Supercross veteran soars to first series championship in dramatic fashion

From Suzuki Motor USA– The final round of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season will go down in history as one of the most emotional and memorable title fights the sport has ever seen. Ken Roczen entered Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City barely holding the championship points lead over Hunter Lawrence, with the red plate mounted to his Suzuki RM-Z450 heading into the final race of the 17-round series.

After 13 seasons in the premier class, Roczen had accumulated 28 career 450SX victories, but the championship title had always eluded him. The 2026 season marked Roczen’s sixth year aboard the Suzuki RM-Z450 and his fourth season with Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki. Against all odds and against one of the deepest fields in modern Supercross history, Roczen delivered one of the most memorable championship victories the sport has ever seen.

Photo by Suzuki Motor USA.

Inside a sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium, Roczen launched off the gate and immediately put the power of his RM-Z450 to the Utah dirt. He crossed the holeshot stripe in second position before taking over the lead in the very next corner. With the championship pressure at its absolute peak and title rival Hunter Lawrence close behind, Roczen responded with flawless laps, setting the fastest lap time of the Main Event and keeping control of the championship firmly in his hands.

As Roczen circled the stadium floor lap after lap, the roar from the crowd built into a rolling wave of emotion. Just before the halfway point of the race, Lawrence shockingly went down and dropped outside the top positions. Roczen capitalized, stretching his lead to four seconds and controlling the pace out front for 22 laps on his way to securing the championship.

Photo by Suzuki Motor USA.

“Alright boys and girls, Salt Lake is done and dusted and what a fairy tale ending it was for me and the team,” declared Roczen back at the rig beside his championship-winning RM-Z450. “It took so much work to get here. Today wasn’t easy, just a lot of nerves going on. When it counted the most in the main event we got a great start, made a pass happen, had an insane main event, and then just had a little bit of peace and quiet toward the end to bring it home. What a dreamy ending. We won the championship tonight. This is so huge. I can’t wait to really process everything. I’ve already had an incredible time celebrating with the team — 2026 Supercross Champ!”

With this title, Roczen adds the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship to an already legendary résumé that includes two World Supercross Championships (2022, 2023), two AMA Pro Motocross Championships (2014, 2016), the 2013 250SX West Championship, and the 2011 MX2 World Championship. Three of Roczen’s seven professional championships have now been earned aboard Suzuki RM-Z machinery.