KTM Sport Director Pit Beirer has said there is still a chance that the Austrian manufacturer can sign AMA racing star Ken Roczen to a new contract.
The German was speaking at the MXGP of Trentino last weekend and after widespread rumours over the past month that the former MX2 Motocross World Champion and West Coast SX250 champ has already agreed to return to Suzuki and factory support with the RCH team for 2015.
“We have a pretty smart and strong contract between us and Ken Roczen,” he said. “So first of all nothing will be decided before September either for him or for us. That’s how the contract is made and for now it is just rumours. Of course I must confirm that Ken has big offers from other teams and naturally he wants to listen to them.”
Roczen, who will be 20 years old this month, is believed to be returning to the brand with which he emerged as a major international motocross talent towards the end of the last decade. He won his first GP after just four attempts and rode a Suzuki in MX2 for two seasons.
“I’m not going to say everything is OK and for sure we have Ken for next year but we will fight until September to keep him and I will give it a 50-50 chance now that it will happen,” Beirer added. “Most people will know the other brand that is pushing very hard for him but we must wait until the clauses of the contract are up.
“If for whatever reason – bike, team or money – he wants to leave us then we will let him go but we haven’t given up yet. Nobody can really answer the question about 2015 yet.”
Roczen has been part of KTM since 2011 and when he won the MX2 crown in his first season with the 250SX-F. Since 2012 he has been part of the Red Bull KTM team in California and has won races in every series – 250SX, 250MX and 450SX that he has competed.
