The 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season final sold out Rice-Eccles Stadium, with rain falling sporadically, leading to challenging conditions. The Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki, Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance, and BarX Suzuki teams wrapped up their seasons with great speed highlighted by Ken Roczen’s third-place tie in the 2023 Supercross season point totals, and several Suzuki riders finishing with season-best finishes.
Words: Press Release | Lead Image: HEP Suzuki/Chris Ganz
Ken Roczen and his Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki RM-Z450 earned second place in both the qualifying sessions and the overall qualifying result. A convincing heat race win showed Roczen had the speed in Utah to extend his podium streak to five. Deep ruts caught Roczen’s foot early in the main, knocking him out of the race. Fortunately his injury looks to be minor. Roczen earned a single point in the main, tying him for third place in the final series point standings.
“Overall we had a really good day here in Salt Lake. We were always up in the mix, battling for the top spot,” said Roczen. “We had a great heat. We were thrown a curve ball with the rain, but everything looked great. In the main, we got off to a decent start. I went around the third turn, dabbed my leg down, and hyperextended it. That ended my night and spooked me a little bit. I’ve never done anything to my knee, and it was hurting pretty bad. Luckily, it didn’t pop. It seems to be fine. But I had so much fun this year. I’m keeping my head high. We’ve been riding really well, have been solid on the bike, and we’re having a lot of fun with the team. That’s really what I’m holding onto. I can’t wait to have a couple of weeks off and then start competing in World Supercross.”
“We did great,” said Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager Larry Brooks. “Ken Roczen had a rough main. Everything’s fine but he twisted and hyperextended his knee. We think it’s twisted, not broken.”
The 2023 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season is in the books and showed impressive gains for the Suzuki teams and riders. Most of the riders now tackle the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross Championship. And then onto the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals fueled by Monster Energy in September. The all-new series seeds the top 20 riders in combined supercross and motocross points into two Playoff rounds and the Final. Ken Roczen has announced he will defend his World Supercross title. Roczen is also set to race select AMA motocross rounds as well as compete for the SuperMotocross World Championship title.
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