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The Math is simple in the final Supercross race between Ken Roczen and Hunter Lawrence
TL;DR
The SuperMotocross World Championship will be decided this week in Salt Lake City, where Ken Roczen leads Hunter Lawrence by just one point. The championship hinges on their final race, with the winner taking the title.
Key points
- Ken Roczen leads Hunter Lawrence by one point
- Final race at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City
- Championship decided in Round 17 of SuperMotocross
- Both contenders finished off the podium only once this season
- Three other riders could challenge for podium finishes
Mentioned in this story
Salt Lake City
Ken RoczenHunter LawrenceSuperMotocross World ChampionshipEli Tomac
The math between Ken Roczen and Hunter Lawrence is simple as the SuperMotocross World Championship decides its Supercross champion this week at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah this week in Round 17. Whoever finishes first, wins.
The difference between the red plate holder Ken Roczen and his only challenger, Hunter Lawrence, is a single point.
If both riders fail to stand on the podium and Lawrence finishes ahead of Roczen by one position, the riders could leave Salt Lake City tied in points. And as noted in this week’s Supercross preview, there are three riders, Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb, and Chase Sexton, for whom a case can be made that they will finish on the podium—but the likelihood that all of them will muster the strength to finish ahead of both Roczen and Lawrence is slim.
In 16 rounds so far this season, both championship contenders finished off the podium in the same race exactly once. Round 6 in Seattle found Lawrence fourth in the rundown. Roczen had his worst finish of the season in 10th.
My Title to Lose
"This is my title to lose, I feel like," Lawrence said following last week's victory in Denver. "And I feel like under pressure, I've been the best guy this year to be able to clutch up and make something happen. So, going to Salt Lake City, go have fun, enjoy it."
Another similarity between the championship contenders has been their demeanor. Roczen and Lawrence both refuse to acknowledge that pressure exists.
Lawrence aims to complete all 17 rounds of Supercross for the first time in his career. Roczen has never held the red plate this far into the season. The latest he held it previously was Round 9 in 2021.
But one would not know Roczen is in rarified air this week in Salt Lake City, a venue that stands 4,226 feet above sea level. Not quite as high as Denver at 5,280 feet, but plenty to require a different kind of conditioning than riders face during much of the season.
Roczen has been so resolute about not changing how he approaches each weekend that the question never arose after his second-place finish in Denver.
Mine to Win
Q&A
What is the point difference between Ken Roczen and Hunter Lawrence?
Ken Roczen leads Hunter Lawrence by a single point in the SuperMotocross standings.
Where is the final Supercross race taking place?
The final Supercross race is taking place at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.
What happens if both Roczen and Lawrence finish off the podium?
If both riders finish off the podium and Lawrence finishes ahead of Roczen by one position, they could end up tied in points.
Which other riders could potentially finish on the podium?
Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb, and Chase Sexton are the other riders who could potentially finish on the podium.
