Pulpmx Point/Counterpoint

Would Ken Roczen be winning the national motocross series if he was racing over here?

Point counterpoint

Would Ken Roczen be winning if he was in the AMA Nationals?

Matthes: Interesting Pulpmx Show debate on Monday between myself, Tony Berluti and Stephan Legrand about what the German Vunder-kid would be doing if he was racing in America this year. We all know he’s been slaying the GP’s right now and is a proven star of the future but if he was racing right now against the Wilson’s, Rattray’s and Baggett’s of the world, how would he be doing?

Myself and Berluti say that he would be good but would definitely not be winning while Legrand, perhaps showing his European roots, believes that he would be winning races and the championship. Here’s the thing, and I don’t know what Swizzle is going to say- he’s too busy putting on graphics- I believe that “King” Kenny would be winning motos, perhaps overalls and for sure be a top five guy in the points but at this point in his career, he needs to get older and a better program to really be up there.

He needs to adapt to a new country full-time, new tracks and new ways of doing things. The riders I have spoken to that have come from Europe (and trust me, I’ve interviewed them or hung out with just about every one of them) all say the same thing. The American nationals are deeper and there are more fast riders than in Europe. As well, the American attitude of GO GO GO every turn is a change from Europe. I’m been to many GP’s over the years (and going to Lommel Belgium this weekend as a matter of fact) and the 35 min +2 format is more of a marathon than a sprint for the guys. In America, the dudes are going for it. Every single lap of every single moto.

But what about Baggett you say? He hasn’t seen all the tracks and he’s killing it. Well folks, to that I say that he had seen quite a few of them over the years of amateurs and last year before he got hurt. Plus I believe that the Pro Circuit team does indeed make you a better rider. KTM is not there yet but they’re working on it.

Remember when I was one of the only guys to have seen Roczen ride out in the high desert in November before supercross and Tweeted about how he was flying and going to win races? I was also at Teuschental in 2009 to watch the GP there and was very impressed by the then-15 year old Suzuki kid. I’m a fan, no doubt about it.

But alas, Kenny is going to need a season (or two) to figure stuff out before the titles come but no doubt about it, they will come.

Swizzle- Ken Roczen is an an enigma, certainly the most “American” German in the history of motocross prodigies to skip across the pond. You’d be hard pressed to find a more charismatic, savvy, born and bred American his age; let alone a German and a motocrosser to boot! If there’s one thing we’ve seen from K-Rocz in his short participation in American racing, it’s that he learns fast, adapts well and applies his learnings immediately. He came over for Loretta’s on mini’s and got handled, shortly thereafter he won a GP title. He came over for SX Lites, crashed spectacularly at a few rounds, smartened up and pulled down a victory in his first abbreviated season indoors.

You see what Im getting at, he’s special. Not your average GP titlist. Even so, I can’t say with any conviction that I think he’d be handling the Lites class in the outdoors this season. I’m not going to list all of the differences from the GP’s to the Nationals, if you’re reading this, you already know them. The bottom line is history is not on Kens side to enter the Nationals his first year and win. There are exceptions to that of course, most recently is the 377 who looked like a man amongst boys for the majority of two consecutive MX Lites seasons. Other promising Euro’s who recently dealt with adversity in their American MX debut seasons? Searle, Anstie, Rattray, Musquin… whether it came down to luck, crashes or any other number of causes for struggle’s, the deck is stacked against him.

Remember though, I said Ken Rocz is enigmatic and for that reason, he could very well do something no other Euro has done in history; win the MX title in his US MX debut.

And I wouldn’t be surprised in the least.