Season Starts in Daytona: KROC & Marvin

Squid Williams
A common theme this time of year. With the season being past the halfway hump, many like to think that this week is the beginning of the end for SX. When the race to Vegas begins, when the men are separated from the boys, and when a true champion emerges.

For the fans sake, I hope this is the case because it looks like Cooper is going to win the rest of them and we all know how boring that could be. But I can think of 2 guys who should be hanging on to this notion that the season starts on Saturday night in Florida.

1) Ken Roczen - After a rollercoaster of a 450 career, I'd like to think that one of KRoc's goals at the beginning of the season was to make it to Daytona. In the last 5 years, Kenny has only raced Daytona twice with his most recent finish being a 5th (RCH in 2016). If he wants to remain a contender for the championship, Ken is going to have to start winning races or, at the very least, beating Cooper Webb. I believe now that he has made it this far into the series, he will stop racing just to get to the next weekend and start pushing for the championship!

2) Marvin Musquin - Similar to Roczen, the crafty Frenchman was focused more on getting (and staying) healthy at the beginning of the year. After a knee surgery in the off season put a damper on his training, I would think Marv is pumped to be 3rd in points and right in the mix for his first championship. Not to mention that the guy who is supposed to be the B rider on his team is noticeably kicking his but week in and week out. Marvin has to be ready to prove why he is the premier rider under the Red Bull KTM tent, and I think his time to strike is looming.

I'm realizing now that these two guys who I think have kind of played it safe up to this point are 2nd and 3rd in points, but I think that has been the game plan all along. These two men are in it for the long haul and are playing this game to win a championship, not get race wins.

Can't wait for some great racing this weekend! What are your thoughts?
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 3/7/2019 3:28pm
3/7/2019 3:28pm
I tend to agree with you, to win a war you win battles, both are playing it smart. You could also apply that logic to Eli although he has been a bit more up and down but his back might still be playing up
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mauidex
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mauidex 3/7/2019 3:38pm
3/7/2019 3:38pm
Well everybody better have their shit together because if Webb wins Daytona this rodeo is over!!!
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Squid Williams 3/7/2019 3:45pm
3/7/2019 3:45pm
kiwifan wrote:
I tend to agree with you, to win a war you win battles, both are playing it smart. You could also apply that logic to Eli...
I tend to agree with you, to win a war you win battles, both are playing it smart. You could also apply that logic to Eli although he has been a bit more up and down but his back might still be playing up
I really don't know what to think about Eli at this point. It seems that he has always had up and down seasons, maybe this year he will simply have more downs than ups. I never really considered him to be the guy thinking 6 or 7 weeks ahead though, he seems more like someone who wants to win every weekend no matter the cost.
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Tbteam
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Tbteam 3/7/2019 4:34pm
3/7/2019 4:34pm
Webb.
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ledger
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ledger 3/7/2019 5:24pm
3/7/2019 5:24pm
The top four in points know that Now is time to step it up. Whatever the results are at Daytona I just hope this round is exciting as last year. On a side note from last year, Tomac mentioned in the post race interview the takeout on Webb as...Welcome to the big boy class. Cooper may have an opportunity to say something about that on or off the motorcycle. Hmmmmmm.
drt410
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drt410 3/7/2019 5:31pm
3/7/2019 5:31pm
The thing is Elis starts have been shyte. Its not like hes getting bad starts on purpose to “manage” the championship. Idk what it is but he needs to be practicing only starts all day from here on out, hes plenty fast enough. The rest of the guys too have been trying to win “managing” is a way to be positive when ur losing, although Ken definitely hasnt been riding over his head to win so thats good. Definitely interested to see if the guys step it up a notch now and go balls out to the finish.
ledger
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ledger 3/7/2019 5:44pm
3/7/2019 5:44pm
Marvin could get his first win if he can stay on the bike, he's shown speed all season. He's gotta be sick of being runner up.
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Ted722
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Ted722 3/7/2019 6:20pm
3/7/2019 6:20pm
Marvin can play hardball with the best of ‘em and if it’s his teammate between he and the checkered flag, I believe he still has the greenlight to do whatever it takes.

How bad do you want it Marv!?! No more Mr. nice guy starting this weekend!
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biscuit11
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biscuit11 3/7/2019 9:08pm
3/7/2019 9:08pm
Passes between the top 4 will surely get more agressive as this season winds down and im pretty sure Cooper has the most enemies amongst the top 4. But they gotta catch him first lol
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motomike137
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motomike137 3/8/2019 3:56am
3/8/2019 3:56am
Squid Williams wrote:
A common theme this time of year. With the season being past the halfway hump, many like to think that this week is the beginning of...
A common theme this time of year. With the season being past the halfway hump, many like to think that this week is the beginning of the end for SX. When the race to Vegas begins, when the men are separated from the boys, and when a true champion emerges.

For the fans sake, I hope this is the case because it looks like Cooper is going to win the rest of them and we all know how boring that could be. But I can think of 2 guys who should be hanging on to this notion that the season starts on Saturday night in Florida.

1) Ken Roczen - After a rollercoaster of a 450 career, I'd like to think that one of KRoc's goals at the beginning of the season was to make it to Daytona. In the last 5 years, Kenny has only raced Daytona twice with his most recent finish being a 5th (RCH in 2016). If he wants to remain a contender for the championship, Ken is going to have to start winning races or, at the very least, beating Cooper Webb. I believe now that he has made it this far into the series, he will stop racing just to get to the next weekend and start pushing for the championship!

2) Marvin Musquin - Similar to Roczen, the crafty Frenchman was focused more on getting (and staying) healthy at the beginning of the year. After a knee surgery in the off season put a damper on his training, I would think Marv is pumped to be 3rd in points and right in the mix for his first championship. Not to mention that the guy who is supposed to be the B rider on his team is noticeably kicking his but week in and week out. Marvin has to be ready to prove why he is the premier rider under the Red Bull KTM tent, and I think his time to strike is looming.

I'm realizing now that these two guys who I think have kind of played it safe up to this point are 2nd and 3rd in points, but I think that has been the game plan all along. These two men are in it for the long haul and are playing this game to win a championship, not get race wins.

Can't wait for some great racing this weekend! What are your thoughts?
I have a hard time with the "playing it safe" statement because I know how not safe it is to even compete in this sport but I get what you are saying. The question is that once you have kept yourself in the "safe" zone and gotten this far can you suddenly reach down and find more? Can you mentally unlock something that you have shied away from up to this point. It is going to be interesting to watch it unfold.
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Question 3/8/2019 5:50am
3/8/2019 5:50am Edited Date/Time 3/8/2019 5:51am
For this week end, I would predit the win & 2nd spot for Tomac and Musquin, or vice versa, depending on the start, especially Tomac's. They have quite a bunch of points to get back and they will have to go for it especially on a track that should suit them well.

Then for the 3rd spot of the podium, either Kroc, Webb or Baggett. It is difficult to say, they are all fast, with a little advantage to Webb though. That is why I will place him 3rd, then 4th for Baggett (unless he does a holeshot and in on fire that night). Roczen has not raced Daytona much these last years, so he may not be pumped to leave there with a 5th, but it is still a lot of points.
AZRider
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AZRider 3/8/2019 6:17am
3/8/2019 6:17am
I agree with all contenders involved except for KROC. For KROC, just making it through this season will be a victory. Even if he finished 2nd or 3rd in points. Not what he wants I know, but that would still allow him to build speed and fitness in the offseason and through MX. He still needs more time for his injury recovery, so I would rather see him stay steady and competitive.
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