Skip to main content

Roczen dominating motocross midway through

By WTOP Staff

JOHN MARSHALL
AP Sports Writer

When defending champion Ryan Villopoto was knocked out of the motocross season, the list of contenders figured to be short and filled with the usual suspects: Dungey, Stewart and Reed.

Instead, a young German rider is leading the pack — in his first season at motocross’ top level, no less.

Finishing no worse than third through the first six races, Ken Roczen has powered his way to the top of AMA Motocross’ 450cc class in a very short time.

“I expected to battle for wins, but I’m definitely surprised that I have a points lead this big,” Roczen said. “It hasn’t been easy by any means, and all of my competitors have forced me to dig deep and really fight for the results we’ve gotten.”

Villopoto has been the dominant rider in motocross, winning four Supercross championships and two outdoor titles. He became the first rider to win four straight Supercross titles earlier this year, but will miss the outdoor season due to knee surgery.

With Villopoto out, the favorites were former champions Ryan Dungey, James Stewart and Chad Reed, with a handful of up-and-comers figuring to push them, though not necessarily contend for the title.

That changed quickly when Roczen raced out to the front and stayed there.

The 20-year-old from Mattstedt, Germany, finished second in the 250cc class last season and was a surprising third in Supercross this season, his first racing on a 450.

Using the knowledge he picked up in Supercross, Roczen has been dominating so far, winning six of 12 motos (qualifying races) and four of the six overall titles.

Roczen enters this weekend’s race at Budds Creek MX Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland — the season’s midpoint — with a 26-point lead over KTM teammate Dungey.

“I learned a lot during the Supercross season that has helped me get off to a really great start outdoors,” Roczen said. “Speed isn’t really the focus (outdoors) because all of the top guys in the 450 Class are fast and can win at any time. Because of that, the key is finding a consistency that puts you a step ahead of everyone else.”

Roczen’s quick rise has turned KTM into the top team in motocross.

KTM pulled off a huge coup in 2011 when it signed five-time motocross champion Roger De Coster as its team manager and landed Dungey, his protege.

Now that Roczen is racing 450s, KTM has the top two riders on the circuit and an intriguing battle between teammates.

“We’re just that tiny bit off of his pace right now and we’re going to keep fighting to close that gap,” Dungey said. “He’s been really impressive this year and he’s not making things easy on any of us (in the 450 Class) and for me it’s definitely an added challenge knowing he’s my teammate. We’re on the exact same bike so finding those adjustments to gain an edge is that much harder.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote