What a debut on Honda HRC for Ken Roczen. He didn’t snag the Monster Million or even the overall at the Monster Energy Cup, but he was one crash away from doing all that, and did win two of the three main events over the weekend. He didn’t seem too bummed about any of that, though. In fact, Kenny makes so much money that he doesn’t even think winning an extra million would have changed his life that much!
He spoke with the media after the race.
Racer X: You looked good all day except for that one part. Can you talk about any adjustments you made today?
Ken Roczen: I made very small adjustments, just a click here and there. I feel really good on the bike already, as you can tell. Everything really came naturally to me, and we haven’t even done most of our good testing yet. It was great to come out here and see, but at the same time we’ve got a lot more in our pocket. It started off with the first moto being pretty amazing. I got the holeshot and rode really good and felt great. The second moto I didn’t get too great of a start but I sneaked around the inside and was leading. Everything was great but I made a mistake in the corner, slid out a little bit and doubled. The next triple I took a different line because that’s where it threw me. The transitions weren’t very good today and the track was hard so it was super notchy. I gave ‘er the berries and over-jumped it a bit. That compression threw me off balance and I came up short a little bit and the next transition was really steep. It bucked me forward and I had to jump off. That was the end of that. Came out in the next moto and got a really good start, but I was riding crappy in the last one so I just stayed on two wheels—the track was terrible. I grabbed another win. I wasn’t too happy with my riding, but that’s okay.
Obviously you were good enough to ride the third moto. You okay?
Yeah, I’m completely fine. I literally got just a black nail on my right toe. My ankle hurt a little bit at first but I’m completely fine. It’s just a little pinch.
What do you attribute getting comfortable on this bike so quickly to?
It just happened. Even the guys said they’ve never gotten a new bike and had it that easy. I guess it’s just a really good build, which makes it easier. It didn’t need a lot of work to make it good. But, we have a lot more in our pocket.
In that first race, before the finish line jump, it looked like you were bouncing around in a rough rut.
Yeah I got bucked there once a little bit. The first moto was really weird because it was super wet and super slick. I hated the track all day. But what are you going to do with wind like that for three days? It [the dirt] was so hard, it was terrible. I didn’t have a whole lot of fun on the track.
Did the wind affect you much?
No, just the riding conditions.
You could have packed it up after that crash. What was your motivation to get out there for the third race?
We had another race and I was fine, I wasn’t injured, and I was ready to go for three races.
What’s the biggest difference between the Suzuki you were on and this Honda?
That’s a hard question. It’s a new bike and I’m stoked about the opportunity. Just working with those guys you can just tell everything is top notch and their minds are always working.
After that first race went so well and you were leading the second, were there thoughts of the $1 million?
Not at all. I was super relaxed all day. I feel like even if I’d have brought that one home it wouldn’t have affected me too much.
Straight Rhythm next week?
Red Bull wanted me to but there’s actually no way. Those guys [the team] are flying to Japan and I’m going to Alabama for the 2017 bike launch. We literally have no crew and no bike. Unfortunately, I can’t ride it.
Any more off-season races for you?
No.
