Ken Roczen secured a podium finish at the eighth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship held at Daytona International Speedway, elevating him into a tie for third place in the overall standings. This event, which also contributed points to the SMX World Championship, took place under clear skies following Friday night rains, testing riders on a technically straightforward yet fast-paced track laid out on the famous trioval.
Key Moments from the Daytona 450 Class Race
Roczen, riding his Suzuki RM-Z450, aimed to replicate his 2025 victory as he pushed hard from the start. In the heat race, he quickly advanced past competitors and posted the fastest times in two track sectors, earning a podium spot that set the stage for the main event. At the start of the main race, Roczen exited the first turn in second but took the lead within three corners. He dominated early with a series of swift laps, including the fastest through the challenging whoops section. After leading for over seven minutes, Roczen ceded first place but maintained pressure on the leaders.
With under six minutes remaining, Roczen was impeded by a lapper, allowing another rider to pass him for second place. Despite this setback, he consistently posted strong lap times when the track conditions worsened and ultimately crossed the finish line in third, securing valuable championship points.
Colt Nichols, also riding Suzuki, delivered his best finish of the season on what is widely regarded as the most demanding track on the Supercross circuit. Nichols qualified well and secured a direct transfer to the main event from his heat race. Though he started outside the top fifteen, he steadily moved forward during the race and narrowly missed finishing in the top ten, placing eleventh.
Riders Reflect on Daytona’s Challenges and Outcomes
I feel like more than half of the race I [rode poorly in the sand section] and left too much time on [the table] there,
Roczen admitted.
[The track design] was pretty basic but I did enjoy it… It’s nice to have a change of pace; having said that, the only area I didn’t like was after the mechanics’ area… It was way too fast. Those little [jumps] have really deep ruts in them and they can have big kickers; you can’t see them with 21 tear offs on so you just kind of go, you know?… I’m happy with my riding… I would have killed a couple of years ago for these podiums, and I got a podium, so I’m trying to look at it that way.
— Ken Roczen, Rider
It was a better day overall,
said Nichols.
I ended up P-11 in the main, but felt like I didn’t ride very well, so I’m a little frustrated to be honest. But I’ll take the result, work on some stuff, try to be a little bit better this week, then come into Indy feeling stronger and hopefully log a better result.
— Colt Nichols, Rider
Team Principal Dustin Pipes of Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki commented on the event and the team’s progress:
It was a great night in Daytona. It’s always a good time getting on the podium at an iconic venue like Daytona,
he said.
As defending Daytona Champion, Ken was great dealing with the pressure all day. He led a good portion of the main and settled into a solid third place. We are still hungry for another win and will chase it again with him in Indianapolis. Colt finished less than a second out of his first top 10 of the season, which was a big step in the right direction. He’s trending more towards where he knows he belongs. It’s a tough situation with Jason missing the event, but we hope to get him back on the racetrack.
— Dustin Pipes, Team Principal
Looking Ahead to Indianapolis and the Season’s Midpoint
The Supercross series will shift to a more traditional format and track setup for the next round, which takes place this Saturday, March 7th, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Suzuki team enters this midpoint event in the championship with strong momentum, holding a tied position for third place and eager to build on their recent results. Enthusiasm within the team remains high as they prepare to compete on the familiar indoor circuit, aiming to convert podium finishes into victories in the races ahead.
