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/270748
IN THE WIND P20 ROCZEN FOR DAYTONA R ed Bull KTM's Ken Roczen says he'll be ready to com- pete in next week's round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series at Daytona International Speedway. Roczen, who went into Saturday night's Indy Super- cross nine points behind series leader Ryan Villopoto, crashed in the 450 main at Indianapolis while running mid-pack and was unable to finish the race. The fall came after another hard get-off in the first turn when he tangled with his training part- ner Villopoto. Both riders got up at the back of the pack and were working their way forward when Roczen went down and was ob- viously shaken up. He was able to walk off the track and ride back to the pits, complaining of back pain. But it now looks as though he will be okay to ride at Daytona. At least that's what he says. "I hit the ground pretty hard after my crash off the start when I got caught up with Villopoto," said Roczen after the race. "I pushed hard for the next few laps, but then I cased a triple in a rhythm section which sent me flying over the bars. I feel really beat up and am disappointed to not finish the race, but am thankful I am okay and will be back to race Daytona." Roczen is now 26 points be- hind Villopoto in third with Indy win- ner Ryan Dungey, Roczen's team- mate, moved up two notches to second in the standings. Dungey is 23 points behind Villopoto, who finished fourth in the race. Ken Roczen says he will be fit to compete in this weekend's Daytona Supercross. PHOTOGRAPHY BY KTM IMAGES YOUNG FOR DAYTONA SPORTBIKE B lake Young, perhaps the most notable vic- tim of an ongoing rider market crash that has defined American road racing in recent years, will return to full-time AMA Pro Road Racing duty in 2014. After exhausting all options in an attempt to secure a suitable Su- perbike ride and facing the grim possibility of another season left out in the cold, the Wisconsin native was presented with a late opportunity in the form of an offer to contest the Daytona SportBike class for the fledgling GN Gonzales effort. The Baton Rouge-based outfit will field the long- time Suzuki pilot aboard a Graves-tuned Yamaha YZF- R6. Young tested the bike at NOLA Motorsports Park last week and finalized the deal just two weeks out from the season-opening Daytona 200 weekend. As a result, the final shape of the team remains in flux and won't be fully firmed up until after the season opener. Young did Blake Young will compete in the Daytona SportBike Series this year for the new GN Gonzales team. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE