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Hi, Paige!
Craig was pretty legit on 450's (mostly outdoors, I know...) before he was a FULL TIME 450 guy. Maybe it felt like less pressure and he was able to go into the races with a better mindset, hence better results.
Now he's full 450 and feels like he has to perform, and if he doesn't perform he doesn't have the 250 seat waiting for him. IDK, just spitballing.
I'll buy that. Different levels, obviously, but I feel like that's the reason we're seeing these mental mistakes from Sexton this year too.
Last year it was oh crap I'm beating Tomac and I wasn't expected too, hell yeah. Now this year it's more of I'm supposed to beat Tomac and oh crap. Just thinking out loud, don't kill me. I understand Sexton is still killing it this year.
I don’t think Sextons mistakes are mental, I think he’s trying to get more out of the bike then the bike is willing to give.
Craig is a mental case, always has been. Now when I say this, I’m not saying he stupid or anything like that, he has shown he can’t handle pressure and his confidence is easily hurt.
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I can agree to a point, BUT Sexton is riding that bike all day...and not making those mistakes putting up insane lap times in qualifying.
Back to Craig...I agree one-hundred-percent.
It's obvious Craig was better/faster on the Star 250.
"BELEIVE THE HYPE" oh wait that didnt work out last time either
Respond to the claim.
They’re too busy being Keyboard Warriors inspired by “Never been, Never will be” syndrome.
Listen man, I get it you know a lot of these guys on a personal level. We all get it.
I can't speak for everyone, but it gets pretty old when you come on EVERY thread when people express their OPINIONS on PUBLIC content these riders post themselves. They don't need your defense. If it meant that much to them, they'd make an account and come defend themselves.
Nobody is here saying Christian is a bad dad, or kicks his dogs, we are sharing opinions based on his PUBLIC persona which is shown through his broadcast interviews and his vlogs.
Seriously? Take a look at the ass holes throwing down their usual stupid shit about “how he’s only here because of Paige’s dad” and all that typical Keyboard Warrior idiot-shit. Never mind all his wins…which were mostly for Star…btw. Hell, I remember him racing for Troy and throwing down some great racing. But, let’s not let any facts get into the way.
So, uh…No, Yeah…
Sorry, not sorry.
Meanwhile, people like UpTite have some observations based on the guys riding and racing history. That’s kind of refreshing.
Yeah I remember the Texas National too, that was a great ride. His riding hasn't been great this year, if it was he wouldn't be saying the things he's saying.
I didn't support the "Paiges dad" crap, nor did I say he doesn't deserve the chance on the factory 450, my point was they put their lives on display and then seem to be super sensitive to any negativity.
If your results aren't to your standards, and you can't find the answer, maybe boil down everything outside of the racing?
It's their choice, but continuing to do the vlog while the results are lacking, by their own admission, doesn't look good. Maybe some true focus would turn the ship around? Who knows.
There are some asshats that would love to see him fail, of course, but I feel like the vast majority are just turned off by the attitude and victim mentality stuff.
I don't have a problem with him and he has all kinds of talent. I will say over the years his insistent whining is grinding on me. He is almost as bad as Kenny Boy but not nearly as fast.
What is he lacking? I would be asking Webb if I was him because he is seriously lacking machismo. Could be he is just not a 450 guy. It happens.
Well, you…good sir…are making too much damn sense!
But, from where I’m sitting, Paige runs the vlog, Christian has been focused on his riding and the bike…& things just don’t seem all that bad, to me.
As of late, it looks like he’s become a little more confident, or he has more “periods of confidence” on the track …periods that are hell of a lot better than how things started at A1…which was a shit show that he was lucky to walk away from…if you remember that day?
We’re 8 races into a 17 race SX season and we’re about 1/4 of the way thru the entire “year” of racing. So, I’m jus’ digging the progress I’m seeing in his over all riding and the way “his” bike is beginning to look more planted when he’s truly going for it (Daytona heat race).
Signed,
An old dude that loves this shit and is enjoying the 2nd Generation of Craig’s kicking ass.
Went from a big fish in a small pond to a small fish in a big pond, lost all his confidence.
I agree with most of what you said, but Craig was straight-up better than Hunter almost every race last year.
I think like others have said, Craig is a head case and apparently needs a LOT of time and a LOT of things to be working in perfect unison, both mentally and physically, for him to be at his best. I think last Supercross season was one of those instances: He had the best 250F in the pits figured out and was personally riding the best he had ever ridden, regardless of the bike that was under him. It was a weak field, yes, but he was beating Hunter Lawrence pretty consistently and he's regarded by a lot of us as a damn good rider.
Problem is, as soon as that whole set-up was thrown out of whack (new bike, new team, new place to train), he's out of his rhythm and obviously can't readjust and get back to performing his best. No, I don't think his best would be winning races or being a podium guy, but I think his 2022 self as an equivalent 450 rider would be consistently in the 5-7 range... I definitely don't think he would be getting lapped every other race.
As for his personal life and vlogs, I don't pay attention to that at all and don't care to. If he and his family want to do all that, more power to them. But if he gets easily bothered by every little thing (which seems like is the case), it's probably not the smartest decision.
Except for the 4 races hunter won, and the last round that hunter got 2nd behind thrasher and Craig got 8th. Oh yeah…Craig only beat him 4 times last sx season…
Pit Row
Get out of here with facts, you know how that usually goes.
How many races did Hunter win straight-up against Craig, one-on-one? Craig went into title protection mode after the east coast rounds and wasn't really going all-out like he was in the first part of the season. You probably also think Anderson was just as good as Tomac last year because they both had 7 wins. Stats don't tell the whole story, the only thing that matters is points.
yep was expecting more from CC ......nudging top 5's i thought ??.....
considering he was the FMOP in the whoops last year on that yammie..... can only assume still chasing setup on that hoooossskie!
he'll get it figured out i'm sure!
It's all straight up once the gate drops.
If you actually go back and watch the races, Craig had him covered in the first several rounds and built up a big points lead. He played it safe to make sure he secured the championship later on. But here at Vital, we lack any sort of nuance whatsoever and read Craig: 4 wins Lawrence: 4 wins and we think "welp, Hunter was just as good as Craig! Case closed, I've seen enough!"
In a 9 race series you don’t “layup”. Hunter wasn’t even planning to race west coast until jett got hurt like the week before A1. Then when he found his groove a couple races in, he started smoking Christian.
"Smoking" implies he was waxing him in terms of pure speed. I recall a couple races where Craig sat behind Hunter but didn't force a pass, and the final round Craig made a couple mistakes and mailed it in. It wasn't like Hunter all of a sudden was throwing down laps 2 seconds faster than Craig and straight up smoking him. You implied in the original comment (I think it was you, might be wrong) that Hunter "should've" won the championship. Do the opening rounds just not count for anything? Seems like flawed logic to me.
He crashed in the last 3 races.
Since we're talking pure conjecture here, I'll argue if Christian doesn't start the series with a win, he doesn't win the championship. His confidence is paper thin, and any adversity seems to absolutely devastate him.
I finally had a little spare time to watch one of the Craig Family Vlogs (the Daytona one). I thought it was well done....cool family with a crazy talented dad. Of course, I clearly recall his spine being twisted 180 out of alignment on the Troy Lee Honda (and learning how to walk again), so I get why he's not all-in on putting his life and health on the line when he's not comfortable.
I totally do not get some of the fans of this sport. Vital must attract a special type of bitter, because all the dudes I ride with (and hang out with) aren't like that. SMH....
Easy there! You don't want to be known as a "Keyboard Warrior" like the rest of us who can just watch the sport objectively and got sick of the CC manufactured sob story and hype for a 31 year old dude to be beating 17-20 year old kids last year.
It's been said before - he's right where he should be, I think the same, unfortunately he thinks the same and appears to not want to engage the top 5 pace - although I do expect a break away ride or great start that he can use to get on the box. His body language at Daytona was that of a rider, not of a racer.
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