Has Ken Roczen underperformed on Honda?

USA
Posts
2627
Joined
9/4/2016
Location
Richmond, TX, USA
Fantasy
Ken might be the highest paid rider ever to net 0 championships in 5 years. Probably 6 after outdoors is over.

I know he's had some gnarly injuries, so I also want to know what other riders rank up on this list.
Poll

Has Kenny underperformed on his Honda ride?

Choices
4
36
|
JN137
Posts
284
Joined
1/18/2017
Location
USA
3/23/2022 5:55pm Edited Date/Time 3/23/2022 5:56pm
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say he performed incredibly!
68
3
chasetwo79
Posts
1693
Joined
12/1/2019
Location
San Francisco, CA, USA
3/23/2022 6:11pm
I’m in no way a Kenny fanboy but the dude has been one of the most popular riders world-wide in our sport for years. Just by him riding a Honda all these years, he’s more than met his contract. The publicity from the injury and the comeback alone paid off his contract.

Go out to the local track and you’ll see that outside of the Austrian brands, Hondas are everywhere. I’d say he’s helped with the marketing there more than enough to cover what he’s earned.
25
3
-MAVERICK-
Posts
67560
Joined
3/26/2015
Location
Ontario, CA
3/23/2022 6:24pm
AC's career is obviously far from over, but he seems to be trending in the same direction.
18
6
3/23/2022 6:41pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:
AC's career is obviously far from over, but he seems to be trending in the same direction.
I would say at this point AC has underperformed more then Roczen by quite a bit.

If the expectation for Kenny was championships then technically he has underperformed but in reality he has still had some really impressive results with Honda. Even looking at this year he has more wins then the defending champ. Sucks it went downhill from there. Hope he gets whatever he has going on sorted and comes back motivated.
25

The Shop

jaun
Posts
807
Joined
4/27/2021
Location
MX
3/23/2022 6:43pm
USA wrote:
Ken might be the highest paid rider ever to net 0 championships in 5 years. Probably 6 after outdoors is over. I know he's had some...
Ken might be the highest paid rider ever to net 0 championships in 5 years. Probably 6 after outdoors is over.

I know he's had some gnarly injuries, so I also want to know what other riders rank up on this list.
Did Kenny mate 22 accounts and vote?
1
10
resetjet
Posts
2557
Joined
3/16/2012
Location
Tampa, FL, USA
3/23/2022 7:33pm
Its over for kenny. Sad, sad story of the could of been, but the facts speak for themselves.
5
4
Johnny Ringo
Posts
8219
Joined
1/11/2016
Location
Tombstone, AZ, USA
3/23/2022 7:42pm Edited Date/Time 3/23/2022 8:00pm
Ya, he probably should have wrapped up 2-3 titles with the way he was riding at the end of 16
4
ATKpilot99
Posts
10500
Joined
4/13/2010
Location
Lake Geneva, WI, USA
3/23/2022 7:46pm
JN137 wrote:
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say...
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say he performed incredibly!
He won the first two races including a nose to tail battle with Dungey in the second one , then was running 3rd or 4th when he got off in the next race . Too small a sample size to say he was dominating.
29
1
RaceFace58
Posts
813
Joined
2/6/2022
Location
Meriden, CT, USA
3/23/2022 8:53pm
JN137 wrote:
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say...
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say he performed incredibly!
ATKpilot99 wrote:
He won the first two races including a nose to tail battle with Dungey in the second one , then was running 3rd or 4th when...
He won the first two races including a nose to tail battle with Dungey in the second one , then was running 3rd or 4th when he got off in the next race . Too small a sample size to say he was dominating.
He was dominating in 2022 after race 1. I certainly think he’s underperformed. Honda paid him for titles and has hasn’t gotten a one. I’m happy he came back from that horrific injury but the question wasn’t if he’s done well for being injured like that.
20
3
kiwifan
Posts
9851
Joined
10/31/2009
Location
USA
3/23/2022 8:55pm
if you put his injuries etc into the equation then you can argue he has done one hell of a job
7
1
jambalaya
Posts
1479
Joined
1/16/2021
Location
Spring Valley, CA, USA
3/23/2022 8:57pm
Does anyone not think the answer to this is yes
1
3/23/2022 9:01pm
Wouldn’t call it underperforming. Would just say he had some bad luck on the Honda and couldn’t put it together
1
1
viking174
Posts
155
Joined
11/10/2020
Location
Huntington Beach, CA, USA
3/23/2022 11:46pm
How in the world could you blame the bike? Seriously??
The bike had nothing to do with how he performed , good or bad ! Silly
3
CPR
Posts
7145
Joined
10/4/2018
Location
AU
3/24/2022 1:08am
What do people not understand about there being only a single title up for grab each series?!
Does that mean the 21, or 39, other riders on the gate have all underperformed???

How much you’re paid doesn’t come into it. If you’re paid more, it just means you are a valued commodity and have a manager who’s actually doing their job.
3
3/24/2022 1:24am
CPR wrote:
What do people not understand about there being only a single title up for grab each series?! Does that mean the 21, or 39, other riders...
What do people not understand about there being only a single title up for grab each series?!
Does that mean the 21, or 39, other riders on the gate have all underperformed???

How much you’re paid doesn’t come into it. If you’re paid more, it just means you are a valued commodity and have a manager who’s actually doing their job.
Underperformed by expectation is the pertinent point. What dont you understand about that?

9
2
CPR
Posts
7145
Joined
10/4/2018
Location
AU
3/24/2022 1:32am
CPR wrote:
What do people not understand about there being only a single title up for grab each series?! Does that mean the 21, or 39, other riders...
What do people not understand about there being only a single title up for grab each series?!
Does that mean the 21, or 39, other riders on the gate have all underperformed???

How much you’re paid doesn’t come into it. If you’re paid more, it just means you are a valued commodity and have a manager who’s actually doing their job.
Underperformed by expectation is the pertinent point. What dont you understand about that?

Every factory’s top signing is expected to win, what don’t you understand about that?
1
1
blockhead17
Posts
2864
Joined
6/13/2018
Location
Tokyo, JP
3/24/2022 2:01am
This year yes.. but obviously he is suffering from health issues…
4
Heggo
Posts
384
Joined
1/14/2021
Location
CH
3/24/2022 2:23am
Or is the bike under performing? Serious question and maybe he not wanting to hang it out that little bit extra and risk more serious injury? Look at Cooper this year where last year could do whatever easily.
6
3/24/2022 3:31am
He has been paid the big bucks by Honda to win championships for 6 years now. He has won zero during that time. How is this even a question?
18
6
flarider
Posts
25496
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Daytona Beach, FL, USA
3/24/2022 4:13am
Kenny is a rare one who has marketing value outside of winning dirt bike championships.
2
9
Johnny Ringo
Posts
8219
Joined
1/11/2016
Location
Tombstone, AZ, USA
3/24/2022 4:15am
flarider wrote:
Kenny is a rare one who has marketing value outside of winning dirt bike championships.
Dan Bentley is on record from when he was still at Honda saying if Ken doesn’t win a title with them, it’s a bust
13
flarider
Posts
25496
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Daytona Beach, FL, USA
3/24/2022 4:25am
Really.

Ok
1
Chris_Buehler
Posts
8667
Joined
7/21/2019
Location
PORTLAND, CT, USA
3/24/2022 4:25am
JN137 wrote:
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say...
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say he performed incredibly!
ATKpilot99 wrote:
He won the first two races including a nose to tail battle with Dungey in the second one , then was running 3rd or 4th when...
He won the first two races including a nose to tail battle with Dungey in the second one , then was running 3rd or 4th when he got off in the next race . Too small a sample size to say he was dominating.
This is my response every time I see that "he looked unbeatable when 2017 sx started!" It was a couple races
5
2
CPR
Posts
7145
Joined
10/4/2018
Location
AU
3/24/2022 4:29am
JN137 wrote:
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say...
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say he performed incredibly!
ATKpilot99 wrote:
He won the first two races including a nose to tail battle with Dungey in the second one , then was running 3rd or 4th when...
He won the first two races including a nose to tail battle with Dungey in the second one , then was running 3rd or 4th when he got off in the next race . Too small a sample size to say he was dominating.
This is my response every time I see that "he looked unbeatable when 2017 sx started!" It was a couple races
Just like Tomac outdoors on the Honda?
2
KONG
Posts
768
Joined
9/2/2021
Location
FR
3/24/2022 4:37am
kiwifan wrote:
if you put his injuries etc into the equation then you can argue he has done one hell of a job
Yeah, he got the "world's fastest disabled rider" title away from Pourcel.
Unfortunately, that's not what he was hired or paid for.
Dry
1
3
3/24/2022 4:54am
CPR wrote:
What do people not understand about there being only a single title up for grab each series?! Does that mean the 21, or 39, other riders...
What do people not understand about there being only a single title up for grab each series?!
Does that mean the 21, or 39, other riders on the gate have all underperformed???

How much you’re paid doesn’t come into it. If you’re paid more, it just means you are a valued commodity and have a manager who’s actually doing their job.
Underperformed by expectation is the pertinent point. What dont you understand about that?

CPR wrote:
Every factory’s top signing is expected to win, what don’t you understand about that?
But how many of the 21/39 are a factory's top signing?

So what you really mean is there's 5/6 who have underperformed.
1
3
fourfourone
Posts
3046
Joined
10/14/2017
Location
86oh, CT, USA
3/24/2022 5:13am
flarider wrote:
Kenny is a rare one who has marketing value outside of winning dirt bike championships.
100%. It's not about titles sometimes it's about marketability
2
6
agn5008
Posts
2055
Joined
3/8/2021
Location
PA, PA, USA
Fantasy
3/24/2022 5:16am
-MAVERICK- wrote:
AC's career is obviously far from over, but he seems to be trending in the same direction.
I would say at this point AC has underperformed more then Roczen by quite a bit. If the expectation for Kenny was championships then technically he...
I would say at this point AC has underperformed more then Roczen by quite a bit.

If the expectation for Kenny was championships then technically he has underperformed but in reality he has still had some really impressive results with Honda. Even looking at this year he has more wins then the defending champ. Sucks it went downhill from there. Hope he gets whatever he has going on sorted and comes back motivated.
I hope he gets well and comes back to racing as well. But I wonder what the pay difference between Roczen and AC is. I’m sure they’re both making really good money but I thought I read somewhere Roczen signed a historic deal with Honda? If you’re being paid to bring home championships then that’s the expectation. Roczen clearly hasn’t done that.

AC on the other hand is probably being paid behind the likes of Roczen, Tomac, Anderson, Webb and possibly a few more guys. So realistically if you’re a team owner and you pay one guy say 5 million to win you championships then pay the next guy say 1 million to win you some races or “possibly” a championship who would you be more upset with? I would be more upset that my very expensive long term commitment didn’t work out than a fresh faced guy. (Don’t tear me apart on those numbers. I’m not saying that’s what either one makes. I’m just using those numbers because they’re easy to compare)

Realistically they’ve both been massive disappointments for their teams. Neither one has done what their teams have hoped. But I’m looking at the guy who has proven he can win championships and got paid a ton of money to do exactly that. Every single person at Kawasaki knew AC was high risk high reward just from watching him in his 250 days. They knew they were hiring a guy who could either go out and go on a nice run and maybe win a championship or would completely implode every other race. Every single person at Honda thought they were gonna have some championship numberplates to hang on the walls. Maybe from a general fan POV you think AC has been the bigger disappointment but from a team POV it’s Roczen by a mile.
NorCal1975
Posts
594
Joined
12/27/2019
Location
Northern California, CA, USA
3/24/2022 5:30am
Any word if he is coming back for outdoors? I would guess no, since outdoors is much more difficult physically, but had not heard. Hoping he does, always better to have as many fast guys as possible!
Crush
Posts
21135
Joined
4/26/2009
Location
Sydney, AU
3/24/2022 5:32am
JN137 wrote:
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say...
Kenny was dominating on Honda in 2017 SX before he got hurt. The dude destroyed his arm and came back to win more races, I'd say he performed incredibly!
He did win two races before the first arm injury, but it was still only two races.

It's hard to seperate his Honda career from the injuries and while he's clearly never been the same, it's also hard to look at last year in particular and think he could/should have got that done, even with all the injury history. It didn't seem like a body thing last year, was upstairs.
2
1

Post a reply to: Has Ken Roczen underperformed on Honda?

The Latest