Ken Roczen on his MXoN participation: “I paid for everything myself”

The USA face a similar problem to the Germans at the upcoming Motocross of Nations in Ernée: their best riders won’t be competing. This is particularly true of Star Racing Yamaha rider Haiden Deegan, who finished third in the US Nationals as the top American, behind the two Australian Lawrence brothers. Haiden Deegan cannot compete because his team, Star Racing Yamaha, has pulled out.

Discussions about MXoN funding

The discussions were triggered by Star Racing Yamaha’s announcement that it would not be providing support for Team USA at the MXoN. Haiden Deegan subsequently stated that he would not have asked for a fee to take part, but that he could understand if a team had to invest a lot of money in the MXoN and questioned the benefits for the team.

Ken Roczen commented: “I funded it myself.”

Supercross champion Ken Roczen, who will also not be competing for Team Germany this year, has now commented on the matter. “I have covered all the costs for my entire programme myself during my MXoN appearances over the past four or five years,” he explained.

How much support is needed?

Of course, one should view Roczen’s sweeping statement in a slightly more nuanced light, as it is well remembered that, for example, Johannes-Bikes went to great lengths at the 2023 MXoN in Ernée to provide the Suzuki chassis for Ken Roczen. Back then, the German team narrowly missed out on the podium, finishing behind France, Australia and Italy. But Ken Roczen is neither an accountant nor a manager. Ken Roczen is a motocross rider – and one of the very best on the planet.

Logistics and cost centres

The logistics of an MXoN campaign involve many cost centres. What can be gleaned from Roczen’s and Deegan’s statements, however, is an inherent dissatisfaction with the system. Every federation likes to highlight its successes. Yet the fact that these successes also require investment is often overlooked. If even in the USA the teams are no longer prepared to bear the logistical costs for the federation, then we have a systemic problem that, ultimately, only the national federations themselves can resolve. The sport is expanding and has become more global. Australians, Germans and Belgians compete in the US; South Africans in Europe; Europeans in South America; and vice versa. The Motocross of Nations is the highlight of the season. The very best of the best should compete in this race; otherwise, the event will ultimately lose its aura.