Some quick hits from Seattle: Ken Roczen keeps going fast on his Progressive Ecstar Suzuki despite a separated shoulder, Dylan Ferrandisgot some factory parts from Honda (including a transmission) and is feeling better on his Phoenix Honda, and Benny Bloss and Liqui Moly Beta continue with solid performances.
Here’s what they had to say after the race.
Ken Roczen: 4th Place
“Seattle was great. For whatever reason when the main event comes around I hone in and become really focused. With the injury, I don’t want to aggravate it during practice, so I have a hard time being honed in, but when race time comes it’s different. With a track like this, you need to be extremely in tune. Honestly, it was just one lap where I lost a bit. I made a bunch of mistakes when several riders were right behind me, and they went by. I am still holding my head high, but it’s hard. My shoulder needs a lot of rest. My ligaments are almost torn in the AC joint, so if I fall, I will likely make it worse. So right now I am picking my battles; I wanted to make through this weekend. I am going to keep doing what I’m doing, and hopefully we can get back to 100% before the season is over.” -Suzuki Press Release
“Yeah that’s my first top-five in awhile, so yeah, very good. A couple changes. We improved the bike with the suspension today, and HRC provided me with some parts, the gearbox, since Birmingham, so a little bit of everything. Also my shoulder, I’ve been struggling with that and it’s getting better the last couple of weeks. Just a little bit of everything combined where I was not 100 percent and could not ride like normal. Today the 450 class is so gnarly that if you’re not 100 percent you cannot race at the front. I think a little bit of all of that, then good start and good bike and yeah you’re great. Today was one of the gnarliest tracks I’ve ever ridden. They freshened the track for the main event and it was almost like brand new. And already after five laps you had to adjust and find different rhythms. In the end I think the guy that can jump the rhythm like normal every lap is the guy that is going to win. I was able to do it for three quarters of the race, I was able to jump everything, but after that, yeah, you’re playing a little bit with your life!”
Was the biggest improvement Dylan or the bike?
“The bike was something today. We changed something on the fork on the soft tracks, I’ve been struggling. So this was a step in the right direction. Also I was not healthy at 100 percent for awhile and this week, finally, I have no pain and problems and do all of my stuff for fitness. Everything combined to make it better today.” -Interview by Steve Matthes
