Benoit Paturel Joins AMA Pro Motocross with HEP Suzuki
The French rider will contest the full AMA Pro Motocross season starting Saturday, May 24, at Fox Raceway.
After being left without a ride in the MXGP paddock, Paturel traveled to the United States earlier this year in search of an opportunity. His efforts have paid off, as he’s secured a spot with the HEP Suzuki team for the entire outdoor championship.
Among Paturel’s most notable achievements in Europe are one Grand Prix win in MX2, three moto victories, and three podium finishes. In the MXGP class, despite battling injuries, he managed ten overall top-10 finishes.
Roczen Undergoes Surgery After Ankle Injury
Ken Roczen was on track to secure third place in the AMA Supercross standings until an ankle injury forced him to miss the final two rounds. Without scoring any points during his absence, Roczen dropped to fifth in the final standings, in a season that saw him claim a memorable win in Daytona.
The German rider underwent surgery this week, and while his return timeline remains uncertain, there’s optimism that he’ll be fully fit in time for the three rounds of the SuperMotocross Playoffs. There’s also a chance he may return for some of the late AMA Pro Motocross rounds.
“We lost Ken Roczen to an injury, and that was tough to take,” said HEP Suzuki team manager Larry Brooks. «It’s hard when you know you have a shot at the championship and it’s taken away from you. But we’re going to use this as motivation for 2026 and come back stronger. We still have the SMX Playoffs this year when Ken returns, and maybe even a few Nationals before that. I believe Ken is still in a great place, both in life and racing; I think he can fight for the championship—we’re going to keep pushing.”
