Roczen ‘not mad’ with Unadilla Pro Motocross return

Late-race cramps the cause of second-moto retirement.

Image: Octopi Media.

Unadilla marked a strong return to racing for two-time 450MX champion Ken Roczen, who left satisfied after scoring an impressive fifth-place result in the opening moto before retiring from the second encounter due to late-race cramping.

Deciding to compete just five days before the 10th round of the season in New Berlin, the Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki rider entered intending to test his physical fitness after recovering from an ankle injury, while also experiencing gate drops before the upcoming SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) post-season.

Fourth in qualifying combined with a convincing fifth-place finish in the opening moto was a solid start to the day, while late race cramps late in moto two spelled an early end to the 31-year-old’s cameo at the penultimate round.

“Unadilla was worth a try, I am not mad that I went,” reflected Roczen. “It was good for me to blow myself out a little bit and see where I’m at before going into Charlotte. We knew that this was early coming in [to resume racing], but at the same time, we said, ‘Screw it,’ and just wanted to give it a shot, because racing is the best practice you can get.

“My ankle felt pretty strong for the most part. It still feels slightly different than my left [ankle], but it was good to know that it’s pretty solid and ready to race. In the second moto I had about 15 minutes in me – I was pretty gassed at that point. The intensity [of] racing is always at another level than at home, and the track was hard pack and super fast, bumpy, and it all kind of beat me to shit.

“I was cramping so bad in my obliques and under my rib cage, I literally couldn’t inhale anymore – it was like a knife in there. I have never actually had that happen to that extent. I obviously wanted to finish the race with only three laps to go, but it was such strange pain and not being able to inhale… I ended up going back to the rig and called it a day.”

With his Unadilla result, Roczen currently sits 11th in the SMX overall standings, with the opening round of the Playoffs taking place at Charlotte’s zMAX Dragway on September 6.