We sat down with the German sensation and asked him about how he felt in Latvia and also about his competition.

MXlarge: Ken, you didn’t seem to look that great early in Latvia, but you got the 1-1 victory. How did you feel?

Roczen: After the first  couple of practices I was a long way off the pace, and I was struggling a little with arm pump. The qualification race was okay, I won it, but it still wasn’t how I thought I could ride. I could have done a lot better. The first moto on Sunday was pretty good, but like I said it was really hard to get going. The race was so long and it makes it even harder. In the second race I made a another holeshot and had a good battle with Jeffrey and I just let him pass and waiting a little, because I knew the race was going to be long, I don’t know, he said he wanted to come back at the end of the race,  because to me he looked a little tired, but if he says it then it is possible. This wasn’t like sand, it was more like gravel. I want to come out strong in Lommel.

MXlarge: I sometimes get the feeling like you are playing with your competition, like you are not always giving it 100%, putting them into a false sense of security, is that so?

Roczen: Always in my head it’s good to make a good show for the fans you know. Sometimes I have the feeling like I can do that (ride slower to make the racing better) and if I have that feeling then I do that, but if I don’t have the feeling, then I just go.

MXLarge: I remember many years ago James Stewart slowing down in a race, letting Chad Reed pass him and then passing Reed straight back and just taking off. I had to think about that on Sunday when you sat behind Jeffrey.

Roczen: I don’t know what the other guys have been doing, but like I said, sometimes I feel like I am strong enough and good enough and then you can do that, it’s always nice to put on a show also for the fans.

MXlarge: Jeffrey is the master of the sand, I guess the biggest thing you would want to do is to go Lommel and just dominate. Can you do that?

Roczen: Exactly, I haven’t been in the sand for a long time, and also the last two weeks I have been sick, which didn’t make it easier for me, I am going to the sand now and I am going to say he is the best in the sand, but he isn’t unbeatable, so we will see. Lommel is all about fitness, and if you have a good fitness you can keep going. If you don’t make mistakes it means a lot, it’s all about fitness.

MXlarge: Do you keep an eye on the point’s race? Are you willing to just ride for as many points and not actually thinking about winning?

Roczen: For sure I check the points, because it’s good to keep it in the back of my head, even if I get two second places you earn something and we are still good to go.

MXlarge: Have you learnt anything from your rivals?

Roczen: Learning from them, no, I haven’t learnt anything, just from myself.

MXlarge: You mentioned that you just want to keep that Championship lead, because you have been sick and you had those two GPs that didn’t go your way, are you just looking at taking it as it comes and getting as many points as possible?

Roczen: Actually, yes, even after these bad two weeks, that I have been sick. I have just been saying if I can go home without losing any points that is good, but I made up like eight points, which I am super, super happy with.

MXlarge: Jeffrey has often mentioned that you are human and if he follows you will make mistakes, because you are just human. When you were following him in Latvia, did you think about that?

Roczen: I mean, he is really a ride like that, if you are behind him he gets nervous and it’s good to be behind him and see what he does. At the start of the year I have been maybe too aggressive and we checked my suspension and we worked on that and my riding in the last three or four GP’s has been really good and I want to keep it like this.

MXlarge: I often hear you talking about your team in America. How is that relationship?

Roczen: I am always in contact with my team over there. First I want finish the Championship here and my American team are also helping me with that. The whole crew in America is great and I need this. It’s good to hear what they think about stuff.

MXlarge: You mentioned to me a few weeks ago that you have a plan to do something special before the season is finished. I asked you would you ride the 350 in the MX1 class and you said no, but can you tell me what that is?

Roczen: No, I won’t say anything until it happens. We have to see how it is with the points and everything and if it happens you will see.