Ken Roczen’s not up to par, WHY?

Tbteam
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Tbteam 6/30/2019 9:50am
6/30/2019 9:50am
Somebody seems to have known what they were talking about, huh?
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kpiper
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kpiper 6/30/2019 10:14am
6/30/2019 10:14am
Tbteam wrote:
Somebody seems to have known what they were talking about, huh?
I think it is just the result of heat exhaustion from last week. His training partner, Chase Sexton suffered even worse. He showed no speed this weekend and dropped from the second moto. So Ken did better than that.

Probably next weekend, if the weather is cooler we will see him hang in there much better. When you get heat exhaustion it can take weeks to fully recover and there is zero doubt he had exactly that at WW Ranch.
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SCR
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SCR 6/30/2019 10:15am
6/30/2019 10:15am
Semics questioned him coming back so early after he destroyed the first arm. After seeing the pictures of it and how many surgeries involved, it seemed like sound advice.
Roczen is one determined Cat for sure.
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seventeen
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seventeen 6/30/2019 1:07pm
6/30/2019 1:07pm
Anti-biotics and the effect they have on ones gut bacteria aside I think that Kenny has put on too much mass...looking at jim on the line at the wick he looked huge. I am sure he is compensating for the damage to the arms...
Think about it like this...motocross is like a 10k...not a marathon...not a 100 yard sprint...the weird in between physiologically...Kenny looks jacked like a sprinter or a running back...
I think that is a component of why he is fading...
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oldblood
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oldblood 6/30/2019 6:30pm
6/30/2019 6:30pm
Hey Gary, why have you singled out Ken? I mean, lots of other top pros have had difficult times. But I don't recall you calling them out. So, what's the deal?
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life_of_jaze
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life_of_jaze 6/30/2019 6:45pm
6/30/2019 6:45pm
GarySemics wrote:
What’s up with Ken’s, I don’t know what’s wrong, but something is wrong? I have nothing but admiration and respect for any athlete at Ken’s level...
What’s up with Ken’s, I don’t know what’s wrong, but something is wrong? I have nothing but admiration and respect for any athlete at Ken’s level, so I’m naturally interested in what might be the misery problem with his low energy issues. Ken prides himself on mental toughness, and rightfully so, but everyone has a breaking point. Ken’s not at his breaking point, not even close. However, the physical and mental stress from his first major arm injury at A2 in 2016 put him at max out stress level. Then trying his hardest to get back in top racing shape as quickly as possible continued loading stress onto an already stressful situation. Then another major arm injury number 2 came. Then he put himself through the same stressful scenario, get back to 100% racing performance ASAP. There didn’t seem to be any consideration to heal his phyche. The mind and body cannot always do what the conscious mind wants to achieve. Without time and a balance preparation routine, there will be sub-par performance, at best. I believe the word “TIME” was not considered as much as it should have been. Now, it’s beginning to show side effects. The side effects are sub-par physical and mental performance. He doesn’t even recognize where it’s coming from, but it’s there, and it’s beginning to raise its ugly head! The best think Ken could do for himself is take the rest of the year off. Do enough moderate training to maintain some of his fitness, and have fun! I know that ain’t going to happen for obvious reasons.

When I heard he was coming back to SX in 2018, I commended on a post in Vital that it was too soon bc he needed more healing time, mentally and physically. I’m looking in from the outside, so obviously, I don’t know, but that would be my guess. What do you think?
Whatever happens, I wish him well.
Is your mom walking funny?
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burn1986
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burn1986 6/30/2019 7:17pm
6/30/2019 7:17pm
His arm is probably hurting.
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RTDRacing
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RTDRacing 7/1/2019 8:25am
7/1/2019 8:25am
It's that big red turd he's riding.

Or is it only a bike problem if it's a yellow bike?
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GuyB
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GuyB 7/1/2019 10:33am
7/1/2019 10:33am
From Honda's weekend PR...

Physical Issues Hinder Roczen at Southwick
Although the warm, humid weather and rough, sandy track meant that Southwick, Massachusetts’ The Wick 338 National was anything but easy, what likely made things even more difficult for Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen were the absolutely brutal conditions of the previous week’s Florida National in Jacksonville. So challenging was that event that it apparently reignited the endurance issues that had plagued the German for much of the AMA Supercross series, but that he had largely put behind him for AMA Pro Motocross, in which he had posted a pair of overall victories prior to this, the sixth round. Roczen once again showed impressive speed in the early going of both motos at Southwick, setting quick lap times and making strong passes, only for his physical limitations to then thwart his progress and see him overtaken by several competitors. In the end, Roczen’s 12-10 scores held him to just ninth overall, but he and his team are determined to continue working for solutions in an effort to secure a strong second half of the outdoors season.
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kpiper
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kpiper 7/2/2019 5:24pm
7/2/2019 5:24pm Edited Date/Time 7/2/2019 5:25pm
He is suffering much less than Chase Sexton right now.
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yz25
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yz25 7/2/2019 5:55pm
7/2/2019 5:55pm
I pull for KR more than any rider.... was over the moon when he earned the red plate. but it’s just my opinion, when the team makes a statement for the performance or lack there of, doesn’t look good. with social media, the offsite interviews etc. it’s like the owner of a team given there approval to the public after things have went off the rails and results are not matching up. Of coarse they wouldn’t be losing faith in him due to the recent contract extension. I don’t know..... has this been done before? Not being critical just wondering.
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theprizefighter 7/2/2019 6:07pm
7/2/2019 6:07pm
Why is everyone panicking about Kenny? He's come back from what for most would be a career ending injury, he's still fast as hell, and things take time. A bad few motos is probably to be expected, and he's sitting third in points. He'll rebound and the title is still well within reach. And if not, oh well, he'll come back better in 2020.
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kpiper
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kpiper 7/2/2019 6:33pm
7/2/2019 6:33pm
theprizefighter wrote:
Why is everyone panicking about Kenny? He's come back from what for most would be a career ending injury, he's still fast as hell, and things...
Why is everyone panicking about Kenny? He's come back from what for most would be a career ending injury, he's still fast as hell, and things take time. A bad few motos is probably to be expected, and he's sitting third in points. He'll rebound and the title is still well within reach. And if not, oh well, he'll come back better in 2020.
Ken probably wins a moto this weekend.
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Beeby
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Beeby 7/2/2019 9:52pm
7/2/2019 9:52pm
The speed he was moving in moto 2 this week despite the moto 1 issues shows to me that Kenny believes in himself. He knew he was going to get tired so he just went for it to try to break free of the people that would eventually pass him.

You can work with speed like that
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oldblood
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oldblood 7/2/2019 9:57pm
7/2/2019 9:57pm
The ww ranch, back to back with Southwick isn't that great for the riders. A one two punch.I'm sure the schedule will be different next year.

Kenny is going to win.

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ctbale
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ctbale 7/2/2019 11:30pm
7/2/2019 11:30pm
Beeby wrote:
The speed he was moving in moto 2 this week despite the moto 1 issues shows to me that Kenny believes in himself. He knew he...
The speed he was moving in moto 2 this week despite the moto 1 issues shows to me that Kenny believes in himself. He knew he was going to get tired so he just went for it to try to break free of the people that would eventually pass him.

You can work with speed like that
I agree. His speed the first three laps is unequalled by anyone. Reminds me of that crazy early moto speed he had on the zook. Very precise. Its arm strength or overall body fatigue. Might be still hurting from last weekend but exacerbated by an additional thing that's going on we don't know about.

And off-topic that Florida round in June is stupid. Dangerous at Florida and affecting Southwick
Texas Built
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Texas Built 7/3/2019 2:03am
7/3/2019 2:03am
I think the heat at WW zapped him. He was doing good before that day.
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 7/3/2019 2:07am
7/3/2019 2:07am
theprizefighter wrote:
Why is everyone panicking about Kenny? He's come back from what for most would be a career ending injury, he's still fast as hell, and things...
Why is everyone panicking about Kenny? He's come back from what for most would be a career ending injury, he's still fast as hell, and things take time. A bad few motos is probably to be expected, and he's sitting third in points. He'll rebound and the title is still well within reach. And if not, oh well, he'll come back better in 2020.
Because it is easy to put the boot in when someone is down, it is easy to say oh Gary was right when you are not Kenny's doctor or specialist...you know, normal stuff on Vital, the experts here know more than the actual people themselves
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aeffertz
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aeffertz 8/24/2019 7:29pm
8/24/2019 7:29pm
“The best thing Ken could do for himself is take the rest of the year off.”

This did not age well. Finally put a full season together from start to finish, even sporting the red plate at multiple races. First full season since his injury is going to come with some hiccups and he dealt with adversity but he toughed it out. 2nd overall in the MX championship, a year full of experience, exposure and paychecks is nothing but a massive success for his return. Other than winning the title, he couldn’t have done better. Congrats to Kenny for not giving up or pulling the plug early and pushing through the difficult times. One tough mofo!
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 8/24/2019 9:26pm
8/24/2019 9:26pm
aeffertz wrote:
“The best thing Ken could do for himself is take the rest of the year off.” This did not age well. Finally put a full season...
“The best thing Ken could do for himself is take the rest of the year off.”

This did not age well. Finally put a full season together from start to finish, even sporting the red plate at multiple races. First full season since his injury is going to come with some hiccups and he dealt with adversity but he toughed it out. 2nd overall in the MX championship, a year full of experience, exposure and paychecks is nothing but a massive success for his return. Other than winning the title, he couldn’t have done better. Congrats to Kenny for not giving up or pulling the plug early and pushing through the difficult times. One tough mofo!
100% agree if it wasnt for the bacterial issues that came to light when it was hot then who knows what might of happened, but stoked he got 2nd overall
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ctbale
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ctbale 8/25/2019 12:02pm
8/25/2019 12:02pm
Agreed, he was a smart, tough competitor this year and gave him a good base for next your. Lots of respect for this dude. Hope he heals up in the next 4 months. I hope marv is ok too. I dont love the SX circus but if everyone stays healthy its going to be a fun indoor series to watch!!!
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brimx153 8/25/2019 1:10pm
8/25/2019 1:10pm
aeffertz wrote:
“The best thing Ken could do for himself is take the rest of the year off.” This did not age well. Finally put a full season...
“The best thing Ken could do for himself is take the rest of the year off.”

This did not age well. Finally put a full season together from start to finish, even sporting the red plate at multiple races. First full season since his injury is going to come with some hiccups and he dealt with adversity but he toughed it out. 2nd overall in the MX championship, a year full of experience, exposure and paychecks is nothing but a massive success for his return. Other than winning the title, he couldn’t have done better. Congrats to Kenny for not giving up or pulling the plug early and pushing through the difficult times. One tough mofo!
I am not sure yet , if he comes to supercross and has no issues .and has got over it , then yea it wont have aged well . But if there is any mention of him still suffering in SX . Everybody will be he should have quit outdoors early.

Ps. I hope he will get better and back to 100 % for SX
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 8/10/2020 7:25pm
8/10/2020 7:25pm
Goofy Foot wrote:
Hmmmmmmmm.
He nailed it, period. He’s lived this sport for decades and has studied every aspect of it in detail that makes most of us look like the morans we are.

Hopefully the summer off is enough. It’s really only about 2 months until boot camp time so that’s really not all that long.
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