RCH Suzuki's Ken Roczen on the podium at Anaheim 2
By Team TMX on 26th Jan 16
RCH Suzuki Factory Racings Ken Roczen turned in a solid third-place finish in Saturday nights Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship at Anaheim 2.
Roczen struggled to get a good jump on the field when the starting gate dropped on the Main Event, but the three-time Anaheim 450SX winner stayed focused throughout the 20-lap feature, picking-up positions each lap.
The top-three finish was Roczen's best of the year on what was by far the most demanding track of the season. The strong ride also resulted in the 21-year-old German's first podium of the year.
"The good thing is that we're making steps forward. I practiced a lot of starts last week and feel pretty comfortable. Said Roczen
Obviously it didn't happen in the Main but we're going to keep working on that because I think that's what is holding me back from being at the very top. Second half of the race, I feel like I put in a strong ride. I made a little mistake with about a lap to go. Otherwise, I think I could have brought the heat a little bit with Chad (Reed).
It's hard coming from the back. That's the bottom line. The track was tough out there. The whoops were something else, so you really had to keep your focus. We're going to come back and we're going to keep trying. That's for sure.”
While Roczen was generally pleased with his overall effort, he knows where to put in the extra work to be a consistent fixture at the front of the field.
"Three rounds and I've just been getting bad starts,” Roczen explained. "My heat race start actually wasn't bad. We're just going to keep working it and working it. I'm doing everything I can to be the best that I can be. That's all I can do.
The speed is there. The fitness is there. Everything is solid so far. I'm really happy with the team. We're working great together and we'll come back and be at the very top.”
Roczen's machine was the lone bike under the RCH team canopy for round three after his team-mate Broc Tickle was injured in a practice crash last week and ruled-out for the next four-to-six weeks.
Tickle was diagnosed with a fractured distal radius in his right forearm and underwent surgery to repair the fracture.
