SUZUKI’S KEN ROCZEN KICKS OFF POST SEASON WITH SECOND PLACE RESULT
Heavy Rains Impact SMX World Championship Playoff 1 in Columbus, Ohio
Brea, CA – (September 14, 2026) – Playoff 1 of the SMX World Championship offered brutal, muddy conditions inside Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Clear skies on Friday allowed Free Practice but over 1” of rain on Saturday morning cancelled Timed Qualifying. The Wild Card races allowed un-seeded riders some time on the track, but the majority of racers took their first laps without practice time on the wet track. Races were shortened to 15-minutes plus one lap for Race 1, then abbreviate again for Race 2 to 12-minutes plus one lap due to worsening track conditions. In the post-season, the two Race scores are combined, using Olympic-style scoring, and points are paid for overall positions.
Race Highlights:
• Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
450 Class
• Ken Roczen leapt from his tenth-place seeded position up to fourth place in the standings and cut his points deficit from 12 to eight.
• Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
• Jason Anderson had great speed and earned a top-five Race 1 result.
• Colt Nichols earned a spot through the Wild Card race and battled through both Races in Columbus.
Ken Roczen (94) and his Suzuki RM-Z450 sprinted forward early in both Races and locked down second overall inside Historic Crew Stadium.
Ken Roczen (94) put down the fastest lap time during the first Free Practice session on a dry Friday Press Day ride. When the gate dropped for a muddy 450SMX Class Race 1, Roczen charged into his first motorcycle race since winning the Supercross championship in May. Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in ninth and his race intensity needed no warm-up. Roczen sliced through the front pack despite the slick, deep mud; he was into fourth place before the riders had reached the green flag. Roczen continued his march forward, picking off another rider on each of the next laps until he reached second place, which he held to the checkers. In Race 2, Roczen launched to a fifth-place start and put his Suzuki into second place before half a lap was in the books. From there Roczen stalked the leader, setting Race 2’s fastest lap time on lap 5 and pulling close to the lead spot late in the race. A minor tip-over dashed Roczen’s chances at the overall win, yet second place on the day moved him up six positions in the standings.
“We had an absolutely great day. We made the most of it,” said Roczen. “We didn't have any qualifying today, so we actually went cold turkey straight into racing, which is kind of gnarly. I think none of us riders had a whole lot of Supercross time [recently], so it definitely took some time getting used [to the obstacles], and then just getting thrown into a big mud race wasn't easy. But hey, we made our way to 2nd place. I even tipped over in the second Race today, but we kept it on two wheels after that. 2-2 for second overall, I couldn't have asked for any more. I had an absolute blast with the team, it was so good to have Larry back as well, and I can't wait for next weekend.”
Jason Anderson (21) passed more riders than any other racer in Race 1 en route to a top five result.
Jason Anderson (21) posted the fastest lap time in both Free Practice sessions for the un-seeded riders on Friday. On race day, Anderson charged his way from the Wild Card race to a spot on the line. In Race 1, Anderson found himself in 17th place off the start. Within the opening lap and a half, Anderson had his RM-Z450 into eight place and didn’t stop there. His pace moved him steady forward to fifth place by lap 12, which he held to the checkered flag. In Race 2 Anderson was just into the top-ten when the pack crossed the green flag. One lap later Anderson was up to fifth place and looking for more. Unfortunately, at the start of the second full lap of racing, another rider landed on Anderson’s right side on the finish-line jump’s landing. Anderson was not able to continue and is having his injury evaluated.
“The weekend was a little crazy,” stated Anderson after the racing. “Practice yesterday went pretty well. I think I was around in 5th as far as the overall [seeded and un-seeded] times. Obviously, it rained all day [today]. We had to get through the LCQ [which was] muddy. The first Race was muddy [but] I was able to get a fifth. Then in the second Race I was up front but ended up getting landed on. I think I have a little bit of an injury, but hopefully I'll be able to be back relatively soon.”
Colt Nichols (45) earned a spot in SMX World Championship Playoff 1 through a top-five result in the Wild Card race.
Colt Nichols (45) was inside the top-five in both un-seeded Free Practice sessions, then again in the Wild Card race on Saturday. In Race 1 Nichols put his head down and battled inside the top-fifteen early in the race. In Race 2, Nichols charged as the mud thickened and the ruts deepened; he earned a 20th place result in each Race.
“It was a bit of a quagmire all day,” said Nichols. “[Being seeded into] the LCQ makes it a little bit stressful, and we barely squeaked in on that. And then the two Races were not too good. I couldn't stay off the ground and just could not figure out the mud. It definitely had my number today, but we'll try again next weekend in Los Angeles and see if we can improve.”
“It was a good start to the series. It's a three-race series, [and] it just was smarter to play the long game in this whole thing and get out of here [with good points],” stated Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “Ken Roczen went 2-2. He rode really good. Actually, he didn't get [great] starts in either Race, but he moved up through the pack… He definitely did what his plan was to do: start the series off strong and end it stronger. Jason Anderson finished fifth the first Race and then got jumped on by [another rider] in the second one. Colt Nichols was in the main event; he finished 22nd on the day.”
Playoff 2 looks to have clear skies on September 19th for the hybrid SX/MX track built inside Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The points will be doubled, and the Suzuki riders and team members are excited to keep their strong season going after clinching the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in May.
For more team news, please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com.
Photo by CONVRG MEDIA
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Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
