Roczen Reigns Supreme in Indy

Cooper Webb takes lead in 450SX standings, Hunter Lawrence continues dominance in 250SX East title race

March 14, 2023

By Keaton Maisano

In front of a packed house of more than 62,000 inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, there was a major shakeup to what has become the norm in the 450SX class for more than a year.

While Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen collected his first win of the year and fourth at the venue, Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb overtook Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac for the lead in the 450SX standings, becoming the first person other than Tomac to hold the lead since Roczen opened the 2022 season in first after his win at Anaheim 1 AMA Supercross. 

More than a year removed from his last win, Roczen grabbed the holeshot in the 450SX main event in Indy and never looked back, holding the lead for all 27 laps to collect the 26 points.

“Indy for us was absolutely next level,” Roczen said. “We knew all day the track was going to be pretty much an ‘enduro’ track by the end of the main. We couldn’t have executed the main any better. Another rider flinched at me at the start. Once the gate dropped, though, I executed it perfectly and was leading all the way to the finish line.”

Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia delivered pressure late, but ultimately, he finished in second as Roczen lit the torches.

With Tomac finishing in eighth, Webb’s podium finish was good enough to earn a single point lead over Tomac in the 450SX standings. Webb has finished on the podium in five consecutive rounds.

In the 250SX East main event, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence led all 21 laps to earn his fourth win of the year. Lawrence holds a 22-point lead over the field in the 250SX East standings.

The AMA Supercross action continues its trek north Saturday with Round 10 in Detroit.