Ken Roczen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ken Roczen
Roczen at Supercross Oakland 2016
Nationality	German
Born	29 April 1994 (1994-04-29) (age 31) Mattstedt, Germany
Motocross career
Years active	2009–present
Teams	•Red Bull Factory KTM (2010–2014) •RCH Suzuki (2014–2016) •HRC Honda (2016–2022) •HEP Suzuki (2022–present)
Championships	•MX2 – 2011 •2013 AMA Supercross 250cc West •2014 AMA 450cc Motocross •2016 AMA 450cc Motocross •2022 FIM WSX World Supercross •2023 FIM WSX World Supercross
Wins	•MX2: 12 •AMA Supercross 250cc: 6 •AMA Motocross 250cc: 2 •AMA Supercross 450cc: 23 •AMA Motocross 450cc: 21 AMA Total: 52

Ken Roczen (born 29 April 1994) is a professional motocross and supercross racer from Germany and the United States. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 2009 to 2011. Since 2011, he has raced in the AMA Supercross Championships.

Ken is a very successful rider. He won the MX2 World Championship in 2011. He is also a two-time 450cc AMA Motocross Champion. In 2013, he became the AMA Supercross 250cc West Champion. He has also won the FIM World Supercross WSX Championship twice. In 2012, he was part of the German team that won the Motocross des Nations.

Ken Roczen's Racing Journey

Ken Roczen performing a motocross jump

Early Career Highlights

2013: First Big Championship

In 2013, Roczen won the Supercross 250 West Championship. He finished the season just 2 points ahead of another top rider, Eli Tomac.

2014: Rookie Success in 450cc

In 2014, Ken moved up to the powerful 450cc class. He joined the Red Bull KTM Racing team. Ken surprised everyone by winning his very first 450 Supercross race at Anaheim I. This was the first race of the season. He also won at round 5 in Atlanta.

He finished 3rd overall in the Supercross series that year. This showed he was ready to be one of the best riders. Ken then went on to win the 2014 AMA Motocross Championship in his first year in the 450 class. He beat Ryan Dungey for the title.

2015: New Team, New Challenges

For 2015, Roczen joined RCH Suzuki. He did not win the Pro Motocross championship again, losing his title to Ryan Dungey. However, he did win the 450-class Monster Energy Cup.

2016: Another Motocross Title

In 2016, Ken finished second in the AMA Supercross Championship standings. He won five races that season. He then went on to win the AMA Motocross title for the second time. He won in a very strong way, taking 9 wins.

2017: Facing Tough Injuries

In 2017, Roczen joined the Honda factory racing team, HRC Honda Racing Corporation. After winning his second Motocross championship, many thought he would win the AMA Supercross Championship. He had finished 2nd in 2016.

Kenny started the 2017 season strong, winning the first two races. But on January 21, 2017, he had a serious crash. His foot slipped off the footpeg while going over a jump. He was thrown from his bike and landed hard. He suffered a serious injury to his left arm. Because of this, Roczen missed the rest of the 2017 Supercross season and the Motocross championship.

2018: A Comeback and Another Setback

In 2018, Ken Roczen was ready to return to racing after his injury. He started the AMA Supercross Championship season in good shape. He was working his way back to the top.

However, on February 10, 2018, in San Diego, Roczen had another bad crash. He was trying to pass Cooper Webb when his arm got caught in Webb's rear wheel. He had surgery to fix broken bones and torn ligaments in his right hand. This injury meant Roczen missed the rest of the Supercross season again. Luckily, this gave his left arm more time to heal. Roczen recovered in time for the 2018 Motocross Championship, where he finished 3rd overall.

2019: Strong Finishes

In 2019, Ken finished 4th in the Supercross Championship. He earned four podium finishes, meaning he placed in the top three. In the Motocross Championship, he won the first race in Hangtown and two more rounds. He had 7 podiums out of 12 races and finished 2nd in the final standings. He also won the 250cc class at RedBull Straight Rhythm, even though it was his first time racing a two-stroke bike as a pro.

2020: Wins and a Pandemic Pause

On January 11, 2020, Ken Roczen won his first AMA Supercross race in three years in St. Louis. He won two more races. The season was then paused after round 10 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At that point, he was only three points behind leader Eli Tomac. The season restarted with seven races in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ken won one more race but finished 3rd in the final standings.

2021: Battling for Championships

Roczen in 2021 at the Washougal National.

Supercross Performance

In 2021, Roczen again fought for the Supercross championship. He won 4 races but finished a distant 2nd in the final points.

Motocross Performance

Roczen finished 3rd in the Motocross series. He had 2 overall wins.

2022: A New World Title

Roczen won the first race of the 2022 Supercross season in Anaheim. After some difficult races, Roczen decided to take a break from the AMA Supercross season. He wanted to focus on his mental and physical health.

He returned for Motocross and won one overall at round 3, Thunder Valley. He also raced in the new World Supercross Championship. He won this championship for Honda.

2023: Back to Suzuki and More Wins

Supercross Performance

Roczen returned to Suzuki for the 2023 AMA Supercross season. He earned his first win for the HEP Suzuki team at round 9 in Indianapolis. He finished 4th in Supercross.

World Supercross Success

On May 8, 2023, it was announced that Roczen would race the World Supercross Championship for the next three years. He started by winning the British Grand Prix. Roczen successfully defended his SX1 WSX Title, winning the final race in Australia.

Motocross and SMX World Championship

Ken Roczen raced in one AMA Pro Motocross event in 2023, the High Point MX National. He was the fastest qualifier, even ahead of the eventual champion Jett Lawrence. He finished 2nd overall that day.

In the first-ever SuperMotocross playoffs, Roczen finished 2nd overall at all three races. This earned him the runner-up spot in the championship.

2024: More Podiums and Another Injury

Supercross Performance

Continuing with his HEP Suzuki team, Roczen achieved six podium finishes in the 2024 AMA Supercross season. This included a win at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. This track was hard and slick, very different from his win in Indianapolis the year before.

Roczen's season ended early when his bike had a major shock problem at the Nashville supercross. He was thrown from his bike and suffered injuries to his tibia plateau, foot, and toe.

Motocross Performance

Ken Roczen raced in two AMA Pro Motocross rounds in 2024. At Unadilla, he placed 7th overall. At Ironman, he raced in the 250 class for the first time in over 10 years. He finished 9th overall after battling in the top 5 in the first race.

Motocross of Nations: Representing Germany

The Motocross of Nations is a big team race where riders represent their home countries.

2009: A Young Talent Shines

At the 2009 Motocross of Nations in Italy, Ken Roczen represented Team Germany in the MX2 class. He was only 15 years old. Roczen showed great skill and helped Team Germany finish 4th. He placed 2nd in the MX2 class.

2010: First MX2 Classification Win

The 2010 Motocross des Nations was held in Colorado, USA. Roczen again raced in the MX2 class. He finished 6th in one race and 3rd in another. He won his first MX2 classification overall and helped Team Germany finish 3rd.

2011: Another MX2 Win

The 2011 Motocross of Nations in France was Roczen's third time at the event. He was once again the best in the MX2 class, winning another overall classification. Germany finished 7th as a team.

2012: Germany's First Victory

The 2012 Motocross of Nations was held in Belgium. Roczen, along with Max Nagl and Marcus Schiffer, led Team Germany to their first-ever win at this event. Kenny placed 5th and 4th in his races, winning the MX2 overall again. Their victory was a historic moment for Germany in the Motocross des Nations.

2013: Defending Champions at Home

As the defending champions, Roczen represented Team Germany on their home soil in Germany. He raced in the MX2 class again. He finished 2nd in one race and 1st in another, winning the MX2 overall classification for the fourth year in a row. Team Germany finished 7th.

2018: Return to the Nations

Roczen returned to the Motocross des Nations for the first time since 2013. The event was held in Michigan, USA. Kenny placed 25th in one race and 9th in another. He finished 5th in the MXGP class, and Team Germany placed 9th overall.

2023: MXGP Class Winner

The 2023 Motocross des Nations was held in France. This was Kenny's first time at the Nations since 2018 and his first European one since 2013. Roczen finished 3rd in one race and 2nd in another. With these scores, he won the MXGP class overall classification. Team Germany finished 4th.

2024: Continued Participation

The 2024 Motocross des Nations was held in England. Roczen was chosen to race in the MXGP class. He finished 6th in the Saturday qualifier. In Race 1, Roczen fought for a podium spot early on but finished 10th. He also placed 10th in the final race, finishing 8th overall in the MXGP classification. Team Germany finished 6th.

Ken Roczen's Race Results (Summary)

This table shows Ken Roczen's results in AMA Supercross, Motocross, and MXGP races over the years.

WSX Championship Results

This table shows Ken Roczen's results in the World Supercross Championship.

Major Titles and Wins

Ken Roczen has won many important titles throughout his career:

• 2006 – German Junior Cup Champion 85cc
• 2007 – Junior World Champion 85cc
• 2008 – German Youngster Cup Champion
• 2009 – German ADAC MX Masters Champion
• 2010 – German ADAC MX Masters Champion
• 2011 – Motocross World Champion MX2
• 2012 – 1st place at Motocross des Nations (MxoN) in Lommel (Belgium)
• 2013 – AMA Supercross West Champion 250SX
• 2014 – AMA Motocross Champion 450 class
• 2015 – Monster Energy Cup winner
• 2016 – AMA Motocross Champion 450 class
• 2019 – Redbull Straight Rhythm 250cc winner
• 2022 SX1 WSX Champion
• 2023 SX1 WSX Champion

Personal Life

Roczen was born in Mattstedt, Germany. He became a citizen of the United States in March 2025.