Ken Roczen Riding a 2023 Yamaha YZ450F

ML512
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ML512
Edited Date/Time 11/2/2022 8:33am
Welp, this is interesting. We’ve had a few good sources tell us that Ken has already purchased one or a couple Kawasakis but was also interested in swinging a leg over the new Yamaha before making his decision. And he got that opportunity today.

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LungButter
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LungButter 10/31/2022 3:10pm
10/31/2022 3:10pm Edited Date/Time 10/31/2022 3:17pm
Damn gurl
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MotoMan12345
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MotoMan12345 10/31/2022 3:15pm
10/31/2022 3:15pm
From steve "I had heard from good people PC going to build him Kawi's for 2023 but yeah, he was out at Club trying BLU CRUUUU, so maybe Club deal off to side w Fox gear, Red Bull deal?"
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Johnny Ringo
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Johnny Ringo 10/31/2022 3:19pm
10/31/2022 3:19pm
MC in 98, stamp it
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mx_phreek 10/31/2022 3:26pm
10/31/2022 3:26pm
I'd personally like to see him on a Kawi as I'm a Kawi guy at heart.
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ThePizzaCobra
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ThePizzaCobra 10/31/2022 3:31pm
10/31/2022 3:31pm
I want some Roczen bike reviews…
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Coach529
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Coach529 10/31/2022 3:38pm
10/31/2022 3:38pm
Who's SX track is that?
WhatsStoppingU 10/31/2022 3:41pm
10/31/2022 3:41pm
Tomac, Ferrandis and Roczen all on Blu Cru for ‘23 would be nuts
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CPan
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CPan 10/31/2022 3:42pm
10/31/2022 3:42pm
Coach529 wrote:
Who's SX track is that?
Club MX
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Brent
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Brent 10/31/2022 3:43pm
10/31/2022 3:43pm
...so, with Ken riding all these different bikes, does this mean that he has not been signed to a factory team for 2023?

On one hand, I have a hard time believing that a talent of his level wouldn't have OEM teams doing what it takes to get him signed and starting preparation for Supercross-this is a guy who won Anaheim 1 earlier this year after all.

On the other hand, could his lack of disclosure about his health issues prevent teams from taking a risk for the amount of money Ken would want?

If he is considering starting his own private team, maybe he should talk to Chad Reed first?

It's getting pretty late for deciding on a bike for 2023...
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WhatsStoppingU 10/31/2022 3:43pm
10/31/2022 3:43pm
Coach529 wrote:
Who's SX track is that?
Judging by the near peak fall foliage it has to be somewhere pretty far north. NC maybe?
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ML512
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ML512 10/31/2022 3:48pm
10/31/2022 3:48pm
Coach529 wrote:
Who's SX track is that?
WhatsStoppingU wrote:
Judging by the near peak fall foliage it has to be somewhere pretty far north. NC maybe?
It’s South Carolina, ClubMX.
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Coach529
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Coach529 10/31/2022 3:51pm
10/31/2022 3:51pm
Coach529 wrote:
Who's SX track is that?
WhatsStoppingU wrote:
Judging by the near peak fall foliage it has to be somewhere pretty far north. NC maybe?
ML512 wrote:
It’s South Carolina, ClubMX.
That is what I thought......thanks!!
racerx217
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racerx217 10/31/2022 3:54pm
10/31/2022 3:54pm
Instantly 5 seconds a lap faster, about time he got his life right.
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soggy
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soggy 10/31/2022 4:04pm
10/31/2022 4:04pm Edited Date/Time 10/31/2022 4:05pm
Brent wrote:
...so, with Ken riding all these different bikes, does this mean that he has not been signed to a factory team for 2023? On one hand...
...so, with Ken riding all these different bikes, does this mean that he has not been signed to a factory team for 2023?

On one hand, I have a hard time believing that a talent of his level wouldn't have OEM teams doing what it takes to get him signed and starting preparation for Supercross-this is a guy who won Anaheim 1 earlier this year after all.

On the other hand, could his lack of disclosure about his health issues prevent teams from taking a risk for the amount of money Ken would want?

If he is considering starting his own private team, maybe he should talk to Chad Reed first?

It's getting pretty late for deciding on a bike for 2023...
His sponsor deals exclude him from riding for every factory team except Honda and KTM. Ktm is full and we know he isn’t riding Honda.
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Bruce372
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Bruce372 10/31/2022 4:11pm
10/31/2022 4:11pm
ThePizzaCobra wrote:
I want some Roczen bike reviews…
In 2023, it's gonna take until 2024 until the settings are any good.

In 2024, he will probably struggle with the settings and go back to the 2023 settings.
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Nathaniel129 10/31/2022 4:11pm
10/31/2022 4:11pm
It's Roczen, so who the hell actually knows what we'll get...but I think a total reboot may be the one thing that could motivate him for an entire year?
It's 50/50 whether a brand new bike will completely rejuvenate his program and mental approach, or if it will be another easy scapegoat for poor (by his standards) results after the first couple rounds.
I don't think many people want him to fail, but it's been hard to be a real fan the last couple years.
Hopefully this shakeup brings back the "old" Kenny.
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Brent
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Brent 10/31/2022 4:22pm
10/31/2022 4:22pm
soggy wrote:
His sponsor deals exclude him from riding for every factory team except Honda and KTM. Ktm is full and we know he isn’t riding Honda.
...maybe, but someone else did bring up the fact that James Stewart was a Monster athlete for a year, so it has happened before.

It's kind of sad to see that energy drink companies have such strong grip on what riders rides for what brand...
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Zycki11
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Zycki11 10/31/2022 4:31pm
10/31/2022 4:31pm
Nathaniel129 wrote:
It's Roczen, so who the hell actually knows what we'll get...but I think a total reboot may be the one thing that could motivate him for...
It's Roczen, so who the hell actually knows what we'll get...but I think a total reboot may be the one thing that could motivate him for an entire year?
It's 50/50 whether a brand new bike will completely rejuvenate his program and mental approach, or if it will be another easy scapegoat for poor (by his standards) results after the first couple rounds.
I don't think many people want him to fail, but it's been hard to be a real fan the last couple years.
Hopefully this shakeup brings back the "old" Kenny.
I could see him doing very well. The Honda is a fickle beast and many know this. The Kawi and Yamaha are not as particular when it comes to setup balance so on so forth. I am excited to see him on something new
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 10/31/2022 4:32pm
10/31/2022 4:32pm
Good luck to him no matter what bike he is on...knowing as sure as hell it will not be a Honda
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nskerb
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nskerb 10/31/2022 4:32pm
10/31/2022 4:32pm
Brent wrote:
...maybe, but someone else did bring up the fact that James Stewart was a Monster athlete for a year, so it has happened before. It's kind...
...maybe, but someone else did bring up the fact that James Stewart was a Monster athlete for a year, so it has happened before.

It's kind of sad to see that energy drink companies have such strong grip on what riders rides for what brand...
Doubled edged sword. They easily could have walked away in 2009 and never looked back. They kept a lot of people employed when they didn't have to.
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 10/31/2022 4:32pm
10/31/2022 4:32pm
Good luck to him, even though he will not be riding a Honda, I hope he does well
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bvm111
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bvm111 10/31/2022 4:35pm
10/31/2022 4:35pm Edited Date/Time 10/31/2022 4:36pm
he looks comfy

pretty sure PC could build him a fine YZ just as he could a KX!
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soggy
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soggy 10/31/2022 4:40pm
10/31/2022 4:40pm
soggy wrote:
His sponsor deals exclude him from riding for every factory team except Honda and KTM. Ktm is full and we know he isn’t riding Honda.
Brent wrote:
...maybe, but someone else did bring up the fact that James Stewart was a Monster athlete for a year, so it has happened before. It's kind...
...maybe, but someone else did bring up the fact that James Stewart was a Monster athlete for a year, so it has happened before.

It's kind of sad to see that energy drink companies have such strong grip on what riders rides for what brand...
I tend to agree but Without them we don’t have many non endemic sponsors so kind of a necessity at this stage.
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bents 10/31/2022 6:04pm
10/31/2022 6:04pm
Would love to see Kenny on blue! I think he would be even more of a badass on this bike.
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JMR1976
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JMR1976 10/31/2022 6:12pm
10/31/2022 6:12pm
Still won’t be a Star bike.
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CG118
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CG118 10/31/2022 6:33pm
10/31/2022 6:33pm
Johnny Ringo wrote:
MC in 98, stamp it
Would be awesome to see something like that from Roczen. A little redemption, against a rejuvenated Coop, maybe the best sx Eli we’ve seen, Anderson killing it, Chase,…………..this could be a great year for SX.
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Dimblewambie
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Dimblewambie 10/31/2022 6:42pm
10/31/2022 6:42pm
BLUUUUCRUUUUUU
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Bruce372
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Bruce372 10/31/2022 6:50pm
10/31/2022 6:50pm
Nathaniel129 wrote:
It's Roczen, so who the hell actually knows what we'll get...but I think a total reboot may be the one thing that could motivate him for...
It's Roczen, so who the hell actually knows what we'll get...but I think a total reboot may be the one thing that could motivate him for an entire year?
It's 50/50 whether a brand new bike will completely rejuvenate his program and mental approach, or if it will be another easy scapegoat for poor (by his standards) results after the first couple rounds.
I don't think many people want him to fail, but it's been hard to be a real fan the last couple years.
Hopefully this shakeup brings back the "old" Kenny.
Zycki11 wrote:
I could see him doing very well. The Honda is a fickle beast and many know this. The Kawi and Yamaha are not as particular when...
I could see him doing very well. The Honda is a fickle beast and many know this. The Kawi and Yamaha are not as particular when it comes to setup balance so on so forth. I am excited to see him on something new
Thing is. Ken has been on Hondas for a long time, a time running parallel with fhe Yamaha supposedly being unwinnable.

I don't think it's the bike.
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Bruce372
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Bruce372 10/31/2022 6:51pm
10/31/2022 6:51pm
kiwifan wrote:
Good luck to him no matter what bike he is on...knowing as sure as hell it will not be a Honda
Exactly, I think everyone wants to see him to well.
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