Image: Octopi Media.

Ken Roczen took third in the main event at Arlington 2, reverting to bike settings from early in the year after missing the podium in three consecutive rounds.

The ups and downs of competing for a Supercross championship in the premier class are seemingly unavoidable, after leading much of the championship and at one point dominating the field through three rounds in Indianapolis, Roczen hit his lowest point yet with a sixth at Arlington 1.

Steadfast in his calm, cool, and collected approach to the 2021 season, Roczen has yet to panic in his recent slide. When the time came to make decisions on bike settings for Arlington 2, he reverted to settings from previous rounds that he found success with which helped him find comfort on the bike and eventually his first podium in three races.

“I’ve been trying some different bike settings,” Roczen explained, “that haven’t really been working out. I went back to old faithful here in the main event today and that felt a lot better. I feel like I’m done tinkering with the bike so much, I’m just always trying to improve a little bit.”

Despite the recent struggles, Roczen is continuing to stay positive and take things one race at a time as the series comes down to the wire.

“I’m trying to just be in the moment and enjoy what I’m doing,” he continued. “I knew coming into the season that it’s a long season and there are always going to be ups and downs, and the last few races haven’t been the greatest at least results-wise.”

“I’m honestly still in the same mentality of just going racing and trying to enjoy what I do, I feel like this is when I function the best. If you really look at it, 12 points isn’t too much.”

“I’m honestly going to continue doing the same thing, try to put myself in a position with some good starts, try to get some wins from there and then see where we’re at the end of the season. Nobody ever said it was going to be easy, no championship comes easy.”

The 2021 Monster Energy Supercross championship continues Saturday with round 12 in Arlington at AT&T Stadium.