Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1113817
IN THE WIND P38 Roczen Renews Contract With Honda HRC A merican Honda says that Ken Roczen has renewed his contract with Team Honda HRC for another three years. "Re-signing with Honda was a no-brainer for me," Roczen said. "I owe the team a lot, and I feel like we have a lot of good days ahead of us. Three years is a long time, so when I signed, I was beyond stoked, and it was a big pressure relief for me. The guys that I work with on this team are like a big family. Over the last two and a half years, the team and I have been through a lot. We've had some incredible highs, but we've also hit rock bottom, and one thing that Honda always did—no matter what—was believe in me. They never gave up. The team also does whatever it takes to make a rider happy, which is huge because it brings comfort, and I want to win just as bad as they do. I know we haven't done that in a while, but our work and what we do together isn't done. Them standing behind me through thick and thin, the good times and the bad times, is what makes a great team, so I'm excited to continue our relationship." CN Sweden Advances To Finals In Germany W orld number three Fredrik Lindgren thanked selfless Sweden teammate Peter Ljung for handing him all the best gates, as they joined forces to take their country through to the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations in Landshut, Germany, May 4. Lindgren romped to an 18-point maximum, as Sweden topped the score chart on 25 points at Race Off 1, with Poland scoring 24 to join them in the Finals in Togliatti, July 20-21. Germany also advanced to Russia after Martin Smolinski and Kai Huckenbeck achieved a 3-3 behind Czech rider Vaclav Milik in the final knock-out race. With the Germans finishing third in the heat score chart on 20 and the Czechs fourth on 19, the hosts made it through. While Fast Freddie's heroics were pivotal to Sweden's success, he knows he couldn't have led his country to victory without Ljung's six-point haul and one from un- der-21 rider Filip Hjelmland. "We are very satisfied with this performance," Lindgren said. "We are happy to go straight through to Russia for the Finals. It's a tough meeting. You can't afford to make any mistakes. That was a job well done. It's a team effort because Peter gave me the inside gates. He didn't really feel comfortable in the beginning, and I said to him he should maybe try the inside gates to get going. But he wanted us to at least get the heat win, and I have to give it up to him. It's a team effort, and we did a good job together." Polish star Bartosz Zmarzlik was delighted to power his side through to Togliatti, as he joined forces with Patryk Dudek, who was only drafted in the 11th hour when Maciej Janowski withdrew due to a shoulder ligament injury. John Hipkiss Team Sweden transfers on top for the FIM Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations in Russia. PHOTO: JOHN HIPKISS Ken Roczen commits to Honda for another three years.