Roczen Scores a Top-10 Result in Unconventional Move at 2024 Motocross Finale
Brea, CA – (August 26, 2024) – The 2024 AMA Pro Motocross season concluded under sweltering conditions at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Riders battled it out in the final opportunity to secure points, both for the Motocross season and to qualify for the SuperMotocross World Championship. Competitors in the top 20 in combined Supercross and Motocross points earned guaranteed spots on the gate, while those ranked 21-30 will face LCQ rounds at each SMX event.
Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 250 Class
- Ken Roczen ran inside the top five for the majority of the opening 250 Class moto and earned a top ten overall result.
- 250 Class
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Kyle Chisholm locked down a guaranteed spot on the gate at each SMX race.
- Colt Nichols continued to gain valuable seat time on his new RM-Z450.
- 450 Class
- Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Max Miller put in a great performance in the second moto following a top-15 start.
- 250 Class
- Dilan Schwartz delivered his seventh top-15 result of the Motocross season.
- Preston Boespflug wrapped up his rookie season with a strong ride.
- Leo Tucker completed his first full Pro Motocross season.
- 450 Class
Ken Roczen (94) competed in the 250 class for the first time in 11 years to thrill the fans, get fired up for post-season racing, and have a lot of fun on his Suzuki RM-Z250.
Ken Roczen (94) mixed things up by dropping down in class to battle with the younger 250 class racers. After qualifying in second position overall, Roczen pulled a strong start in the first 250 moto with a top-five position. Roczen ran as high as fourth place and brought home a top-ten moto result. In the second moto Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in 15th and went to work. Roczen moved his Suzuki RM-Z250 past many of the top riders in the class. Roczen reached as high as sixth place, but having just returned to racing after an injury, he decided to ride conservatively and keep his focus on returning to the SMX championship on his RM-Z450. Ken’s foray into a different class has perhaps prepared him for the unexpected, as the racers look ahead to the hybrid Supercross-Motocross tracks of the SMX events. Roczen finished in the runner-up spot overall in last year’s inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship, and he looks to be in a strong position to fight for the title in the three-round season in September.
“Wow. What a fun day stepping down to the Lites class for this past weekend in Ironman,” said Roczen. “I always knew it was going to be a tough transition but I was happy with qualifying in second place. I showed speed in the motos, but ultimately wanted to stay safe on the track as I prepare for the SuperMotocross Finals. I learned a lot, which will help me in a few short weeks in Charlotte.”
Kyle Chisholm (11) capped his season with a top-20 moto and overall result, earning him a guaranteed spot in the post-season racing.
Kyle Chisholm (11), the team’s test rider, has put in an incredible year at the races. Chisholm used strong results from both the Supercross and Motocross seasons to put his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 into the top twenty for the year.
“Overall, it was a good day,” reported Chisholm. “The main goal going in was to secure the last playoff spot and we did it. I had good starts in both motos, and I was up there in the battle. I'm happy to not have to race the LCQs every week in the playoffs. I’m going to take a few days off, rest up, and then be ready. We'll work on some bike set-up because those races are very unique. They’re a little bit of both Supercross and Motocross, so bike set-up will be key. We’ll come in ready. I’m looking forward to it.”
Max Miller (87) put his BarX Suzuki RM-Z450 up into the top-15 at the start of the final moto of the year.
Max Miller (87) was consistent and quick in qualifying. Miller showed his top form in the second moto with a run up near the front pack.
“I had an awesome year racing the Suzuki 250 and 450!” said Miller, referring to both the Supercross and Motocross seasons with BarX Suzuki. “Today was a tough day, but I had great speed in moto two. I was running inside the top 15 before falling down. I’m grateful to have such an awesome team and incredible bike under me for the whole season!”
Colt Nichols (45) has already shown great speed since joining the Twisted Tea Suzuki team late into the Motocross season.
Colt Nichols (45) has adapted quickly to the RM-Z450, showing impressive speed at the previous round. Unfortunately, a crash at that round affected Nichols and he removed himself from competition mid-way through the opening moto. Even with an incomplete Motocross and Supercross season, Nichols earned a spot in the LCQ at each of the post-season races.
“In hindsight I probably shouldn’t have tried to race after practice, but wanted to give it a go anyway,” reported Nichols. “I [determined that I] hit my head a little harder than I thought last weekend, so I decided to pull out [of moto one] instead of risking further injury. I’m going to take some time off to rest and I’ll be back soon.”
Dilan Schwartz (40) delivered another strong result at the Ironman National and earned a top-15 overall spot in the final Motocross season standings.
Dilan Schwartz (40) pulled down another top-15 overall result at the Ironman National. Even after missing the entire Supercross season, Schwartz earned enough points in the 11 Motocross rounds to garner a spot in the SuperMotocross post-season LCQ races.
“It was a tough weekend for me,” admitted Schwartz. “The track was really rough, and the weather was very hot, so it made for some hard racing. I got some decent results on the day, but they could have been better.”
Preston Boespflug (128) capped off his rookie motocross season with strong speed on his BarX Suzuki RM-Z250.
Preston Boespflug (128) earned a spot as an alternate from his qualifying times. When an opportunity opened up to race the final 250 moto, Boespflug jumped into action to wrap up his season with a strong ride.
“It was a tough first outdoor season, but we live to fight another fight,” summed up Boespflug. “I want to give a huge thanks to Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki for their support during my first professional season.”
Leo Tucker (154) put in a strong rookie season through the 2024 racing.
Leo Tucker (154), in his first full year of professional racing, did have prior experience racing the Ironman National the previous summer. Tucker nabbed a spot on the line of the final 250 moto.
“The day was not good for me at all,” said Tucker. “I rode well in the first qualifying session but missed out on a spot by one second.”
“The HEP team had kind of a fun weekend,” said Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “We had Ken Roczen racing a 250 in the 250 class. Ken started the day off well, getting second in timed practice; he was one second off the leader, and that is pretty good for someone who never rides a 250. I believe his last 250 race was more than 10 years ago. In the first moto he started off well. He moved up to fourth place; by the end of the moto, he had dropped back to the ninth. In the second moto he finished 12th, he just hasn't raced that class in a while, plus after being injured [and not riding much] for a couple of months, he just didn't have the stamina to go the whole distance. But it wasn't about the overall result, it was more for the fun of the event and riding the class. It was a really fun weekend. Kyle Chisholm put himself into the SuperMotocross finals; on the day he went 21 -17 for 20th, but it wasn't really about the moto scores, it was more about the overall points. So, the playoffs are set for Kyle Chisholm and Ken Roczen.”
“It was a challenging day for our team,” said BarX Motorsports team principal Myron Short. “Our rookies were having a hard time finding the flow of the track in qualifying and just missed out on direct transfers to the motos. Schwartz rode great and fought hard for 13th overall. He had top ten speed but didn’t get the starts needed. Max was riding well in the 450’s but you cannot fall in that class and expect to finish in the points. It’s been a fun year and the BarX Team wants to thank Suzuki and all of our partners for the strong support this season.”
For team news, please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing and HEPMotorsports.com.
Photos by BrownDogWilson
