Mixed Fortunes for Red Bull / KTM's Ken Roczen in SX Lites Class

Phoenix, AZ - Red Bull/KTM Factory Team rider Ken Roczen showed he had the speed to run up front for the second weekend in a row at round two of the AMA Supercross Lites Series but a string of crashes kept him from finishing on the box.

Team KTM's Ken Roczen

Roczen turned in the fastest lap time in the first morning qualifying session and followed up with the second fastest time in the final practice session. His impressive lap times earned him the top qualifying spot in Lites heat #1.
 
 
Roczen garnered a 10th place start at the beginning of his heat and began to put on a charge. By lap two he was sitting in 7th when he took the inside line on an outside triple that ended his race. He got massive air as he attempted the triple, casing the far end of the jump and eventually bouncing off track and to the ground. He returned to his bike but had bruised his heel and decided to return to the truck to get himself and his bike checked out before attempting the LCQ.
 
 
The German rider took an easy win in the LCQ after grabbing the holeshot and leading all four laps. "I did not want to have to qualify to the main through the LCQ but if that is how it goes, I am happy to get the win and the spot in the main event," remarked Roczen.
 
 
Roczen showed his hard work practicing starts last week paid off when he rounded the first turn of the main event in 4th position. He held the position until he made a mistake sliding to the outside of the turn after the finish line jump on lap three allowing Martin Davalos to pass by. The next few laps Roczen began to reel in Ryan Morais. As Roczen closed in on Morais, Kyle Cunningham had moved up behind Roczen and soon the Phoenix crowd was witnessing a three-way battle for 4th position.
 
 
This battle went on for approximately three laps before disaster struck for Roczen. On lap seven, Roczen was coming through the sand section underneath the bridge trying to gain on Morais when he tried to cut into a different line and accidentally clipped a hay bale. This caused him to swap out and sent him over the bars. Cunningham was so close to Roczen that he got tangled with him and both riders went to the ground. Roczen was not able to return to the race and was forced to take a DNF for the night.
 
 
Roczen remarked, "I am definitely feeling disappointed. I felt like I had put myself in the right spot to be on the podium tonight and I am upset that I crashed and could not finish. I hit my head a little and felt dizzy and that is why I pulled off. The doctors say I should be fine to race for next weekend. So I will keep trying to work toward my goal of landing on the podium."
 
 
Next Event: Los Angeles, CA - January 22, 2011
 
 
Overall Results -
 
1. Josh Hansen
 
2. Broc Tickle
 
3. Ryan Morais
 
4. Cole Seely
 
5. Eli Tomac
 
6. Tyla Rattray
 
7. James Decotis
 
8. Travis Baker
 
9. Martin Davalos
 
10. Kyle Cunningham
 
11. Jake Canada
 
12. Ben Evans
 
13. Bruce Rutherford
 
14. Antonio Balbi
 
15. Nick Paluzzi
 
16. Casey Hinson - KTM
 
17. Ryan Marmont - KTM
 
18. Scott Champion
 
19. Ken Roczen - KTM
 
20. Christian Craig
 
 
Overall Point Standings -
 
1. Josh Hansen - 50
 
2. Broc Tickle - 44
 
3. Ryan Morais - 35
 
4. Tyla Rattray - 35
 
5. Cole Seely - 34
 
6. Martin Davalos - 30
 
7. Eli Tomac - 27
 
8. Travis Baker - 26
 
9. Kyle Cunningham - 19
 
10. Nick Paluzzi - 18
 
11. Ben Evans - 18
 
12. Antonio Balbi - 17
 
13. Ken Roczen - 16
 
14. James Decotis - 14
 
15. Bruce Rutherford - 13

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