MXA’S WEEKEND NEWS ROUND-UP: THE KEN ROCZEN SOLUTION ANNOUNCED

• KEN ROCZEN MAKES UP HIS MIND ABOUT WHAT HE’LL BE RIDING ON JAN. 7

Ken Roczen is back on Suzuki again. He started his Grand Prix career on Suzuki, had his best AMA Championship season on a Suzuki in 2016 and is now back in the saddle again.

When Ken Roczen turned down Honda’s 2023 Supercross-only contract offer, he put himself and any other team that might want to sign him for the 2023 Supercross and National season with a dilemma. There were several clauses in Ken’s contract stipulations that stopped team’s from looking at Ken or Ken seriously considering signing with any suitors:

(1) Since Ken Roczen is a Red Bull athlete, and gets a seven-figure salary from the Austrian Energy drink company, he couldn’t sign with a Monster, Rockstar or Twisted Tea team without having to give up the Red Bull money. Since KTM and GasGas are the most prominent teams backed by Red Bull, they were the best possibilities, but there were issues stopping that deal. The only way a team sponsored by a beverage company (other than Red Bull) could sign Ken, was if they formed a second team, with its own semi to provide separation from the their existing beverage drink sponsor.

(2) Ken also has a Fox clothing deal that he wanted to keep, but it meant that he could not move to any team that had a team clothing deal with a different gear brand.

(3) In order to make racing for a privateer team or a backdoor existing team feasible, Ken needed get a Factory Bonus program. It’s no secret that factory riders get substantially larger bonuses to win races and Championships than what the motorcycle brands offer in their privateer contingency programs. The difference is enormous and Ken needed that money to offset the income he was losing by structuring a makeshift deal.

So, when HEP Motorsports announced that they had signed Ken Roczen to race a Suzuki RM-Z450 it meant that they had jumped all of the hurdles. Roczen had no issues with the idea of racing a Suzuki. He has always been a Suzuki afficianado—and, in fact, left KTM in 2015 to ride for Suzuki, even winning the 2016 AMA 450 National Championship on the Jimmy John’s RCH Suzuki team, before jumping to Honda in 2017.”

A preview of the new new sponsors on his jersey.

It is assumed:

(1) That Progressive Insurance was willing to up their stake in the HEP team by a considerable amount.

(2) That Suzuki stepped up with a Factory contingency program worthy of Ken Roczen.

(3) That HEP will now field what could be their third team in 2023 to go along with their Twisted Tea team effort, currently hampered by the recent injury to team leader Brandon Hartranft, and their World Supercross (WSX) Series team. It is also notable, that Ken signed a 2023 Supercross and AMA National deal, which means that although he was the poster boy and first WSX Champion for the abbreviated 2022 World Supercross Championship, he will not be defending his title in 2023.

(4) Ken will have his own semi-truck and crew at what will most likely be called “Progressive Insurance Suzuki.”

(5) If Suzuki has indeed offered Ken Roczen equitable bonus money to what he made at Team Honda, it is an interesting move, especially from a manufacturer that shut down their MotoGP team—where they had won the 2021 World Championship and, even with their lane-duck team, won several MotoGP events in 2022 with Alex Rins and Joan Mir.

• THIS WEEK IN MXA WITH JOSH MOSIMAN: THE CHOCOLATE MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE

• THIS WEEK’S NEW MODEL DEBUTS: 2023-1/2 KTM, HUSQVARNA & GASGAS FACTORY EDITION 

2022-1/2 HUSQVARNA FC250 ROCKSTAR EDITION—MSRP: $10,699

2022-1/2 HUSQVARNA FC450 ROCKSTAR EDITION—MSRP: $12,199

2023-1/2 KTM 250SXF FACTORY EDITION—MSRP: $10,599

2023-1/2 KTM 450SXF FACTORY EDITION—MSRP: $12,099

2023-1/2 MC250F FACTORY EDITION 2023—MSRP: $10,999

2023-1/2 MC450F FACTORY EDITION 2023—MSRP: $12,099

• MXA VIDEO: 2023 KAWASAKI KX450 VIDEO TEST

• 2023 WORLD SUPERCROSS (WSX) DATES ANNOUNCED—ALL SIX OF THEM

The 2023 FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) will be six races long with events in France, Germany, Canada, Australia, England and round is Southeast Asia to be announced at a later date. It is not the blockbuster race schedule that everyone expected to compete agaisntt he 17-round AMA Supercross Championship. The WSX does not start until saftet eh AMA serie sis over, and in fact, WSX starts after four AMA outdoor Nationals have been concluded. There are two dates with the 2023 AMA Nationals: July 1 versus Red Bud and July 22 versus Washougal, but there could be conflicts between the AMA SuperMotocross Playoffs in September and October because Supermotocross has only confirmed one date for their three-race play-offs and it it is on the same day as the Dusseeldorf, Germay WSX round.

• MXA VIDEO: 2023 HUSQVARNA FC250 VIDEO TEST

• MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK: AS THE CLOUDS ROLL BY?

Debbi Tamietti shot this beautiful cloud shot at MXA’s Annual Ride Day at Glen Helen on Wednesday. It showed all of the invited riders lined up on the road into the track. The track was perfect. It was based on the 2022 World Vet track (without the REM portion). Glen Helen says they will run the same track at Saturday at the Glen this coming Saturday. 

• PASHA 150 TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT: THERE’S FAST & THEN THERE’S FAST

• 2022 GLEN HELEN NEW YEAR’S EVE GRAND PRIX ON SATURDAY, DEC. 3

For more information or to sign-up go to www.glenhelen.com

• MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: STEP RAMP

Step Ramp addresses the difficulty in loading and unloading motorcycles into tall vans and pickup trucks by neatly integrating ergonomically-spaced stairs into a traditional motorcycle ramp. It creates a natural-motion loading and unloading experience that simplifies the process. The Step Ramp comes in five-step ($349) and six-step versions ($399). They even have a ramp angle estimator to help you choose the right size. For more info go to www.stepramp.com.

• MXA VIDEO: 2023 YAMAHA YZ450F VIDEO TEST

• 2023 AMA SUPERCROSS RACE SCHEDULE

• MXA VIDEO: 2023 SUZUKI RM-Z450 VIDEO TEST

• CLASSIC MOTOCROSS PHOTOS: TWILIGHT OF THE MOTO GODS

Look closely at this photo of MXA test rider Lance Moorewood flying a single-radiator 1985 Kawasaki KX125 through the fading sunset. See anything unusual? Photo: David Gerig

Click on image to enlarge for a closer look. What’s unusual? How about the fact that Lance is casting a shadow against the sky? Or that he is perfectly focused as though he was photoshopped into the sunset? What’s the trick? Actually, there is no trick and no photoshop (it hadn’t been invented yet). This sunset effect is achieved by waiting until the sun has set completely. Then, once it is pitch black, Lance powers the KX125 across the blackness and over the jump. In the air he is hit by 1/1000th of a second of light from the flash going off, but the camera lens stays open as the flash’s light dissipates—and while it is open the lens absorbs the red hue of the sun over the distant horizon (the red hue is not visible to the photographer in the darkness, but since the lens is open it captures it over time). These was a pre digital masterpiece.

• MXA VIDEO: 2023 KAWASAKI KX250 VIDEO TEST

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: TANK BADGES

BSA—England.

CZ—Czechoslovakia.

DOT—England.

ESO—Czechoslovakia.

Greeves—England.

Hodaka—Japan

Monark—Sweden.

Mondial—Italy.

Montesa—Spain.

Ossa—Spain

Penton—USA/Austria.

Puch—Austria.

Rickman Montesa—England/Spain.

Triumph—England.

Zundapp—Germany.

MXA VIDEO: 2023 KTM 300SX FUEL-INJECTED TWO-STROKE VIDEO TEST

• 2023 AMA NATIONAL MOTOCROSS RACE SCHEDULE 

• MXA VIDEO: 2023 GASGAS MC350F VIDEO TEST

• FIM WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP RACE SCHEDULE

• MXA VIDEO: 2023 SUZUKI RM-Z250 VIDEO TEST

• LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: THE 2023 RACE SCHEDULES

2023 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7…Anaheim, CA
Jan. 14…Oakland, CA
Jan. 21…San Diego, CA
Jan. 28…Anaheim, CA
Feb. 4…Houston, TX
Feb. 11…Tampa, FL
Feb. 25…Arlington, TX
Mar. 4…Daytona Beach, FL
Mar. 11…Indianapolis, IN, MI
Mar. 18…Detroit, MI
Mar. 25…Seattle, WA
Apr. 8…Glendale AZ
Apr. 15…Atlanta, GA
Apr. 22…East Rutherford, NJ
Apr. 29…Nashville, TN
May 6…Denver, CO
May 13…Salt Lake City, UT

2023 SUPERMOTOCROSS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Sept. 9…TBA
Date TBA…TBA
Oct. 14: Los Angeles, CA

2023 AMA ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 18, 2022…Albany, GA
Nov. 25, 2022…Albany, NY
Jan. 6…Loveland, CO
Jan.13…Prescott, AZ
Jan. 20…Guthrie, OK
Jan. 27….Guthrie, OK
Feb. 3…Reno, NV
Feb. 10…Denver, CO
Feb. 24…Hobbs, NM
Mar. 3…Amarillo, TX
Mar. 10…Tulsa, OK
Mar. 17…Salem, VA
Mar. 24…Little Rock, AR
Mar. 31…Lexington, KY

2023 2023 FIM WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 12…Argentina
Mar. 26…TBA
Apr. 10…TBA
Apr. 16…Italy
Apr. 30…Portugal
May 7…Spain
May 21…France
Jun. 4…Latvia
Jun. 11…Germany
Jun. 25…Indonesia
July 2…Indonesia
July 16…Czech Rep.
July 23…Belgium
Aug. 6…Finland
Aug. 13…Sweden
Aug. 20…Holland
Sept. 3…Turkey
Sept. 17…Vietnam
Oct. 1…TBA
Oct. 15…England

2023 AMA NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 27…Pala, CA
June 3…Hangtown, CA
June 10…Thunder Valley, CO
June 17…Mt. Morris, PA
July 1…Red Bud, MI
July 8…Southwick, MA
July 15…Millville, MN
July 22…Washougal, WA
Aug. 11…Unadilla, NY
Aug. 19…Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 26…Crawfordsville, IN

2023 WORLD SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
July 1…Birmingham, England
July 22….Lyon-Décines, France
Sept. 30…TBD (Southeast Asia)
Oct. 14…Dusseldorf, Germany
Oct. 28…Vancouver, Canada
Nov. 24-25…Melbourne, Australia

2023 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” SCHEDULE
Jan. 14…Winter Series #1 (Saturday track)
Jan.. 28…Winter Series #2 (National track)
Feb. 3…Winter Series #3 (Saturday track)
Feb. 11…Winter Series #4 (Saturday track)
Feb. 25…Winter Series #5 (National track)
Mar. 11…Spring Series #1 (Saturday track)
Mar. 25…Spring Series #2 (Saturday track)
Apr. 15…Spring Series #3 (Saturday track)
Apr. 22…Spring Series #4 (Saturday track)
May 13…Spring Series #5 (National track)
June 1…Summer Series #1 (Saturday track)
June 17…Summer Series #2 (Saturday track)
June 24…Summer Series #3 (Saturday track)
July 15…Summer Series #4 (Saturday track)
July 29….Summer Series #5 (National track)
Aug.19…Fall Series #1 (Saturday track)
Aug. 26…Fall Series #2 (Saturday track)
Sept. 16…Fall Series #3 (Saturday track)
Sept. 23…Fall Series #4 (Saturday track)
Sept. 30…Fall Series #5 (National track)
Oct. 24…Winter Series #1 (Saturday track)
Oct. 28…Winter Series #2 (National track)
Nov.3-5…World Vet Championship (National track)
Nov. 19..Winter Series #3 (Saturday track)
Dec. 2…Winter Series #4 (Saturday track)
Dec. 9…Winter Series #5 (National track)

2023 VET MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Aug. 24-28…Foxhill, GB

2023 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Oct. 22…Ernee, France

2023 WORLD VET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 3-5…Glen Helen, CA

2023 RED BULL DAY IN THE DIRT
Nov. 24-26…Glen Helen, CA

• BONES BACON’S AMAZING LOVE FOR THE HONDA TRAIL 90, TRAIL 110 AND ALL-NEW TRAIL 125

• 2023 SOBOBA TRAIL RIDE WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 26, 2023

For more info go to www.sobobarides.biz/home

• HOW SMART DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MXA? YOU SUBSCRIBE AND GET A $25 ROCKY MOUNTAIN GIFT CREDIT—SEEMS SIMPLE

You can’t afford not to subscribe, because when you order a subscription, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC sends you a $25 gift credit to use on anything you want from their massive selection. Plus, subscribers to MXA can also choose to get the digital mag on their iPhone, iPad, Kindle or Android by going to the Apple Store, Amazon or Google Play or in a digital version. Even better, you can subscribe to Motocross Action and get the awesome print edition delivered to your house by a uniformed employee of the U.S. Government. Do we have to mention the $25 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC gift card again? You can’t lose on this deal? Call (800) 767-0345 or Click Here

•  THE REMAINING RACES OF THE 2022 SEASON

The “Saturday at the Glen” races only one events left in 2022 (onDecember 10), then it starts up again after the Holidays.

2022 SATURDAY AT THE GLEN RACE SCHEDULE
Apr. 2…Spring Series #1
Apr. 23…Spring Series #2
Apr. 30…Spring Series #3
May 7…Spring Series #4
May 14…Spring Series #5 (National Track)
June 11…Summer Series #1
June 25…Summer Series #2
July 9…Summer Series #3
July 30…Summer Series #5
Aug. 13…Summer Series #6  & Pasha 125 Open (National Track)
Aug. 27…..Fall Series #1
Sept. 10…Fall Series #2
Sept. 17…Fall Series #3
Oct. 1…Fall Series #4 & Pasha 125 Open (National Track)
Oct. 15…Fall Series #5
Oct. 22…Fall Series #6
Oct. 29…Winter Series #1 (National Track)
Nov. 5-6…Dubya World Vet Championship (National Track)
Nov. 19…Winter Series #2
Dec. 3…Winter Series #3
Dec. 10…Winter Series #4 (National Track)

2022 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Oct. 21…Melbourne, Vic
Oct. 29…Adelaide, SA
Nov. 26…Newcastle, NSW
Dec. 3…Wagga Wagga, NSW

2022 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Sept. 25… Red Bud, MI

2022 WORLD VET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 5-6…Glen Helen, CA

2022 PARIS SUPERCROSS
Nov. 12-13… Paris, France

• MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: MOTOCROSS ACTION CASUAL WEAR

MXA PREMIX T-SHIRT—$29.95

MXA VINTAGE T-SHIRT—$29.95

MXA JAPANESE LOGO T-SHIRT—$29.95

MXA 80s T-SHIRT—$29.95

To see more MXA T-shirts and all the available colors Click Here

• MXA YOUTUBE CHANNEL | HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON

The MXA wrecking crew is everything moto related. Check out our MXA YouTube channel for bike reviews, Supercross coverage, rider interviews and much more. And don’t forget to hit that subscribe button.