he final round of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season will go down in history as one of the most emotional and memorable title fights the sport has ever seen. Ken Roczen entered Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City holding the championship points lead, with the red plate mounted to his Suzuki RM-Z450 heading into the final race of the 17-round series.
After 13 seasons in the premier class, Roczen had accumulated 28 career 450SX victories, but the championship had always remained just out of reach. The 2026 season marked Roczen’s sixth year aboard the RM-Z450 and his fourth season with Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki. Against the odds, against the industry narrative, and against one of the deepest fields in modern Supercross history, Roczen delivered one of the most memorable championship victories the sport has seen.
Inside a sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium, Roczen launched off the gate and immediately put the power of his Suzuki RM-Z450 to the Utah dirt. He crossed the holeshot stripe in second position before taking over the lead in the very next corner. With the championship pressure at its absolute peak and his title rival close behind, Roczen responded with flawless laps, setting the fastest lap time of the Main Event and keeping control of the championship firmly in his hands.
As Roczen circled the stadium floor lap after lap, the roar from the crowd built into a rolling wave of emotion. Just before the halfway point of the race, the other championship contender went down and dropped outside the top positions. Roczen capitalized, stretching the lead to four seconds and controlling the pace out front for 22 laps on his way to securing the championship.
“Alright boys and girls, Salt Lake is done and dusted and what a fairy tale ending it was for me and the team,” said Roczen back at the rig beside his championship-winning RM-Z450. “It took so much work to get here. Today wasn’t easy, [there were] just a lot of nerves going on. When it counted the most in the main event we got a great start, made a pass happen, had an insane main event, and then just had a little bit of peace and quiet toward the end to bring it home. What a dreamy ending. We won the championship tonight. This is so huge. I can’t wait to really process everything. I’ve already had an incredible time celebrating with the team — 2026 Supercross Champ!”
“Never had a doubt,” stated Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance. “Thank you to all the team members and partners that make nights like these possible. Ken earned this championship.”
“Emotionally, I think we’re all just on a high right now,” said Team Manager Larry Brooks during a post-race interview. “I am so proud of the team. When I was unplugged after the second round while going through (my) cancer treatments, they picked up the ball and ran with it. Everyone stepped up under an incredible amount of pressure and never stopped believing. I couldn’t be more proud.”
At a time when much of the industry had written off the RM-Z450 platform, Suzuki and Pipes Motorsports Group doubled down on what they believed mattered most: a motorcycle with proven race-winning DNA, predictable handling, exceptional balance, and the ability to win at the highest level when placed in the right hands.
For Suzuki, the moment represented far more than a championship. It was validation that consistency, balance, rider confidence, and purposeful engineering still matter. In an era of constant change and escalating complexity, Suzuki remained committed to building a machine designed to excel at its intended purpose: winning races.
Suzuki’s racing heritage has always been built on challenging convention and doing things differently. From motocross to road racing, Suzuki motorcycles have earned championships by focusing on performance where it matters most — on the racetrack.
Now, the RM-Z450 adds another defining chapter to that legacy.
The 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will forever be remembered as the season the yellow bike shocked the sport and reminded the entire industry what Suzuki is capable of.
With this title, Roczen adds the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship to an already legendary résumé that includes two World Supercross Championships (2022, 2023), two AMA Pro Motocross Championships (2014, 2016), the 2013 250SX West Championship, and the 2011 MX2 World Championship. Three of Roczen’s seven professional championships have now been earned aboard Suzuki RM-Z machinery.
There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.
