Most Impressive: Salt Lake City
May 11, 2026
Who was Most Impressive in SLC?
450 Class: Ken Roczen
He did it again. One. Last. Time. Roczen is your 2026 450SX Champion.
It has to be one of the best comeback stories in all of sports. Roczen was the WunderKid who everyone assumed was going to win the 2017 SX Championship after signing with Honda HRC. Instead, he suffered a near career-ending life-altering arm injury and was never quite the same… until now; Roczen finally fulfills his destiny.
Roczen looked a tad off all day leading up to the main… he had his worst qualifying performance of the year and then crashed whilst 2nd in his heat to get 7th gate pick. He chose the outside of the doghouse: a gate that surely required a phenomenal jump in order to beat the 11 riders to the inside of him. However, Roczen was clutch when he needed to be. He delivered that start and then in the PASS OF THE RACE overtook Hunter Lawrence in turn 2. It was smoothish sailing from there. Hunter eventually made the mistake and Roczen could cruise it in for the championship.
Congrats Kenny! You are a Supercross champ!:
“I was an emotional wreck today. It was not an easy task by any means. I’ve been exhausted, physically and mentally, over these past few weeks, but I’ve dreamed of this since I was a little kid. This is just a testament of you never give up. Anybody, at any age, whenever you’re competing and you feel anxiety, you feel strange emotions that rob your energy, you’re not alone. I feel those too, but I don’t give up. I work on it daily and [the championship] is how it pays off. You can do it too.”
250 Class: Cole Davies
Someone finally beats Haiden Deegan! It was a Star battle of the two 250 divisional champs in what has to be one of the better E/W Showdowns (for the race win and divisional rivalry) in recent years. The two went back and forth, but ultimately Davies’ came out on top. I’m most impressed with his determination… Deegan is a fierce / intimidating competitor, but Davies did not back down. In fact, he leaned into it, upping the aggression when he needed to and ultimately out-powering Deegan.
Davies is the real deal… no doubt this race just stamps that. How cool must it be to prevail over Deegan in Deegan’s last race? Now we await them to meet once again in the 450s…
