Ken Roczen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ken Roczen
Ken 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: 22 •AMA Motocross 450cc: 21 •AMA Total: 51

Ken Roczen was born on April 29, 1994, in Mattstedt, Germany. He is a professional motocross and supercross racer from Germany. Ken has competed in major championships around the world.

He raced in the Motocross World Championships from 2009 to 2011. Since 2011, he has also competed 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. More recently, he won the FIM World Supercross WSX Championship twice. Ken was also part of the German team that won the 2012 Motocross des Nations.

Ken Roczen's Racing Career

Ken Roczen performing a motocross jump

Early Successes

2013: A Supercross Champion

In 2013, Ken Roczen had a fantastic year. He won the Supercross 250 West Championship. He finished the season just two points ahead of his rival, Eli Tomac.

2014: Rookie Year 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. This was at the season opener in Anaheim I. He also won another race in Atlanta. Ken finished 3rd overall in the Supercross points. This showed he was a top competitor. He then won the 2014 AMA Motocross Championship in his rookie year. He beat Ryan Dungey for this title.

2015: Changing Teams

For 2015, Ken Roczen joined the RCH Suzuki team. He wasn't able to win the Pro Motocross championship again. Ryan Dungey took the title that year. However, Ken did win the 450-class Monster Energy Cup.

2016: Another Motocross Title

In 2016, Ken was the runner-up in the AMA Supercross Championship. 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, with nine victories.

Dealing with Injuries

2017: A Tough Year

In 2017, Ken Roczen joined the HRC Honda Racing Corporation team. After winning his second Motocross championship, many thought he would win the AMA Supercross Championship. He started strong, winning the first two races. But on January 21, 2017, Ken had a bad crash. His foot slipped, and he was thrown from his bike. He landed hard, injuring his left arm. This injury meant he missed the rest of the 2017 Supercross season. He also missed the Motocross championship.

2018: Another Setback

In 2018, Ken Roczen was ready to race again. He started the AMA Supercross Championship season in good shape. He was getting stronger each week. But on February 10, 2018, he crashed again in San Diego. His right hand was badly injured. He needed surgery to fix broken bones and torn ligaments. This injury forced him to miss the rest of the Supercross season. Luckily, his left arm had more time to heal. Ken was able to race in the 2018 Motocross Championship. He finished 3rd overall.

Return to Form

2019: Back on the Podium

In 2019, Ken finished 4th in the Supercross Championship. He earned four podium finishes, but no wins. In the Motocross Championship, he won the first race in Hangtown. He also won two more rounds. He had seven podiums out of twelve races. He finished 2nd in the final standings. Ken also won the RedBull Straight Rhythm in the 250cc class. This was his first time racing a two-stroke bike as a pro.

2020: A Challenging Season

On January 11, 2020, Ken Roczen won his first AMA Supercross race in three years. This win was in St. Louis. He won two more races. The season was then stopped because of COVID-19. At that point, he was only three points behind the leader, Eli Tomac. The season continued later in Salt Lake City, Utah. Races were held without fans. Ken got one more win during these final rounds. He finished 3rd in the final standings.

2021: Battling for the Title

Roczen in 2021 at the Washougal National.

In 2021, Ken Roczen fought for the Supercross championship again. He won four races. He finished 2nd in the final points. In Motocross, Ken finished 3rd overall. He had two overall wins.

2022: New Challenges and a World Title

Ken won the first race of the 2022 Supercross season in Anaheim. After some difficult races, Ken decided to take a break. He did not race for the rest of the AMA Supercross season. He focused on his mental and physical health. He returned for Motocross. He won one overall race at round 3, Thunder Valley. Ken also raced in the new World Supercross Championship. He won this championship for Honda.

2023: Defending His Title

In 2023, Ken Roczen returned to Suzuki for the AMA Supercross season. He got his first win for the HEP Suzuki team at round 9 in Indianapolis. He finished 4th in Supercross. He was tied on points with Cooper Webb after the last round. On May 8, it was announced that Ken would race the World Supercross Championship for the next three years. He started by winning the British Grand Prix. Ken successfully defended his SX1 WSX Title. He won the final round in Australia.

Ken Roczen raced in one AMA Pro Motocross series race in 2023. This was the High Point MX National. He qualified fastest, even ahead of the champion, Jett Lawrence. He finished 2nd overall that day. In the first SuperMotocross playoffs, Ken finished 2nd overall in all three races. This made him the runner-up in the championship.

2024: More Podiums and an Injury

Ken Roczen continued with his HEP Suzuki team in 2024. He earned six podium finishes in AMA Supercross. This included a win at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. This track was hard-packed and slippery. This was different from his win in Indianapolis, where the track was deep and rutted. Ken's season ended early due to an injury. His bike had a problem during the Nashville supercross. He was thrown from the bike. He broke his tibia plateau, foot, and toe.

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

Motocross of Nations Participation

The Motocross of Nations (MxoN) is a big team race. Riders from different countries compete.

2009: Young Talent

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

2010: First MX2 Overall Win

The 2010 Motocross Des Nations was in Colorado, USA. Ken raced in the MX2 class again. He finished 6th in one race and 3rd in another. He won his first MX2 class overall. Team Germany finished 3rd.

2011: Another MX2 Overall

The 2011 Motocross of Nations was in France. This was Ken's third time racing. He was the best in the MX2 class again. He secured another overall win. Germany finished 7th as a team.

2012: Historic Win for Germany

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

2013: Defending Champions

Roczen at the 2013 Motocross Des Nations

As defending champions, Ken Roczen raced for Germany on home soil. This was in Teutschenthal, Germany. He raced in the MX2 class. He finished 2nd in one race and 1st in another. This gave him the MX2 overall classification for the fourth year in a row. Team Germany finished 7th.

2018: Return to MxoN

Ken Roczen returned to the Motocross of Nations in 2018. This was his first time since 2013. The event was in Michigan, USA. Ken placed 25th in one race and 9th in another. He finished 5th in the MXGP class. Team Germany finished 9th overall.

2023: MXGP Class Winner

The 2023 Motocross Des Nations was in France. This was Ken's first MxoN since 2018. It was also his first European one since 2013. Ken finished 3rd in one race and 2nd in another. With these scores, he won the MXGP class overall. Team Germany finished 4th.

2024: Racing in England

The 2024 Motocross Des Nations was in Winchester, England. Ken Roczen raced in the MXGP class. He finished 6th in the Saturday qualifier. In Race 1, he fought for a podium spot early on. He eventually finished 10th. Ken placed 10th in the final race. He was 8th overall in the MXGP class. Team Germany finished 6th.

AMA Supercross/Motocross/MXGP results

WSX Results

Major Titles and Wins

Here are some of Ken Roczen's biggest achievements:

• 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