Ken Roczen is probably the brightest new young talent in the Motocross scene and last year the 16-year old stormed through the field to finish second in the MX2 ladder.
The only other rider ahead of him was Marvin Musquin, guess who Marvin was riding for? Red Bull KTM of course.
Roczen joined the championship in 2009 as soon as he passed the age limit and 201 was his first full season.
Video if a day in the life of Ken Roczen, gallery and Press release after the jump
To further sharpen his already impressive skills, Ken has been in the USA training with the Orange lineup under the guidance of Roger DeCoster. "The Man", as DeCoster is affectionately known, a legend in the sport after a distinguished racing and management career, heads the new Red Bull KTM factory team that will contest the major US competitions.
GALLERY Ken Roczen
PRESS RELEASE
KTM welcomes Ken Roczen to the International Orange family
Red Bull Teka KTM Racing welcomes its newest member of the Orange factory rider squad on January 1, 2011 when Ken Roczen, one of the youngest and most exciting MX2 talents to emerge in recent years takes his place in the team in time to compete in the opening races of the AMA Supercross Lites West Coast competition.
The 16-year old German racer made an indelible impression on the MX2 World Championship in 2010 to finish in second place behind his now KTM teammate Marvin Musquin. After warming up in the AMA SX competition, Ken will return to Europe to race alongside teammate Jeffrey Herlings as the Red Bull Teka KTM Factory Team fields two of the best young riders in the World Championship MX2 competition.
Roczen, who burst onto the senior scene for several races in 2009 as soon as he passed the age limit, is expected to set the track on fire this year. In his first full season in the 2010 competition he sent out plenty of signals that he will be a force to be reckoned with. To further sharpen his already impressive skills, Ken has been in the USA training with the Orange lineup under the guidance of Roger DeCoster. "The Man", as DeCoster is affectionately known, a legend in the sport after a distinguished racing and management career, heads the new Red Bull KTM factory team that will contest the major US competitions.
Ken first sat on an MX bike at just two and a half years old and rode his first race at three. Born in 1994, he first entered the racing record book in Germany when he won the German Outdoor Junior competition in 2000 and 2001. He won the ADAC MX Junior Cup in 2006 and was second in the Junior Worlds in the same year. One year later he claimed the Junior World championship title and was firmly on the radar of the talent spotters for senior competition. "Kenny" as he is affectionately known at home in Germany went on to capture the Supercross title in Dortmund Germany in 2009 and earned the title of "Prince of Dortmund". Even racing only part of the season because of the age limit restriction in 2009, he still finished in fifth place. Then in 2010, he turned up the gas to take 10 victories in the MX2 world championship to finish second behind Musquin in what was a closely fought battle right down to the final races.
Any close observer of the sport, whether professional or amateur could not fail to be impressed with the talent of this young rider and all evidence points to some fantastic performances in the 2011 season when he joins the other "wunderkind" rider, Jeffrey Herlings, in the Red Bull Teka KTM lineup in Europe. Herlings returns to the track in 2011 after healing a mid-season shoulder injury incurred in 2010. The two, who race under the watchful and very experienced eye of KTM factory team boss, 10-times world champion Stefan Everts, are expected to deliver some heart stopping performances as they slog it out in the coming season.
KTM, whose policy it is to nurture young talent and groom its factory riders for future titles, is delighted to welcome Ken Roczen to the team's lineup. Ken will be "Ready to Race" in true KTM style when competition gets underway with the opening races of the AMA SX season in January 2011.
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