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Roczen Secures 2026 450SX Title in Utah Showdown

5/10/2026

Summary

Roczen Clinches Title

Ken Roczen (Suzuki) clinched the 2026 450SX title in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Chase Sexton (Kawasaki) won the 450SX race while Roczen’s fifth-place finish kept a three-point lead over Lawrence (Honda).
Despite falling on lap 10, Lawrence finished seventh before placing second overall.
Eli Tomac (KTM) recorded the fastest qualifying time at 49.065 seconds, ahead of Lawrence (49.191).
Cole Davies (Yamaha) won the 250SX showdown while Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) finished second.

Summary

Tomac Crashes

A crash in Cleveland clipped Tomac from behind, causing him to land on his hip foot peg and miss the 450SX LCQ.
Team manager Ian Harrison said medical checks found no internal injuries despite the hard impact.
Tomac reported a severe hip spasm and swollen elbow and said, despite age concerns, he remains confident he can contend for the title.

Summary

Roczen Revels Title

Ken Roczen, 2026 450SX champion, called the title his absolute favorite after a long road.
He said each championship feels different, referencing his 2011 MX2 World title.
Fans cheered him around the track and chanted “Kenny! Kenny! Kenny!” during the race.
Roczen felt every lap was like a final lap, crediting fans for the intensity that lifted the experience.

History

Historical Context

Ken Roczen’s 2026 AMA Supercross 450SX title in Salt Lake City, secured by a three-point lead over Chase Sexton, echoes his 2011 FIM MX2 world championship where he edged Jeffrey Herlings by five points after five Grand Prix wins. The 2011 season featured 30 races across 15 events, illustrating how early world-level success has long shaped rider confidence and team investment.

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Roczen Clinches Title

Ken Roczen (Suzuki) clinched the 2026 450SX title in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Chase Sexton (Kawasaki) won the 450SX race while Roczen’s fifth-place finish kept a three-point lead over Lawrence (Honda).
Despite falling on lap 10, Lawrence finished seventh before placing second overall.
Eli Tomac (KTM) recorded the fastest qualifying time at 49.065 seconds, ahead of Lawrence (49.191).
Cole Davies (Yamaha) won the 250SX showdown while Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) finished second.

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