How Ken Roczen and Suzuki Built a Podium

So much talk about the motorcycle, but another part of Ken Roczen that has changed. His health! After a solid off-season without illness, Roczen is absorbing the training and feeling better, physically, than he has in a long time. He even thanked himself on the podium, because he's his own trainer! In this video, Roczen explains the work to help get this Progressive/Ecstar HEP Suzuki on the box and Anaheim 2, and why even the long hours are worth it.
Film: Tom Journet
Edit: Donnie Southers
Narration: Jason Weigandt
Press Conference Footage: Feld Motor Sports
Photos: Align Media and Rich Shepherd
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[@jpesicka999]

This is the guy I'm rooting for. Man has a whole manufacturer on his back right now.

[@jpesicka999]

@Zachary Russell new bikes coming

[@glahut93]

That's why he has factory Connection suspension on it ..lmfao

[@yukonjon5964]

did you catch that Suzuki tech's from Japan came over to watch him ride?! this is a very good sign!

[@truthbetold8425]

Suzuki really isn't involved much with this team. It's private innovators and private engine builder.

[@jonjackson6245]

Let's give some credit and congratulations to HEP/PMG for their first AMA SX podium. This team has riders and funding to race AMA SX/MX/SMX and WSX. That is impressive in itself.

[@palaotot6933]

Suzuki should ride with this positive development and start upgrading the bike to get back as a major part of the market

[@Bodie2020]

Watching him make cooksey eat his words is great. What many aren’t taking into account is they can make a rock perform well with enough work and money. Then you throw a talent like Kenny who is happy and confident. That is a dangerous combination.

[@jameshogg601]

Yep that guy chats so much (unsubstantiated) shite. Best of luck to Kenny this year 👍

[@adam_allday9470]

Dude was predicting Craig to win a race already and was knocking Kenny the whole off-season. I truly enjoyed Cooksey admitting he was 100% wrong

[@JayDeerTay]

Cooksey is a troll.

[@billyarsenault1970]

In order for him to be a troll- People need to actually pay attention when his lips are moving. When he speaks I retain none of it because he is useless- Therefore he can’t troll me because he essentially does not exist to me.

[@xipingpooh5783]

I want Ken to succeed. It takes a lot of believing in yourself and your equipt net and the team around you. I am rooting for him!!!

[@johnfeminella9839]

I never doubted Ken Roczen ability to put that Suzuki the Box other than that rear fender being too high killing me the bike is beautiful he's a true professional and God bless him and his family he's come back from some major injuries as far as I'm concerned he's got nothing to prove

[@kennyrichard2971]

that’s awesome that Kenny’s doing well and that he decided to choose factory connection factory connection They definitely know suspension

[@Stinky_sack]

I hope this means suzuki will make the proper changes to the future models. If those changes happen I would 100% buy one. I've wanted one ever since 2009 but something always changes my mind before pulling the trigger on buying one.

[@yukonjon5964]

lovin this! i never doubted Roczen or that he could make Suzuki work. best part is... no talk of retirement. keep it safe Kenny!

[@bikerider4life762]

Loving what I’m seeing from Kenny this year. He has established himself in this series and is showing everyone he still has what’s needed

[@yukonjon5964]

yep. i bet half the field has "Kenny envy"!

[@befmx31]

3:39, press conference sequence...Look at Jason. Exactly the way I feel about these press conferences.

[@derekdreke4990]

It makes me proud to hear him say these things

[@dwaynemartin5174]

I raced suzuki in the 70s and 80s it broke my heart to see what happened to them to see Roczen back on a yellow bike and back on the box is outstanding

[@aaronhinojos1131]

Anderson looks sooooo enthusiasts at the post race conference! Lol,, he's looks likes he's really pondering about life!

[@slayer6936]

I said at the beginning of the season that Kenny is going to surprise everyone and so far it has been a big win for Kick start and Suzuki!! Maybe now Suzuki will start putting in some technology into their program and upgrading the RM..!

[@yukonjon5964]

hard to know what to believe in this day and age... but someone on another forum claims to have heard from a major USA Suzuki dealership that all-new bikes are for sure in the works.

[@kelliebrooks9094]

I road race an motocross..an when my bike aint right it messes with my mental state which wares on my health...so its good to have the bike right...u wake up with one less thing worring u ..which plays on ur health...

[@alexmartin9951]

Takes some guts to start off fresh. I hope to see him get some more podiums.

[@126AP]

No surprise in a Triple Crown, Kenny has always been a great starter. Hopefully he will podium in a 20 min main. Hats off to him🤠

[@kerryflanagan2361]

The "interview" he done with Blair b4 A2 was class... looked chill asf cycling along the canal In dam lol

[@dingoraysabath]

I love Roczen now. Good stuff Kenny

[@teotia012667]

Good piece Weege, keep it up.

[@BAYAREAMX]

I hope this fires Suzuki up to get R&D going again and make the RMZ competitive again. Unfortunately with the rising interest rates and the slowing economy I have a feeling Suzuki will continue to be very conservative and not invest in the offroad line.

[@Peoplesuck333]

Anybody with a brand new that bike would be competitive. His health on the other hand was the question mark for me. He looks good and is confident, get used to seeing the yellow bike up there in the top five all year

[@yukonjon5964]

he meant... "Anybody with a brain knew that bike would be competitive."

[@mattrob1483]

Kenny gunna kick the Suzuki into first one of these rounds

[@1garry499]

From the first time Kenny wore a suit to Anaheim Press conference, I was a fan. He has caved out a unique niche for himself as a racer, and fans dig it. Doing well IS a win for Kenny, Suzuki, and the sport. Bravo K-Roc. Bravo.

[@EthanDeanplus]

It will be cool to see how this experience shapes Ken's future. Maybe he starts his own team?

[@neilorange4112]

So happy about this

[@jakeowens1770]

4:12 Anderson picking his 👃

[@markdittbenner9949]

The guy has grown up and is doing his own thing. Training himself listening to himself the best thing you could ever do you'll see him living on the podium soon

[@jessestewart8285]

Cookie cooksy is eating his words now!

[@lennartdiedrich2734]

i hope suszuki has something in the background for 24.

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Dang look how late a start he got getting on the bike...an just let him settle...yo ease up homes...give him a little time oh my gosh...he really started 23 with out any off season testing...4 weeks before the season he got his new deal

[@Dave-ph4gf]

His mechanic on honda hrc thumbs up after ken make a podium on suzuki 🔥

[@davidmcnerney3048]

Good piece biyz

[@domenicomoschitto2644]

Go Kenny you re the guy 💣

[@sludge86]

I wonder if he would do better on an ‘06 CRF450?

[@sexatica]

His old mechanic Jordan was pumped lol

[@marineforces3214]

It may take just another side-kick from cooper webb + roczen lands in the ditch again ! ❤️, roczen may be good but ‘til now he doesn’t seem ready to the fight 🥳

[@SauceyDad]

Don’t ever leave this sport Weege. That’s an order.

[@l.a.raustadt518]

A steady and staying healthy with the added plus of building a fire under Suzuki is awesome. Pulling for KR

[@robmacisaac9011]

Go Kenny Go!!

[@tylersvensson4468]

I’d love to see suzuki worth with kenny and build him a personal new model and watch him dominate. But I don’t see the hate on the Suzukis because when your at the factory level the bikes all weigh the same and around the same power

[@adam_allday9470]

If anyone could rebirth an entire motorcycle brand, Kenny Roczen is the man to do it. I want him to get that win on the Suzuki so bad, just to make all the people that doubted him look like fools!

[@jacoboo1885]

Roczen and Suzuki are great for our sport, I want them to succeed. I will be more of a believer when he can do this on a consistent basis and at a regular, non triple crown, where he has to go past that mid way point of the race and not fade at the end.

[@glahut93]

Yeah so great for sport after talking shit about American fans last year.

[@jacoboo1885]

@@glahut93 did not know that had happened. I assume you are talking about Suzuki and not roczen? Not really a fan of either one but that doesn't fit his M.O.

[@fugginrambo]

Go Kenneth!

[@rbgmotorsports9783]

Kickstart Kenny!!!!

[@soupbums]

Anderson wants to go home 😂

[@Steezy_Mx]

Let’s go Rocket 🚀 Roczen!!!!! What did I say? Big things from Suzuki are coming and Im betting a new bike with electric ⚡️ start is upon us. If that happens I’m buying a new rmz250 to match my 2003 rm125!

[@davidhaworth7152]

Go get um

[@timc7312]

After Eli retires im rooting for Roczen

[@moto3463]

Sounds like the progressive HEP Suzuki Team is completely believing in Roczen and that’s exactly what he needs. Catering to the riders needs not the other way around. This is a new turning point for Kenny. Regardless of the wins Kenny makes the sport exciting and constantly trying to improve it anyway possible. Legend

[@gmansk53]

He knows to be patient and put in work. While everyone talks about miracles.

[@Pleasuremachine100]

What Kens been through with his injuries most rider's would've quit

[@driftmax5180]

SUZUKI is bestttt

[@CaddyJim]

I was going to throw out that *Chad Reed* stat he podium in 2019 at Detroit in the Twilight of his career. Showing it's been a lack of 450 talent not the Suzuki

[@Stinky_sack]

I'm not a roczen fan but I would love to see him win a SX main on a suzuki because everyone loves an underdog (the bike)

[@slagletoby]

I’m buying an 07 RMZ and an old RM250 before the price skyrockets. Go Kenny go!

[@yukonjon5964]

2011 and 2012 are the best years for the RMZ250. pre air fork and post efi.

[@daniellarr4004]

The only way hes getting a podium is if sexton and tomac crash and they get dnfs, hes not beating the top 4 guys tomac, sexton, anderson or coop

[@matthewsmith6486]

I'm rooting for Ken. He's a class act. Anderson picking his nose and Sexton looking at his armpit during the press conference, not so much....Go ahead, flame away.

[@WonderBoy0403]

I agree. Kenny has always been a class act. JA thinks he's gangster hippy or some weird gangster spiritual guru 🤣

[@VJKMix]

What people are not talking about and can lead to a lot of illnesses. STRESS! He isn't under a lot of pressure and stress now. He wasn't under a lot of pressure riding for a private Honda team and was willing to do anything to a bike that Kenny wanted. It is the same with HEP Suzuki, there is no corporation telling what he can or can't have to make him happy on the bike, he is having fun with it all, and putting in the work with no stress. Factory Honda wasn't always willing to do what he was asking for and still had to perform on something he wasn't happy with. This leads to stress, and stress leads to the illnesses that he has had from all of the surgeries.

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Its a shame Honda hook Ken s bike up the way he wanted...he really was missing the zuki handling....i the other way i have raced kawi but prefer the red...twice in my life i got to ride yellow an it was good..just different the bike is easy to change direction gentle nudge mid bike with ur knees it want to turn the whole bike it was good just had to get used to it...i just borrowed a pros 91 RM 250 for 3 races from the team i worked for..got a holeshot by 30 feet on the 40 rider pack so that left a good impression with...peace...

[@desolategrey]

Too bad a new bike won't beat the Triumph to the sales floor

[@yukonjon5964]

maybe most will wait to buy the second year Triumph

[@badbilly1083]

Does this mean Blake is out of a job?

[@malcolm2193]

It would be fun to see Roczen race some Dakar at some point in his career..just a thought

[@CaddyJim]

I'm a fan of Ken & think people been to hard on the Suzuki but let's remember Eli uncharacteristically crashed or Kenny would've been 4th again *IMO* but glad he was up on the podium

[@rgregleet2253]

So all of you Suzuki haters out there how would you like to eat your crow? Do you want it in a pie with rice or mashed potatoes?

[@StandlyRichards25]

It’s so funny how people really think that just bc he’s on a yellow bike that he won’t win🤣. At the factory level anything and everything can be modified to work as he needs it.

[@larrykates3910]

Yeaaaaaa kenny... rooting for ya brotha

[@truthbetold8425]

Suzuki really isn't involved in the performance developments in this bike. The team has some real internal talent that is independent from the factory and it's this talent doing the engine and suspension. Suzuki factory did none of the development.

[@salubobryan1032]

Might will get a sore shoulder by the end of the season carrying the brand.

[@Steezy_Mx]

Half the people here never believed in Roczen or Suzuki out the gate, bandwagoners. Meanwhile my 2003 Rm125 lives in the house. Once they rebuild the bikes at Hamamatsu and add electric ⚡️ start, people will be lining up around the corner to buy one best bikes in the game again.

[@neilorange4112]

I believe stress was making him sick

[@yukonjon5964]

he has stated in some interviews that it's mainly from a candida fungus type overload caused by all the iv antibiotics during his arm surgeries. ruined his immune system. it can take 10 years to recover from this.

[@neilorange4112]

@@yukonjon5964 thanks for that maybe I'm crazy but my body doesn't like to fight off sickness when I'm under stress and pushing I'm just so happy he took some time to have fun and feel great again

[@yukonjon5964]

@@neilorange4112 oh i'm sure his stress at HRC etc was adding to it all. he was not happy there. i like how when he blitzed the whoops at WSX so much was revealed. he stated that thanks to running a shock linkage he approves of, he can rides whoops again. shows how frustrated he was at HRC.

[@perrym6937]

looks like the front is soft and the rear is slow. like to see him and suzuki win

[@artlewis8119]

They should listen to everything he says try it and then go build a new bike for next year.

[@TOMVUTHEPIMP]

He whines and complains too much.

[@elwiwi7587]

How do you make a Suzuki faster? Put Kenny on it

[@lilblaster22]

Well, Kenny fina stop with the text and email and get back on the track before he ends up getting beat by prime time Humptydumpty AC #9. Humptyhump has somehow figured out how to finish a race, and the pot gets bigger...

[@edcook6438]

The day is yours Rock Oakland Kenny Roczen

[@Fun.with.me.3]

Tell the execs at suzooki i can let them have the electric starter off my chinese pitbike,...let them know i can help! ...roost on Roczen!