Really cool story with the Progressive Insurance ECSTAR HEP Suzuki team getting the red plate with Ken Roczen after his runner-up finish in Anaheim this past weekend. Larry Brooks, a guy who knows a thing or two about a team leading the points in Monster Energy AMA Supercross (he managed Jeremy McGrath, James Stewart and Chad Reed to titles) is the team manager for Roczen’s squad. We talked about that fact and more after the race.
Racer X Online: I didn’t realize it until I was walking out of the stadium. Red plate. Really cool story. Kenny doesn’t usually celebrate second places because he’s Ken Roczen, but he fist-pumped. Great ride. He’s stoked.
You’re right. [Laughs] Grabbing a red plate for Jeremy [McGrath] never really worked out by the end of the year, so you’re right!
Who knows how it goes from here. He’s going to Glendale, which is great for him and a triple crown. We maybe didn’t talk enough about Kenny. Jett [Lawrence] Chase [Sexton], and all that stuff that goes on, and then all of us are looking at the guy on the bike with the kickstarter and not giving him enough credit. Really, really cool, man.
On the bike side of things, hard whoops. Rain on the track. All of that stuff tonight. It was tough so the bike must have worked well. He looked comfortable. That’s a real challenge out there for a lot of guys.
Do we think the electric start thing is going to make an appearance at some point?
Do we blame the Canadians? [Where the electric start is made]
I think [Colt] Nichols is struggling a little bit, from what I can see, what I watch. What do you see? How do you fix it? How do you get him back closer to probably where he wants to be?
You know how to start. I’ve watched you help riders with starts. So, what are we doing?
It’s funny that you know that! You’ve been there before.
I have. I’ve heard about you helping riders with starts. Whatever it is, you were a great starter and your anger and your aggression and whatever you do. So I’m going to tell Wilbur to tell you to help. I’ve just volunteered you for a new job.
Also Chiz [Kyle Chisholm], he’s too old to be flipping.
Are you still using Chiz a little bit on the testing side of things, from what I understand? He’s still a valuable resource that way? Especially with the switch for Kenny?
With the red plate, how much percent does Chris Wheeler [from Suzuki] deserve of this red plate? How much did he really do?