A capacity crowd in Buenos Aires helped launch 2025 World Supercross and the public brought the pulse to round one of five. WSX man on the spot, Adam Wheeler goes through what Ken Roczen thought of the experience.

Prep, positioning and thought went into the construction of the Buenos Aires City GP at the Oscar and Juan Galvez racetrack in the Parque Ribera and in the depths of the metropolis. An 8,000 arena surrounded the temporary supercross track for World Supercross’s very first venture to the country.

A nervous but excited energy buzzed through the facility and around the seating. The Argentine public are famously passionate for their sports and motorsport but the chance to see Ken Roczen, Haiden Deegan, Justin Cooper andJason Anderson up close really raised the stakes.

As opening chapters go, round one set a firm bar of anticipation and then reaction. “Fans don’t often get to see us [so] no matter what you were doing or the place you were [on track] I could tell they loved it,” said Deegan after his SX1 debut ended with a podium result.

“It delivered and I really hope we are coming back,” said clear-cut winner Roczen. “These guys put in the extra effort, just like we do on the track, and it didn’t disappoint.”

The 31-year-old Pipes Motorsports racer may be a staple star of supercross and a former World Supercross champion but he is also internationally renowned; partially thanks to his 2011 MX2 Motocross World Championship. The FIM MX title was won after two seasons of globe-trotting and before he set his sights on the U.S. so Roczen is regaining a feel for the variety of worldclass race events.

“I grew up going to different countries and cultures and because we’ve been so busy in the U.S. I felt like I was a bit domesticated,” Roczen said on Saturday night in Argentina. “World Supercross has opened that avenue again. You come across different fans and we enjoy that apart from the racing. We have all sorts of [promotional] events and I like that; seeing how people live differently. There are a lot of countries and continents I hadn’t been too and that got me excited. We also get different kinds of soil and that makes it tricky. You have to change your bike set-up and adjust yourself as well.”

SX1 and SX2 riders had to satisfy the clamour for photos and signatures, but the zeal of the fans was not the only standout narrative from the night.

Deegan’s speed on the Star Yamaha YZ450F and his 3rd-placed trophy was also noteworthy. “I tried to take everything from it I could,” the 19-year-old said of the experience. “I’m stoked. It was my goal coming this.”

Deegan used to pin posters of Roczen to his wall but the German was not soft to any reverence. “He’s a World Supercross rookie, man!” Roczen joked. “We couldn’t let him take-off at the front right away. I’ve raced so many generations: it’s a cool story overall.”

Round two begins in a matter of days and hours in Canada and there was no time to sample more of the city’s air and sights as the circus packed-up to cross the Americas.

BC Place in Canada will be a different prospect with its 54,000 stands, birds-eye views, riverside setting and 14-year-old renovations. But the imminent arrival of Eli Tomac and his first outing on the Red Bull KTM 450 SX-F means the fans will be in for a treat.

Vancouver has a job on its hands to carry the baton.

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