Cycle News

VOL. 51 ISSUE 34 AUGUST 26, 2014 P55 whole different atmosphere I had to adapt to. I knew when I came over here it wasn't going to be for just one year. I was planning on taking two or three years to fully adjust and now I finally feel at home over here, I'm fully adjust- ed. I have a home in Florida and I think things are clicking right now. My future is here, I'm here for the long run and that's what I want, and that's good for Euro- pean motocross and especially German motocross." Despite the relatively big points lead Roczen had coming into this weekend's race, Roczen re- vealed after the fact that he was on edge the week before. "It was more about people com- ing up to me the days before the race and telling me I had it won," said Roczen. "That just made me nervous. It was like, don't even talk to me, I don't want to hear that. It's really hard to put it out of your mind and say it's just another race because it isn't. So I honestly just did what I had to do and it was crazy to be in that position. "I think that last couple of laps I rode slower than I did on the pa- rade lap," said Roczen. "I over- jumped a couple of jumps and I was just wide open everywhere, and I was clicking gears without using the clutch, and I was think- ing, 'please survive bike.' But I made it happen, which was a big, big accomplishment. "Overall, it was a good year, even though I had a couple of races that didn't go the way I wanted them to. But in the end, the points standings are what they are and it's just a big load off my back. Now I can't wait to have some chocolate and some things I haven't been able to have." Adding to the nerves, Roczen said that he got sick during the week and then felt bad during the race. "On Tuesday, I got sick," said Roczen. "I didn't have a fever but my head was glowing red and I had a headache and I was really congested, so I hadn't done any riding all week except for Thurs- day so I wouldn't make it any worse. "I don't know if it's because of the stress you put on yourself, but my neck started hurting in that first moto and then my leg started hurting," said Roczen. "We're at altitude, so that might have been part if it, but my body just started aching." Roczen dominated most of the year, except for three races late in the season when Dungey seemed to surge at the same time that Roczen seemed a bit off the pace and it looked like Dungey might be able to claw his way back into the title hunt. "I did the same thing in Su- percross, but my body just felt tired," said Roczen. "And it's not just in your head, but when you have one race after another, and it's just like, 'I do not feel good.' It's just that your body gets worn down. I think it's just an edge that I have to overcome, but it's just that load of all the training we have to do and we don't get that many weekends off and you can't take it easy, because it will bite you. So there's a really fine line. "I was riding really good in the first half, and it almost felt easy to me. And that's probably when I was peaking. And probably if I had taken it a little easy it would have been better, but those are the things you learn from." Was it awkward for Roczen having his main rival for the title under the same tent? According to both Roczen and Dungey, it wasn't an issue. "Ryan and I have a really good relationship," said Roc- zen. "When we were on the east coast we started practicing together and we went for din- ner. You would think it would be a little weird, but I just think we are two people who can handle competition under the same tent. We haven't had any problems at all this year." Despite the rumors that Roc- zen will be moving to another team in 2015, the newly crowned champ had plenty of good things to say about his team. "What KTM has accomplished the last three years is just awe- some," said Roczen. "They've been putting in so much work. It just seems everything is clicking right now. We've been working hard and it's cool to be pushing the bike like that. Roger [DeCoster, team manager] has to be smiling, because both of his dudes are first and second. It's just great to have that happen." CN

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