Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Yeah the rumor was he wants to be the big dog on a team and he can’t get the Honda front end to feel right to him.
There is undoubtedly a Right of First Refusal in the contract. Also, all of the contracts I have reviewed have "Championship Clauses" in them as well. It would be up to the OEM to exercise the clause. It will be interesting as to how HRC is going to handle this. They have been waiting for a premier title in SX since RC, so it would be easy to see how they would want to keep him. IF Chase is truly unhappy, I don't know that HRC would keep him around. It will get really interesting if Chase wins the outdoors too.
Lots of 2024 contract negotiations just went in the trash and negotiations are beginning all over again.
What does championship clause mean though that pertains to Honda keeping Chase?
A clause where if he wins he has to stay? What does a championship clause have to do with him leaving?
I could see a clause that says if you win a championship we will renew but I don't believe that is the case here. It sounds like Chase wants to leave not stay so a clause really has nothing to do with this situation.
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
It all depends on how the contract is written. If it says that the contract is automatically renewed at X amount % increase and there is not anything in it allowing either party to back out. Then it could change things. I don't know if any team has ever kept a rider that wanted to leave though. If both Honda and Sexton wanted out of the deal they could probably make that happen no matter what the contract said. Plus Honda has the advantage of knowing how the testing has been going with Jett on a 450. So they have a little bit of insight into how Jett will be on the 450. Practice and testing is different from racing though, but its still a piece of info I would factor into my decision if I was part of Team Honda. Even if they think Jett will beat Chase, it would be better to have them both just to be safe. And then with Hunter , they could sweep a podium or 2 here and there when they are all on 450's. Should be interesting how the next few years go.
I wonder which will change things up more,Chase winning the title, or Eli possible not being able to ride for a big part of next year ( If he decides to come back) . I've seen estimates for 8 weeks to 12 months or more for the injury Eli has. Who knows how long he will be out.I hope he comes back and doesn't go out like this. I saw that his wife posted that he WILL be back. I hope that is the case. Maybe this time away from racing will show Eli he wants to stick around longer than he thought he did.
I just still can not believe that happened. Such a strange thing. I feel for him and his family and team. I also saw that his Dad had a similar injury, so another time that his Dad's experience can help him out .
So there has been actual contracts written that state if you win a championship you have to stay?
I understand a pay increase but we're specifically talking about Sexton leaving not getting a bigger pay day.
Perfectly explained! Essentially it protects both the rider and the OEM.
Now, they could mutually agree to part ways but it is enforceable by either party.
No, if HRC wants him to stay, he bound contractually to do so.
That sort of answers my question.
I was asking since you've seen these contracts if it's actually written that if you win a championship you can't leave.
I think Chase is doing fine on the bike, and I don’t think the bike was as much of the problem as was Chase having some brain fade/ relaxing at the wrong time. Yeah, it was the bike a little bit too, but he’s made it work. Chase has been close, but if Coop and Eli hadn’t gotten hurt, he would’ve been third in the standings. Not sure if Honda is looking at it that way or not.
Either way, I think it would be up to Chase to decide if he wants KTM or Honda.
It's funny how so many people are looking for Chase to be loyal to the massive corporate behemoth Honda vs the smaller niche company that has made so many innovations with the motorcycles many of us ride.
It sure feels like Chase is headed to KTM. And does this perceived loss of Eli raise the likelihood of Webb going back to Star? I think the silly season just got much more active and possibly dramatic...
If Eli wants to come back he is at Star. Which means Webb is at KTM. Chase will not be there if Cooper is.
What innovations has KTM done?
Make there pro racers only train at the bakers factory and get burned out way too soon?
I believe your not going to surpass the japan motorcycle company's in innovations, most certain honda and yamaha.
yeah i agree. The Japanese have innovated and done far, far more for the sport than KTM. KTM have hitched onto a wealthy sponsor (red bull) and dominated off road disciplines where the japs have left a long long time ago.
I cant see Chase staying at Honda, rumor goes (and he actually has not said it in any interviews) in Vital that he wants to be #1 on the team, that still could be the case at Honda (even with Jett there) but definitely would be the case at KTM....so I think he goes to KTM, if that rumor is true.
First right of refusal was refused. KTM made him an offer 18 months ago, Honda matched, KTM offered more. The contract was signed, and became official in March.
He rode the bike, he liked the bike, he’s gone.
They’re not a package deal, Hunter is up next year and Jett the year after.
Pit Row
Pushing motor performance (hp), using hydraulic clutch, pushing weight loss on platforms, using components that aren't garbage (Brembo brakes, clutch baskets that aren't made of cheese, machined triple clamps, cranks/transmissions that are a step up), easy air filter access, improved swing arm/chain guide design, etc.
Not even saying those are all clear improvements but to say they haven't pushed the envelope (in more recent years) is crazy.
This Honda doesn’t exist anymore.
You can sign a future contract while in the midst of fulfilling a current contract?
There’s a reason the Japanese lost the battle of Midway. They are extremely bright, but then again…are dumb af.
I’d bet monies that CS23 has a kicker in his LOI and KTM has to pay a lot more monies since Sexton won a title.
I bleed Honda HRC red, so I hope the the pumpkin is a disaster and Webb wins titles on a Japanese bike. Also, hope that Jett is generational rider. Huge fan of Sexton, but no fan of the KTM.
Heard he signed a non binding LOI. Honda could make a run but usually manufacturers don’t fight to keep a rider.
So, could Honda sue KTM? How can you have a contractual agreement while you’re on a contract?
Didn’t Honda have a problem with MC in his prime because they saw him riding a different brand jet ski at the lake? Correct me if I’m wrong.
Does that matter? Time periods don’t overlap
if thats true then good on Honda for helping him win a championship knowing that the #1 plate goes elsewhere
I have no idea, I’m not a contractual lawyer.
I was under the assumption that riders could sign LOI but couldn’t sign agreements for a certain time period.
All I know is that Honda has trouble keeping elite talent. It’s lost an all-timer, Tomac and sounds like Sexton.
Post a reply to: Does Chase’s SX Championship “Change the Silly Season”…?