Story from Pipes Motorsports Group / Photos by Chase Lennemann
(Madera, CA, Nov 8th, 2023) – The Abu Dhabi GP debuted this past Saturday at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. A near capacity crowd of first timers and experienced supercross fans from across the globe filled the Etihad Arena. Ken Roczen put on a phenomenal display of racing, starting from the second row in all three races. The track was tight and challenging to pass on, but Roczen did quick work, slicing and dicing his way to the front of the field. A fall in the last lap of the first moto prevented him from taking the overall win; however, Ken still managed to come away with 4th overall and only 5 points out of first place in the championship hunt. Teammates Kyle Chisholm and 250cc class rider Culin Park left Abu Dhabi 6th in championship points after top ten performances.
Ken Roczen #94
Ken Roczen #94: Unfortunate circumstances played out in the heat race for Kenny, forcing him to start on the second row for the main events. In his heat race, wheel spin slowed him off the start. He found himself in the back of the pack, coming around the first turn in a short race with only a little time to pass. There was only so much he could accomplish, finishing in 7th place, giving him the 14th gate pick on the second row. In the main events, starting from the second row, Roczen charged his way to the front of all three races, putting on a phenomenal show of racing and making quick passes to the front of the field. In the first moto on the final lap, Ken slid out, coming around the last corner and hitting the ground hard, bruising his foot in the process. By the time he regrouped, the field had passed him, and he finished the race in 14th place. Determined to race, Roczen lined up for the next two races and fought through a swelling foot. He made quick work of the following two races, and in the final main, he took the win, giving him 4th overall. He is now 2nd in championship points and 5 points out of first place.
Kyle Chisholm #11
Kyle Chisholm #11: In similar circumstances to his teammate, Kyle Chisholm did not get a good start in his heat race and had to start the main events from the second row. In the main events, Chisholm worked his way up the field in all three races, finishing 11-12-6 for 8th overall. He is 6th in points heading into the final round.
Cullin Park #67
Cullin Park #67: Commendable day for the young 250cc rider. In his heat race, Cullin got a good start and locked down a front-row starting position with a 5th-place finish. Starting from the outside in all three mains, Park got good starts, putting himself in a strong position early. Unfortunately, in his second moto, a rider went down in front of Cullin, and as a result, he ran into Park, and he went down. Although Park was uninjured, the field was too far gone, and he finished in 18th place. Cullin went 5-18-5 for 10th overall and is 6th in championship points.
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Hunter Yoder #58
Hunter Yoder #58: Rough day for Hunter Yoder. Abu Dhabi got the better of the young man. On race day, Yoder found himself sick, dealing with stomach issues. Still, he lined up and made a solid effort to do his best. He went 19-13-20 in three main events for 20th overall.
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Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, will host the final World Supercross race for 2023 as the series looks to crown a champion in a few short weeks. Ken Roczen will defend his title as world champion, only 5 points out of first place. Kyle Chisholm is 6th in points, with only a 3-point gap between him and 8th place. In the 250cc class, Culin Park is 6th in the points, only 3 points out of 5th place. Expect to see some competitive racing at the final round later this month on the 24th and 25th of November. To follow along, go to @hepmotorsports or @pmg.racing for a close look behind the scenes. For more event information, go to WSXchampionship.com.