What Really Happened in Arlington?

If Ken Roczen wants to close the gap on Cooper Webb and Chase Sexton, he doesn’t need to look too hard. He just needs to look down at the sand. Through the first seven rounds of the season, one trend has been clear: sand sections are where he’s losing the most time.

Rider Rankings by Obstacle Type After Seven Rounds

Roczen knows where he excels. His whoop speed is undeniable, and the data back this up. However he’s still searching for those extra tenths elsewhere. And he’s not sugarcoating it.

… because I’m not fast enough. I need a couple of tenths a lap. 

–Ken Roczen on his speed in Arlington

If there’s one part of the track where Roczen can influence his speed the most, it’s the sand. Now, the question is: can he turn that weakness into an advantage?

Where Ken Roczen Finds His Tenths

Finding those missing tenths isn’t as simple as flipping a switch, but the numbers don’t lie. Across all three main events in Arlington, Roczen consistently lost time in two key areas: the sand and the flats (corners). He’s closer to Webb’s speed than he might think. But Sexton? He’s a step ahead of both.

Roczen vs. Sexton vs. Webb Lap Time Advantage on Mistake Free Laps

Roczen has a choice. Does he want to make up time in the flats or in the sand? I’d vote for the sand, as he has consistently lost the time there all season, and he’s losing more time in the sand than he is in the flats. The best Roczen has ranked in the sand was in Detroit (2nd), but at Arlington, he ranked 12th! Likewise, he has ranked 1st in the flats in two Main Events and was 5th in Arlington.

The fact is, Roczen wants to gain a couple of tenths per lap, but he has been losing a few tenths or more in the sand at every race. However, he holds an additional major advantage over Sexton and Webb, his starts.

Good starting position is what lands him on the podium. But Roczen’s right; he’s still lacking the speed to contend for a win.

If Roczen can unlock more speed in the sand while maintaining his whoop dominance and strong starts, the Suzuki could be back on top sooner rather than later.

Deegan and Davies Untouchable Speed

Haiden Deegan and Cole Davies accounted for 31 of the 39 fastest laps set in Arlington by the 250s. What made Deegan’s performance even more impressive was his ability to lay down top times while charging through the pack.

Deegan crashed in the sand in Race 1 and got a bad start in Race 2 but he still managed to clock 15 of the fastest laps across those two races and win both.

Deegan and Davies Lap Time Rank by Race

Just as impressive, Deegan and Davies were able to maintain their speed throughout the night. They were the only two 250 riders to keep their fastest laps within a few tenths throughout the night.

Fastest Laps by Top Riders

What did we learn? First, Deegan is never out of the fight until the checkered flag waves. He proved that in Pro Motocross, and now he’s doing the same in Supercross. Even in short Triple Crown races he’s still dangerous.

Second, Davies isn’t just here to learn, he’s here to win. Many rookies might have backed off after a tough second race, but he came out swinging in the final main event, taking the win with raw speed.