The Blue Pig and the Out Dated POS Suzuki

Tell that to the riders. 

Correct, it’s not always the bike like they make it out to be, it’s the rider mainly.

Making it simple, it’s a dirt bike with a motor, two wheels, suspension, handlebars and brakes.

When they complain of setup it’s almost always the front forks…

Glad to see Roczen win last night to help eliminate the stigma of an outdated Suzuki.

That's right. Let's go Mit!

The fact that Kenny , arguably one of the top six riders in the sport, actively chose the Suzuki debunks your theory that “the riders” think it’s s disadvantage. 
 

if Suzuki offered Tomac, Chase, Webb, whoever a competitive & comparable deal they’d all have no problem with riding it. 

I think the bike matters a little bit, especially at the top level. I think, the main thing is getting the rider comfortable with the bike. And some bikes are better than others in different situations etc. To me it looked like Eli was struggling all day. Some of that could've just been him being "off", or they couldn't dial the bike. Who knows. I think at the top level, the rider needs to be on their game physically and mentally, the bike needs to be dialed and working for them. Ken looked great in Indy. He's had ups and downs this year, but he had a late start to testing, so maybe now the bike is coming around. 

If someone thinks they can't go out and win their local vet class on a RMZ and have to have a 23 YZF, then I would say that is a stretch. But I do think certain bikes fit certain people better than others. So even at the local level, it's all about finding a machine that you are comfortable on. It's also why I don't subscribe to the "pick a color" when you go to make a purchase. I think it's best to pick the bike that most fits your riding style and preferences. Just my opinion.

I think it's not necessarily the bike, it's the team.

And how you are having a connection with the team. What comes to mind for me - as i'm European - is that for example Coldenhoff always excelled in his results at the times he rode for Standing Construct. 

It has to be the bike! I never won a Supercross, AMA Outdoor National Motocross or any other race of consequence. If it isn't the bike......Are you saying?

I don't think the Yamaha has been considered a blue pig for quite some time now. Might even be the best 450 in the pits currently. 

The only major (actually minor) issue with the Suzuki is the weight. A lighter bike will always stop quicker, accelerate better, etc. because of, ya know, physics. For an amateur it costs a lot of coin to drop the pounds,but for a factory team it is nothing. 

Why bring Yamaha into this, the “Blu Pig” was a few model changes ago.

Not shitting on the Suzuki, but per Matthes they offered AC big money last year and he turned them down.

You can't use Kenny as an example... 

If Kenny had exactly the same offer (money, support, team, etc) from all the manufacturers and then still chose Suzuki, then maybe you would have a case. But even then, you could argue that Kenny just prefers the Suzuki, after all, he did grow up on them and was the last person in the US to win on one. 

Kenny also had a point to prove this year... he's already admitted to working harder this year than any other year, so perhaps if he'd been on Star Yamaha or KX and did the same amount of work, he might have won 3 races already. We'll never know. 

For the record, I'm not a Suzuki hater and I've been rooting for Kenny to win all year, but I don't think him winning proves that "the bike doesn't matter". 

Bet his tune changes when Kawi dumps him....

All of the stock bikes have their issues/ strengths and weaknesses.    At a pro level... the "stock" issues are eliminated for the most part, but they will still have strengths and weaknesses.  These teams are dumping so much money into them, they're so far removed from showroom bikes.  

It just takes the industry wizards know-how to tweak them....and a talented rider.     Put Tomac on a Suzuki with time to get it dialed (pre-season) and he'd be cleaning up on it. 

Funny though that the stigma is the “riders think” it’s a disadvantage simply because it’s unchanged and hasn’t been at the front recently.  I would think that the team up to this point didn’t have bike “developers” on the roster.  Not hating but I don’t think Roczen would have thrown a leg over 722’s bike. 
 

Let’s not forget Roczen had them “de tune” the motor.  The bike doesn’t lack power it’s issue has been suspension set up. It seems in the past the bikes Bogle, Hartranft, 722 were riding were stinkbugging. High in the rear, always. Go back and watch old races and it’s very noticeable. Kenny’s bike this past weekend looks akin to other brands and is very balanced. Looks like they “found” something.  I chuckle every time I hear a team say that.  Pretty funny if you think about it. 

For all the hype it received, the ‘23 YZ450 has not really moved the needle in comparison to last year’s bike.  Tomac is the only rider making it look good on a semi-regular basis.  The other two factory riders on it got spit off of it and are out currently.  Eli sure didn’t look comfy on it this weekend as he lost the red plate.  After round 9 last year, Eli had an 18 point lead in the series.  It ain’t the bike, and really never has been.

I thought I read somewhere that half the field went up to Kenny after the finish to congratulate him.  I don't believe if he was still on a Honda that would have happened.  It's apparent that Kenny winning on the Suzuki was a significant accomplishment in the eyes of most all the other pro riders.  You can interpret that any way you want.  I know how I do.... 

No they wouldn't... Kenny is one of the top riders but also on the backside of his career. He's not a title contender anymore. Zook was a good way for him to make $$$$ while he is still relevant. In all reality, other than SX only for Honda, did he really have any other big dollar offers? 

Suzuki could offer Chase double what KTM is offering him, and he would 1000% still stay KTM, same with Webb and Tomac. Tomac took less Money to go to STAR. These guys want to be on the best team, with the best bike and with the best resources. 

+80% Rider, <20% bike/team.  It takes 2 to tango.

DOUBLE the money and not change? 1000% certain? Really? Imagine you're getting paid $100k a year and your boss says "we will give you $200k a year to do the same work, put in the same time but you have to use harbor freight tools instead of snap on. But at the end of the day if your work suffers you can blame it on the tool and we will still pay you the $200k salary." Your telling me with 1000% certainty you aren't taking that offer?

Savatgy turned them down as well, those are the ones we know of. I love motorcycling and motorcycle racing as a sport. That Suzuki does less than even Beta or Rieju to support motorcycle racing, despite what it has done for their brand, is why Suzuki is shit. Not because of their bikes. What they did to Dorna and their MotoGP team was abandonment.

On the other hand sexton could look at it like I make half the money but with the better results il make double after all the win bonus and have a winning career 

This. Never understood why so many seem to think it's one or the other. The bike and the rider have to be good and the rider has to be comfortable with the bike.

Are some bikes better than others? Of course, but the Yamaha was never a pig and the Suzuki was never a dinosaur. Both were always capable of winning, especially after being modified by factory and pro teams. I used to own one of those "dinosaurs", was an awesome bike besides the front forks, which was an easy fix. 

Pretty sure it was just the act of winning, since he hasn't done it in so long. 

Looks like Suzuki made out in his decision.

This remains to be seen. He has looked both great and terrible depending on the weekend.

A win is a huge step in the right direction though. 

Kenny and HEP are excited, sadly I'd bet Suzuki could give a shit.  Still blows my mind after all the rich heritage they have in racing they just shit on their teams and turn their heads. 

The YZ450 won the MXA shootout and you know that the MXA crew likes KTMs so it must be a great bike these days. 

I've noticed that roczen clanks a lot of rhythm section jumps this year 

Your asking a rider to be comfortable at the edge in a very dangerous sport. And be better than the next rider. For me its about matching the rider bike and track from the tyres to the handlebars. Which is why its a team thing. 
 

But also marketing (success) and facts aren’t the same.

That's not how the top racers look at it. They want to win. Guys like chase, coop and eli aren't looking for an easy money grab so they can make excuses why they aren't winning. Maybe Kenny is looking for this but not the other top guys. 

Say KTM pays chase 1 mil per year. No chance in hell he would go to HEP for 2 mil per year right now in his career. He's on the brink of being one of the best, last thing he would do it go to a team that cannot provide him the best. 

Eli left Kawi for less Money so he could be on one of the best teams in the pits and utilize his former suspension guy. 

With the top guys, it's 10000% not always about the money. 

HEP has only been around as a privateer B team for a few years (maybe 5 or 6?) while JGR had Suzuki factory backing and their own $$$ backing from NASCAR. After JGR closed it was a huge benefit for HEP to get some Suzuki factory assistance and from what I hear locally they picked up lots of JGR parts motors for cheap. Someone on the inside at Suzuki that has worked with KRock in the past probably called him and made the Suzuki commitment and factory backing to help HEP get to the next level in support.

Kind of a Win Win.