Roczen is a free agent

mxb2
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9/16/2022 9:06am
luckyguy19 wrote:
Yep that one is a little different.
mxb2 wrote:
The other ones pay. , Mxon. Doesnt. Mec, bercy. Etc. Pay
luckyguy19 wrote:
I looking at it from the OEM perspective. Those races don't pay the OEMs for bikes and support.
My bad. Just looking at it from the riders perspective.
bd
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9/16/2022 9:10am Edited Date/Time 9/16/2022 9:27am
What did a competing series do to American road racing and Indy racing?

I think all of the teams should take this stand. One off foreign races are not a big deal but a series?
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cwel11
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9/16/2022 9:19am
To me the bigger news out of all this was Hondas statement basically saying screw WSX. If the manufacturers don’t support their series that’s not good news for them.
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bd
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9/16/2022 9:26am
Motodave15 wrote:
Honestly, I like honda's bikes.. But i don't respect them as a business at all.. Im still salty over the MC thing and then RC.. so...
Honestly, I like honda's bikes.. But i don't respect them as a business at all.. Im still salty over the MC thing and then RC.. so as a professional organization, i wouldn't sign with them on their lack of principals.
Dave v3.0 wrote:
Add Gary Jones, Marty Smith (NO ONE sold more bikes for Honda), Johnny O, and Mickey Dymond to that list. Honda has a LONG history of...
Add Gary Jones, Marty Smith (NO ONE sold more bikes for Honda), Johnny O, and Mickey Dymond to that list.

Honda has a LONG history of kicking riders to the curb.
I get the RC comments. Honda bet on the wrong horse and didn’t even get the horse. MC, was no fan of the 1997 CR.

Racing is a business and if you could keep only two, who do you keep for 1987? O’Show is one of my all time favorites. Honda kept Canard, Lusk after major injuries. Kept Roczen after his injuries. They seem pretty damn loyal to me.
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The Shop

bd
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9/16/2022 9:28am
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to me.
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fourfourone
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9/16/2022 9:28am Edited Date/Time 9/16/2022 9:34am
Factory Teams have no desire to support a 2 race series in another country that could potentially injure their rider. I don't blame them. Seeing a Honda race SX in another country isn't going to do much to promote US sales.

Remember if a rider gets hurt, they still get paid to sit on the couch by their factory teams and Kenny's been paid a lot to sit on the couch.

In other sports its normal for contracts to have clauses in them about the athletes doing certain things outside the sport that could potentially stop them from playing during the regular season.






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fourfourone
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9/16/2022 9:30am
bd wrote:
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to...
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to me.
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda slowly backed out of the deal until they finally said they weren't going to support it at all.
9/16/2022 9:34am
bd wrote:
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to...
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to me.
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda...
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda slowly backed out of the deal until they finally said they weren't going to support it at all.
He also said in his WSX contract there is a clause that allows him to get out of it.. so he doesn’t HAVE to race it..
Forty
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9/16/2022 9:46am
mxnick wrote:
And boom! Honda drops a strong response… [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/09/16/568687/s1200_F3B33C54_C7D8_47DD_9E33_35C935CD9133.jpg[/img]
And boom! Honda drops a strong response…
Boxed!
Spankey
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9/16/2022 9:54am
My mind is blown, that Instagram post of the chain guide must have been the last straw for Honda
I'm thinking it was over before that.
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ck95
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9/16/2022 9:55am Edited Date/Time 9/16/2022 10:03am
bd wrote:
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to...
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to me.
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda...
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda slowly backed out of the deal until they finally said they weren't going to support it at all.
"Kenny said that..." most of the stuff in his interview is proving to be less than truthful, why do you think this statement is any different?
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DonM
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9/16/2022 10:01am
bd wrote:
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to...
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to me.
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda...
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda slowly backed out of the deal until they finally said they weren't going to support it at all.
He also said in his WSX contract there is a clause that allows him to get out of it.. so he doesn’t HAVE to race it..
But he didn't say how much it was going to cost him to use that clause....
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9/16/2022 10:13am
ck95 wrote:
"Kenny said that..." most of the stuff in his interview is proving to be less than truthful, why do you think this statement is any different?
A few times in that interview James would make a point and it was almost like Kenny thought "oh that seems like a good excuse, I'm going to run with that...."
Regardless of the Honda PR, that entire interview was a contradiction in and of itself.
I think James did an incredible job of asking the right questions and almost letting Kenny hang himself out to dry. Not sure if that was James' intention or not, but it worked out.
Those of you who've spent time around (some) elite professional athletes understand the arrogance. Their world is the truth and they almost believe whatever they say IS the truth, regardless of the facts (or lack of) behind it.
I believe in Kenny's mind, he is doing it for the fans, or to prove a point, or whatever he spun it. In my opinion (which means nothing) that's what he has to believe or else he would have to admit he just isn't THE Ken Roczen he was before.
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fourfourone
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9/16/2022 10:40am Edited Date/Time 9/16/2022 10:40am
bd wrote:
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to...
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to me.
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda...
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda slowly backed out of the deal until they finally said they weren't going to support it at all.
He also said in his WSX contract there is a clause that allows him to get out of it.. so he doesn’t HAVE to race it..
He did say that but he didn't say what the clause was. It could be an injury clause or something else.

WSX has been using Kenny as their biggest advertised rider. WSX would be a major letdown for many if certain riders didn't show up as promised. The goal is to get top names over there and if that doesn't happen WSX loses its creditability. Not having promised riders show up to this new series could be pretty damaging to it.


I think it was BS when Kenny made it sound like he could easily get out of it.

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fourfourone
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9/16/2022 10:44am
Did anyone catch how KR kept saying go over there and get it done. Like he already knew he was gonna be king of this 2 races series.

Its like relax Mr. Rockstar, you better hope Eli doesn't show up.
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scott_nz
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9/16/2022 10:54am
MXD wrote:
Honda's PR team > KR94's PR team

They just put on a PR clinic with that release. GG Kenny, that's a wrap.
To be fair , a corporate PR team vs 2 guys that raced motocross more than they went to school is not a fair fight
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Sonic99
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9/16/2022 10:55am
I'm a Roczen fan, but I'm amazed that Stephen Astephen didn't prepare his boy better. I understand they wanted to get ahead of the story and control the narrative, but c'mon, be better prepared! Kenny's vocal pace was way too fast - he wasn't letting Bubba finish a question before spewing the "company line." Kenny's thought's beyond, "it's not about the money" were not cogent. Kenny's a disciplined athlete, however this was not a disciplined interview. I'll continue to cheer for the #94 and wish him well in upcoming endeavors, but this was a public relations fail for Team Roczen.
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9/16/2022 11:00am
ML512 wrote:
No, there was salary and it was still a pretty good amount.
What sort of salary are these guys on?
bd
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9/16/2022 11:01am
I’m a little surprised it’s taken Roczen this long to talk to a legit nutrition. When my health went to shit, that’s my first move.
JazzyJJ
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9/16/2022 11:03am
Sonic99 wrote:
I'm a Roczen fan, but I'm amazed that Stephen Astephen didn't prepare his boy better. I understand they wanted to get ahead of the story and...
I'm a Roczen fan, but I'm amazed that Stephen Astephen didn't prepare his boy better. I understand they wanted to get ahead of the story and control the narrative, but c'mon, be better prepared! Kenny's vocal pace was way too fast - he wasn't letting Bubba finish a question before spewing the "company line." Kenny's thought's beyond, "it's not about the money" were not cogent. Kenny's a disciplined athlete, however this was not a disciplined interview. I'll continue to cheer for the #94 and wish him well in upcoming endeavors, but this was a public relations fail for Team Roczen.
Is his first and last name really the same save for an "A"? That's hilarious and I wouldn't trust someone with the same name twice
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8tensolutions
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9/16/2022 11:07am
bd wrote:
I’m a little surprised it’s taken Roczen this long to talk to a legit nutrition. When my health went to shit, that’s my first move.
My opinion is the health issues are mostly in his head. Since his surgeries, his mind "believes" he is sick, so he is sick. You simply cannot have all these illnesses back to back and still be able to ride at his level the next day or week. Hypochondria is strong for Roczen.
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bd
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9/16/2022 11:08am
bd wrote:
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to...
My last comment… how the fuck does your agent commit to a series before having a convo with your team???? Seems like a big drop to me.
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda...
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda slowly backed out of the deal until they finally said they weren't going to support it at all.
ck95 wrote:
"Kenny said that..." most of the stuff in his interview is proving to be less than truthful, why do you think this statement is any different?
or they pulled the trigger before Honda gave commitment. Let’s remember what happened before this news - Pro Motocross and Supercross teamed up to compete against WSX. The US series see WSX as a long term threat.
bd
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9/16/2022 11:10am
bd wrote:
I’m a little surprised it’s taken Roczen this long to talk to a legit nutrition. When my health went to shit, that’s my first move.
My opinion is the health issues are mostly in his head. Since his surgeries, his mind "believes" he is sick, so he is sick. You simply...
My opinion is the health issues are mostly in his head. Since his surgeries, his mind "believes" he is sick, so he is sick. You simply cannot have all these illnesses back to back and still be able to ride at his level the next day or week. Hypochondria is strong for Roczen.
I think he has legit gut issues due to all of that big Pham medication. That said, if it’s a head issue, call AC9 for the aya number.
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9/16/2022 11:11am
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda...
Not sure if this is true but Kenny said that Honda was okay with it when he first asked to do it and over time Honda slowly backed out of the deal until they finally said they weren't going to support it at all.
He also said in his WSX contract there is a clause that allows him to get out of it.. so he doesn’t HAVE to race it..
DonM wrote:
But he didn't say how much it was going to cost him to use that clause....
Surely it is less than the potential deal he could get from Honda?
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PTshox
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9/16/2022 11:15am
If Honda's above statement is accurate - that they didn't pull the offer back - that the contract had a "no WSX" clause in it and Ken rejected it for that reason Ken should have stated. That the reached and impass as he wanted to do WSX. And he should have negotiated with them imo.

Lots of options around that. Like start the contract after the WSX rounds? Or... think of something.

But rescinding is a very different thing. If Honda didn’t do that…. That doesn’t make him look great.


Or – he wanted out anyways. And maybe he has a few options he’s already down the road on? That would kinda make some sense.
8tensolutions
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9/16/2022 11:16am
bd wrote:
I’m a little surprised it’s taken Roczen this long to talk to a legit nutrition. When my health went to shit, that’s my first move.
My opinion is the health issues are mostly in his head. Since his surgeries, his mind "believes" he is sick, so he is sick. You simply...
My opinion is the health issues are mostly in his head. Since his surgeries, his mind "believes" he is sick, so he is sick. You simply cannot have all these illnesses back to back and still be able to ride at his level the next day or week. Hypochondria is strong for Roczen.
bd wrote:
I think he has legit gut issues due to all of that big Pham medication. That said, if it’s a head issue, call AC9 for the...
I think he has legit gut issues due to all of that big Pham medication. That said, if it’s a head issue, call AC9 for the aya number.
He may, but his claimed sicknesses are all over the place. During the 7 rounds in Salt Lake during Covid he had like three different illnesses and then won races in the middle of that. This combined with every season being riddled with bike issues, other illnesses, taking half of SX off, cussing out fans on IG, and now this BS it is clear he simply has to find ways other than owning he just can't be at the top top level.....which is fine. He is still an insane talent and I feel bad he is dealing with all of this.
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idworx
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9/16/2022 11:33am
Stuck between FIM and AMA. Shows a strong character; not going for the money.
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VRR7
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9/16/2022 11:53am
Kenny comes across like a little bitch

Honda Statement on its Offer to Ken Roczen
TORRANCE, Calif. — Following Ken Roczen’s comments yesterday regarding his contract negotiations, American Honda Manager of Sports & Experiential Brandon Wilson made the following statement:

“We genuinely enjoy working with Ken and have loved having him on our team for the past six years. We have a ton of respect for the speed and talent he regularly demonstrates on the track, and even more so for the heart and dedication he has shown in returning from severe setbacks. In light of recent comments, we felt the need to clarify a couple of points. We were looking forward to continuing with Ken in 2023, and we recently made him an offer of a contract extension. That offer has never been rescinded, but it was declined by Ken and his team. It’s true that the offer included a stipulation that Ken not compete in a series that has positioned itself as a direct competitor to our supercross and motocross racing partners. We feel it’s important to support our racing partners and to treat all of our riders the same. That said, our esteem and appreciation for Ken are as strong as ever, and they won’t be altered by the fact that our priorities don’t happen to align on this issue.”
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APLMAN99
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9/16/2022 11:53am
Sounds like basically Roczen talked about doing WSX, thought that since no one actually said yes or no that meant yes, and signed the WSX contract without actually getting real approval from Honda.

I used to do similar things when I was a kid. I’d bring up a concert or party a few weeks before, they wouldn’t say whether I could go or not, but when I got caught I would say that they knew about it and never told me no……
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