The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship held the second Triple Crown event of the season at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, featuring three separate 12-minute races for the 450SX Class. The soft soil and short lap times created deep ruts and heavy lap traffic, challenging the riders’ skill and endurance throughout the day. Ken Roczen’s performance across the three races was marked by thrilling highs and difficult setbacks, showcasing the unpredictable nature of Triple Crown racing.
Ken Roczen Takes Command in First Race Before Experiencing Setbacks
Ken Roczen, riding his Suzuki RM-Z450, started Race 1 from seventh position after the holeshot but quickly made his way up the track, seizing the lead on lap four through a fast, rutted whoop section. Displaying remarkable speed, Roczen set the fastest lap time and extended his lead beyond eight seconds, securing a decisive victory in the opening race. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in Race 2 when Roczen suffered a major crash on the opening lap, flipping backwards mid-air after colliding with a fellow rider. Although he was hurtled to the ground, Roczen recovered quickly and battled through the pack to reach a top-ten finish. In the final race, starting from sixth place, Roczen put in a series of blistering laps, advancing to third place and finishing strong. His combined results of 1st, 10th, and 3rd earned him fifth place overall in the event standings.
Colt Nichols Faces a Challenging Day with Season-Best Performance Amid Difficulties
Colt Nichols encountered a tough start when pushed wide entering the first turn of Race 1 but displayed resilience by climbing to a top-fifteen position, which he maintained until a crash on the last lap ended his race prematurely. Race 2 saw Nichols improving his start and nearing the top ten, highlighted by posting the second-fastest time through the first rhythm lane in Sector 3. Unfortunately, Race 3 was cut short for Nichols after a collision entering the first turn, limiting him to only two laps before he fell out of contention. Despite these setbacks, Nichols achieved his best individual Triple Crown Race result of the season at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Roczen and Nichols Reflect on the Day’s Highs and Lows
“Indianapolis, man, you were gnarly again… It’s just the track, it breaks down so much, the Triple Crown here is really intense,”
said Ken Roczen.
“We had such an amazing day. I felt pretty comfortable on my motorcycle all day. The first Race was really kind of like a dream ride again. I just felt connected, made some passes happen, and was able to take that one home. I really enjoyed that. You know, sometimes you need those rides. And then everything went south in the second Race; I made a massive mistake that was just unfortunate with bad timing. Right after the start I cross rutted and high sided off the tabletop, and [then] I couldn’t clear it. So [off] the next triple I basically dropped two and a half… As I was bouncing up, [another rider] was right behind me and just rode basically under my bike and put me in a backflip. He got scraped up pretty good and we [both] went down pretty hard. So, not the ideal situation; you definitely see everything kind of flushing down the drain. But once I checked that everything was good, I just went to work and, for the situation, I felt pretty fast and smooth out there …so we just did damage control. It was an opportunity missed. In the last Race, [it was] not the greatest start, and ended up bringing it home at third. So, my riding was really good, we’re definitely taking the positive of that. It’ll be nice going into an off weekend and then we’ll come back strong.”
“Indy Supercross is done and dusted and honestly it was a pretty horrible day for me,”
Colt Nichols admitted.
“I struggled from the jump today, and I don’t really know why. I wish I had a better explanation for all that was going on. Physically I felt okay, I was just struggling to kind of get a feel I need… and it showed. I was really slow in practice today and didn’t really have much of a flow. [Also], I was just on the ground a lot in the races. Starting terrible and crashing a lot: it was just a really, really rough day. So, [there’s] a lot of homework to do and a lot of stuff I need to figure out to be better. And the team is so awesome. We’ve been working really hard and everyone’s still got such a positive attitude. I feel like they’re riding or dying with me; I want to put up some better results for you guys: for the team, for the fans, everything. So, there’s a lot of work to do but we’ll be back for Birmingham.”
Team Perspective and Preparation for the Upcoming Rounds
Dave Dye, Lead Engine Technician for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance team, offered insight into the day’s fluctuating outcomes.
“With Ken Roczen, we had goods and bads,”
Dye remarked.
“It was a Triple Crown tonight, and we won the first Race, had some trouble in the second, then came back strong to finish third in the third Race for a fifth overall. It was great riding. Colt Nichols had a crazy day. We salvaged a 17th with him. We’re looking forward to a weekend off, and then it’s on to Birmingham.”
The team also launched its 2026 Kickstart for a Cause initiative, which offers fans a chance to win Roczen’s Suzuki RM-Z450 race bike through a raffle. Proceeds will support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Fans are encouraged to visit the team’s pits at future Supercross rounds or participate by texting to enter.
Supercross Season Pauses Before Resuming in Birmingham
Following the intense Triple Crown event in Indianapolis, the Supercross Championship takes a weekend break before resuming with Round 10 on March 21st at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. Suzuki’s riders and team members are eagerly preparing to return to competition, aiming to build on their performance and continue challenging for the championship as the season progresses.
