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With the season nearly done, I was reflecting on what surprised me most. There's a few things that come to mind:
- Deegan throwing out a real challenge in his first year;
- Jett's rookie title and perfect (so far) season;
- Jo Shimoda winning only one moto and no overalls for the year;
- After Unadilla, Team USA has no obvious 250 class choice for the MXdN.
For me though this is the biggest surprise - we are two motos from the end of the season, and Chase Sexton has not led a single complete lap.
Deegan doing so well (same with masterpool)
and the way Jett has been so dominant, I thought this season would be chase vs Dylan
Yeah I expected Jett to compete for some overalls but in no way did I see him dominating the field, much less potentially be perfect. That's just insane.
I also expected Chase to have several moto wins and at least a couple overalls by this point... but I guess his riding hasn't been bad or anything, he's just a tick off of Jett and can't seem to get over the hump.
Deegan really came out of nowhere with the speed he's displayed, especially these last few rounds. He found another gear at Washougal and was having another A+ dominant ride at Budds until the red flag. I didn't expect to see that level of elite speed from him until at least his sophomore season.
Masterpool for sure.
I am surprised by more by that Chase hasn't learned to slow down to go faster. I feel like he's been the fastest guy numerous times but still hasn't learned to perfect his 80-90%. Easy to say this behind a keyboard, but Jett continues to ride at a controlled base.
In Golf, we have "stock" shots, a stock guaranteed cant screw up swing pattern. Then you have add to it, cut it, change it up if the opportunity needs it. Chase has no baseline speed he has perfected to be up front, and he needs to slow down first and chill out to be there those last few laps. Never in his 450 career has he settled for being in the back, he's been crashing since day 1. I would predict that when he heads to KTM, and has a "building year" then he will perform his best in 2025 after Roger calms him down.
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Yeah forgot about Masterpool, he’s had some great rides on a stock bike.
Conversely, as far as I can recall, Jett has only crashed once in the entire series (High Point moto1)?
I made a bet that chase would win the title this year…. I would never have guessed that he wouldn’t have won a moto all season.
450s... Jett being undefeated so far.
I thought he would get a few wins. But struggle with consistency. Possibly bad starts etc. And that Sexton and Ferrandis would edge him out on experience.
250s... Deegan was about where I expected him to be after his SX season.. Except the day he went 1-1. That second moto came from nowhere it felt like and honestly has me wondering if anyone can mix it up with him in 2024. Add a years experience and maturity on to the rider we have now. I think he's going to be the favourite for the rest of his 250 career.
Biggest surprises not mentioned:
-Kenny leading laps off the couch
-Masterpool with a solid season
-Stew in the booth and giving amazing insight
..Biggest not-surprise: RJ hitting the deck
(as an RJ fan)
Yeah as some have said. I was looking forward to seeing Jett challenge Sexton on the way to Sexton winning the Championship. I would have bet everything I had that he would at least have led a lap.
I would have been shocked to find I would have lost the bet. (So far)
How quickly things change in this sport. I would've put a perfect Jett 450 season at 1%, 12 months ago. Last year's battles were all time, and now a rookie is absolutely dominating. I really hope we get a summer with everyone healthy next season before Tomac retires.
Really did not think Deegan would be this good.
Another surprise is how “bad” Vialle’s starts are. He was basicaly a shoe-in for the holeshot every single gatedrop in MX2. And while he’s not having a bad season really, I’m still kinda surprised he hasn’t been in the top 3 more often.
Vialle's underperformance
I'm really not surprised by Jett dominating but I never thought he'd go undefeated in his rookie season that's fucking mindblowing.
Masterpool left me screaming at my Tv this season, specially his charge at Thunder Valley, for me the best race outdoors race this year.
And obviously Deegan, it's his rookie season and I didn't expect him to have rides like Tomac back then (Washougal).
Shimoda not winning an Overall when I thought he would battle for wins every weekend is weird to me and probably the biggest surprise, something is missing that holds him back from being a title and win contender every weekend.
Tom Vialle is a big one for me, for sure thought he’d be ”up there” a lot more than he has been.
Biggest surprise for me as already mentioned by others:
Jetts title in his rookie season
Deegans performance and steady progress
Ty Masterpool and Ken Roczens performance
people still love Racing 2strokes at the Nationals
Vialle winning on a KTM250
KTM/Husqvarna/GasGas Riders performance/attendance, Riders dropping like flys - it seem KTM has totally lost interest in AMA Motocross.
Don't get your last sentence. Webb rode the first half of the series, even though he was on an SX only contract. AP has ridden the whole year. Vohland and Vialle have ridden the whole year. Gas Gas got hit hard by injuries. Hampshire and Swoll have ridden the whole outdoors.
Wait, so you didn't think Vialle could win on a KTM at all?
Pit Row
yes- he is riding a big disadvantage this year- i watched some races where he was putting his bike everywhere to overtake some competitors but clearly his bike wasnt up to task... with their new platform KTM has took a wrong turn- they really underperform and riders trying everything to be up front will eventually crash.
Vialle and Vohland really trying their best- but i m sure beeing on ANY Japanese MX bike they will get better results
Masterpool is 2010’s Kyle Regal!
I agree with this that ktms a clear disadvantage not just power wise either , hopefully they get it dialed for next year !
- Chase not leading a single lap
- all the euros coming over and doing well (not sure if this is a reflection of our track conditions vs. theirs, a depleted field or a combination of the two but surprising either way)
i think all gasgasktmhusqvarna factory riders struggle with their bikes- thats why they crash/get injured/not having the results a factory team should get from their effort.
APs Results are looking really good on paper- but knowing there are not that many competitors around makes you think about what would have been...
Shimoda,,,, thought he would be better
At Millville it was insane. They literally gapped him 2-3 bikelengths on the uphills. Also his starts aren't as they used to be. Will be interesting to see how he does at MXdN on the Euro bike. I wouldn't be surprised if he's suddenly on Hunter's pace
Deegan is the biggest surprise to me, I assumed he would be a SX specialist. He stepped up big time outdoors, and the Washougal 2nd moto was mental, almost Stewart-ish the way he was riding on that last lap
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