Ken Roczen revealed in an Instagram post Friday that he has been battling a case of shingles while trying to win his first Supercross 450 championship.
Since the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series restarted its season May 31, Roczen has only one podium (a third in the first race) in four starts at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
In his past three starts, he has finished fifth, 10th and fifth while dropping to third in the standings, 29 points behind leader Eli Tomac with three events remaining.
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Roczen has been starting well but fading in the second half of the 20-minute events, and he said after Wednesday’s race that he was “trying to hang in there” after battling a viral flareup.
He elaborated on Instagram, disclosing he had tested positive for shingles last Sunday after battling a respiratory-type virus for much of the season. “I know everyone is sick of hearing it and so am i,” Roczen wrote. “Unfortunately those are things i can’t control. I can assure you I am doing my part to be ready and live healthy and doing all the things I can control.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBWPy1wD8VU/?igshid=1ne12ozw9z8qm
Prior to Supercross’ 85-day layoff for the novel conronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Roczen trailed Tomac by three points through 10 of 17 rounds after winning three events.
Supercross will return to action tonight with Round 15 at Rice-Eccles Stadium (7 p.m., NBCSN).