Ken Roczen Claims 2026 AMA Supercross 450cc Crown in Salt Lake City
Roczen's victory on the Suzuki RM-Z450 validates the platform as an underdog contender in the premier class
Ken Roczen has secured the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450cc championship by outlasting Australian rival Hunter Lawrence at the season finale in Salt Lake City. The German rider, representing Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports on a Suzuki RM-Z450, became the oldest rider to ever win the 450cc Supercross title. Despite entering the final race with a points lead, Roczen had to overcome a late-race crash by his main competitor to claim the victory.
This win marks Roczen's first AMA Supercross 450cc title, completing a legendary career that includes two FIM World Supercross titles and two AMA Motocross titles. The victory also validated the Suzuki RM-Z450 platform, which was considered an underdog in the series compared to prevailing industry narratives.
Roczen set the fastest lap time in the Main Event and controlled the pace for the final 22 laps after his rival crashed just before the halfway point. The German rider entered Rice-Eccles Stadium holding the championship points lead, having accumulated 28 career 450SX victories over 13 seasons in the premier class.
Team Principal Dustin Pipes and Team Manager Larry Brooks highlighted the team's resilience during Larry Brooks' cancer treatments, noting the team stepped up under immense pressure. "Everyone stepped up under an incredible amount of pressure and never stopped believing," Brooks stated during a post-race interview.
The 2026 season featured a 17-round series, with the finale taking place in Utah. This triumph adds the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship to Roczen's existing accolades, which include the 2011 MX2 World Championship and AMA 450cc Motocross titles from 2014 and 2016.
For Suzuki, the moment represented far more than a championship; it was validation that consistency and purposeful engineering still matter in an era of constant change. The RM-Z450 adds another defining chapter to the manufacturer's racing heritage, proving that a machine with proven race-winning DNA can excel at the highest level.
