Motocross is a sport of relentless challenges, but few riders have faced adversity to the same horrifying degree as Germany’s Ken Roczen.
From his roots in his native Germany, to dominating the global motocross scene, Roczen’s journey is a story of resilience, ambition, and triumph against all odds.
This video documentary below delves deep into the pivotal moments that shaped Roczen’s career:
His rise through the ranks as a prodigy in Europe.
The bold move to America that redefined his legacy.
The devastating crash that nearly ended it all.
The incredible comeback that cemented him as one of the greatest riders in motocross history.
Through exclusive insights and unforgettable highlights, witness how Roczen overcame life-threatening injuries, silenced doubters, and inspired fans worldwide. His story isn’t just about motocross – it’s a testament to the human spirit.
Explore the legacy of a rider who never gave up. This is the untold story of Ken Roczen.
Roczen’s comeback from terrible in juries was completed when the 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship kicked off with the Hangtown Motocross Classic.
While rain ultimately made for some extremely challenging conditions, it resulted in an afternoon of redemption for Roczen, perhaps the greatest comeback in all of sports history, returning to the top echelon after two major crashes, 14 surgeries and thousands of hours of rehabilitation and training to put it all right again.
After years of long and painful recovery from serious injuries, Roczen made his long-awaited return to the top step of the podium in the premier 450 class that weekend six years ago.
Forget the much-hyped sporting comeback of golfer Tiger Woods, Roczen’s comeback was of truly epic proportions.
Motocross is a sport of relentless challenges, but few riders have faced adversity to the same horrifying degree as Germany’s Ken Roczen, pictured here in action for his country at the Motocross of Nations in Germany in 2013. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
US orthopaedic surgeon Randy Viola was the main who tended to Roczen after his horrifying crash at the Anaheim Supercross in January 2017 and a year later at the San Diego Supercross in February 2018, when his arm was ripped up between the swing-arm and wheel of Cooper Webb’s bike.
Viola has worked on the hands and wrists of former Olympic ski racer Bode Miller and Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler. To convey the severity of Roczen’s injuries, Viola recalls some of the carnage he saw while training as a young doctor at Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle.
“I used to deal with people who’d been in industrial fishing and logging accidents,” he says.
“I’m talking about arms that had been mangled in machinery. Most pro athlete injuries aren’t like that. They’re more straightforward. But Ken’s was as bad as it gets.” Viola said Roczen’s compartment syndrome was so severe, he was six hours shy of amputation. Looking at the x-rays, Viola’s anaesthesiologist turned to him and remarked: “You’re not fixing this so he can ride. You’re fixing this so he can eat dinner.”
Roczen recalled that his concern going into surgery at that time was having a functional arm, rather than no arm at all. Racing, or even riding, was not a priority.
“I was like, ‘I don’t want to hear anything about dirt bikes’,” But Viola’s recollection underscores Roczen’s unyielding need to ride, and do it better than everyone else in the world. As the doc tells it: “Ken said to me, ‘This thing doesn’t have to be perfect. Just give me an elbow. Give me a wrist. If I can hold a handlebar, I can win’.”
And win again he did, at Hangtown in May 2019.
Roczen will be lining up again for Suzuki at the opening round of the 2025 edition of the AMA Supercross Championships series, set for Anaheim, California, on Saturday, January 11 … that’s this coming weekend, providing, we suppose, that the wild fires currently burning the state have first been brought under control by then.
Video produced by Bleu Keylock
© Action photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
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The shattered hand and arm of Ken Roczen, which happened in two separate accidents in 2007 and 2018. The injuries included the dislocation of all metacarpals and torn ligaments. His surgeon said that 99 percent of specialists would have “replaced it with a metal prosthesis right away”.