lap to take the lead. Dungey pressured Stewart during the early laps, however, the Minnesota rider fell on lap 13 and dropped to fourth behind Team Muscle Milk Honda’s Trey Canard. Meanwhile, Roczen continued to push Steart for the lead, however the Suzuki rider managed to hold off Roczen to take the moto win. Canard finished the moto in third, with Dungey fourth, and Grant fifth.

In moto two, Canard took the holeshot with Dungey, Grant, Roczen, and Stewart not far behind.

By the end of the opening lap, Roczen had forced his way by his teammate and into second before passing Canard for the lead on Lap three.

On lap six, Dungey also passed Canard, dropping the Honda rider to third.

In the meantime, Stewart was making up for a poor start, but would eventually pass Canard for third on lap 10.

In the overall classification Roczen’s 2-1 moto results helped him edge out Stewart (1-3) for the win by just two points. Dungey’s strong second moto effort helped secure third overall (4-2). Canard (3-4) and Grant (5-6) rounded out the top five.

 “It’s early to really say anything [about the championship],” said Roczen. “I feel like I’m riding good right now and I feel strong. I got a good jump [in the first moto] but didn’t get up the hill well and had to fight my way through. I made some adjustments to the bike in between motos to make it easier to ride and it paid off. I just want to keep clicking races away like I’ve been doing and stay healthy.”

Results

450 Class

1. Ken Roczen (KTM) 2-1

2. James Stewart (Suz) 1-3

3. Ryan Dungey (KTM) 4-2

4. Trey Canard (Hon) 3-4

5. Josh Grant (Yam) 5-6

6. Brett Metcalfe (Kaw) 9-5

7. Malcolm Stewart (Suz) 7-8

8. Andrew Short (KTM) 6-9

9. Weston Peick (Suz) 10-7

10. Jake Weimer (Kaw) 8-12

 

 

 

Shan Moore | Contributing Editor

Moore covers all facets of off-road racing for Cycle News – from AMA Supercross and Motocross to GNCC and National Hare Scrambles events.