The German HEP was in qualifying in Detroit Suzuki Pilot Ken Roczen on P3 behind Chase Sexton (Honda) and Jason Anderson (Kawasaki) in the leading group. At the best time of Sexton the German was only missing two tenths of seconds.
When the starting gate for the 2. Heat Race fell, catapulted itself Roczen after a good start straight to the front of the field. He led the race for 4 laps before Sexton especially in the washboard was getting closer and closer.
Sexton chose a different combination in the rhythm section and was able to in the following right turn inside and Kenthe pass and then settle slightly at the top. Sexton won by a margin of 2.8 seconds.
Only in the last corner before the finish snapped Plessinger still Roczenpassed the German on the inside and grabbed it P2 – annoying for the Thuringian.
RoczenUnfortunately, this time the start of the final did not go perfectly. He approached the first left-hand corner on the outside line, so that several drivers could pass by on the inside. Stuck in the first sections of the route Roczen in heavy traffic and arranged in the area of P8 a. Already in the early stages he had to defend himself against the attacks of Chase Sexton (Honda) put up a fight. Sexton he couldn’t stay long and so ranked Roczen in the first half of the race in the range from P7 and was even noticed in round 6 P8 back as a Kawasaki factory rider Jason Anderson approached from behind and Roczen also overtaken.
After Adam Cianciarulo, who had initially led the final, further and further behind passed could him too Roczen overtake. In the meantime came Roczen even within striking distance of Eli Tomacbut it wasn’t enough to overtake.
In the end, the Thuringian benefited from a constant performance and from the falls Anderson and Plessingerso that P5 in the daily standings was a conciliatory result. He was able to place himself in the table from P5 on P4 improve. Despite this, he was dissatisfied with his performance. “I wasn’t thrilled with my race, especially in the final,” explained Ken after the race. “In qualifying and in the heat, I was consistently up front again today, but things didn’t go according to plan in the finale.”
Result SX Detroit, 450 ccm:
1. Chase Sexton (USA), Honda
2. Cooper Webb (USA), KTM
3. Eli Tomac (USA), Yamaha
4. Justin barcia (USA), GASGAS
5. Ken Roczen (D), Suzuki
6. Christian Craig (USA), Husqvarna
Championship standings after heat 10 of 17:
1. Cooper Webb (USA), KTM225
2. Eli Tomac (USA), Yamaha222, (-3)
3. Chase Sexton (US), Honda, 208, (-17 after point deduction)
4. Ken Roczen (D), Suzuki182, (-43)
5. Jason Anderson (USA), Kawasaki, 180, (-45)
6. Justin barcia (USA), GASGAS, 174, (-51)