INTERVIEW
2016 AMA 450MX NATIONAL CHAMPION KEN ROCZEN
P134
It seems like 2016 didn't
get off to an amazing start
for you, but with about a
half-dozen rounds left in the
Supercross championship,
you caught fire. We know you
found some settings on your
bike. What was it specifically
that you found?
Yeah, it was triple clamps
and gearing—just a change in
sprocket size and it made a huge
difference. You could see it in my
riding and my results from one
weekend to another. The stock
triple clamps were a different
ratio than what I was racing; it
actually moved the front wheel
farther out, and it felt good. The
standard triple clamps have more
flex to them, too, so that's why I
chose those, and it was better.
And depending on which way you
go on the gearing, it will change
how long your gears are and how
abrupt the motor is, but the big
thing was depending on which
direction you go, it can make the
bike (wheelbase) longer or short-
er, and that makes a big differ-
Once Roczen
finally figured
out his bike,
he dominated
the outdoor MX
Nationals.
"I lost a
moto here
and there–
and one
wasn't my
fault–but
even lining
up in those
races, not
one time
did I doubt
myself
and say
'I'm going
to finish
second.'"
