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I dont like the scoring either. A 3 race series only paying out one set of points between two motos seems silly to me. Prior to this race I thought it was the same rules as the MX series. 2x motos. Each pays points.
6 sets of points would be much better. A reason for riders to fight for every position too. But for whatever reason they decided to make individual motos in this 3 round series not as important and to just award points based on overalls
But I dont see how its a cop out for Jett to know he doesn't need to win moto 2 to get the maximum points. First or second his points didnt change. But under this scoring method he can influence points behind him and tried doing so.
For some reason people want to think Jett is scared of pressure or couldn't handle Ken. But there's literally no evidence of that in Jetts whole career. The evidence we have shows Jett handled a 22 moto series with 30min +2 lap motos not once letting the pressure get to him.
The lap times show that in the first 8 laps, Jett was faster on 7 out of those 8 laps before waving him by. Including the lap before doing so... This fictional Ken was catching him thing doesn't have any evidence to back it. He was hanging right with him. But Tlthe gap was in the 2 second range nearly the whole time until Jett waved him past. Kens lap times never got faster either. Those lines he was working on did not help him get faster. His laptimes remained consistent.
Perhaps he could have caught him still. I wouldn't rule it out. But honestly. There was only 4 laps left. Less than 8 minutes of facing. In what universe is Jett incapable of maintaining the pace he was running for another 4 laps? The kid is incredibly fit and this track was nowhere near as challenging as some of those outdoor events. If Roczen had narrowed the gap to put a wheel on him. Does anyone honestly think Jett wouldn't have been able to push that bit harder for 4 more laps? Perhaps he crashes in doing so. But if Jett wanted to win. He would have tried to. He clearly chose to let Ken by and not fight for the win. The reason he gave seems more plausible than he was scared of the pressure or being passed etc. He had that stuff happen last week and was just disappointed in himself and was pissed off that he didn't do better
His reaction after this race shows that he stupidly thought he had screwed Chase out of points. Also that he doesn't consider Roczen competition for the title. If he did he wouldn't have wanted Ken getting more points at the expense of Chase.
But ultimately this is only an issue because the Olympics sciring method means individual results don't always matter too much. If each moto paid points. There's no reason for anyone to do anything except try to win as much points as possible
Let's be real - the only thing "team" about any motocross team is the same manufacturer logo on the side of the bike.
As it should be.
There's pros and cons to any scoring system. The Olympic scoring method does allow the potential for overall results to be gamed by manipulating finish positions. On the other hand it means there's less chance of dead motos right at the end of a close title fight.
If we used the normal MX moto point scoring (including the double and triple points) and Chase wins the first moto at LA then all he has to do is cruise around in 3rd for the final moto. With Olympic scoring he has to try and win both motos to guarantee the title.
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That's easy to solve...
Moto 1 - normal points
Moto 2 - 2 x normal points
Moto 3 - 3 x normal points
Moto 4 - 4 x normal points
Moto 5 - 5 x normal points
Moto 6 - 6 x normal points
Build the excitement for the final moto, something easy to sell to no riding TV fans!
Maybe Jett just got it wrong or really was pushed, wanted to play it safe, and just told some story because he doesn't want to say he played it safe, who knows, but what I do know is, I hope someone from Honda pulled Jett aside and told him, we pay you to win, not to let others win.
That was a total BS move by Jett.
"we pay you to win, not to let others win"
Do they pay him to win motos, or pay him to win races?
It made no difference to Jett, he was still going to win on the night.
He was just attempting (by his calculation which he later admitted was wrong) to close the point gap between himself and Chase.
Let's look at Roczen then. Roczen almost best Jett at High Point. Tomac is a MUCH better outdoor rider than Roczen (post injury, pre injury Tomac was slightly better when looking at 250s). Chase didn't have the front end issues last mx season. But by golly did he fall a crap ton this year. I dont think he was going as fast as last year if Roczen almost beat Jett. I just don't think he trusted his bike, very much like how Roczen had a hard time trusting the Honda. It's pretty easy to see Jett's set up is better. That's kinda the opinion of lots of people too, at least for outdoors.
Jett prob would have won the title if Tomac was still there because Tomac doesn't get holeshots every single race like Jett does, but he would have been better than Chase. People forget Tomac won 10 straight motos last season and he had to overcome a points deficit from not doing any outdoor testing because of his knee.
I thought this was clever
That is actually super impressive. We all know how quick Ken is at the start of the race. But here, he kept the same speed the whole time. Super super impressed!
I don't know how anyone seen it any differently, was watching the race with my son, at first I said there was something wrong with Jett's bike, we thought maybe caught a rut and was stuck in gear, but then seen him shift. I said to my son, I bet he is slowing up on purpose to let Ken bye to make sure Ken finishes second, it would be a big swing in points, though I then relised with Ken going 3-2 and Chase 2-3,it would not make a difference with the points set up.
Jett obviously didn't realise it would not make a difference.
It was obvious Jett was slowing up on purpose, watch the race, even before he waves him by, he slows up and looks back one a couple of occasions.
In hindsight not a great move or look, especially since it didn't make a difference in points.
Final round will be interesting, Jett still to be proven on a full SX track that he has the pace of Chase and probably Ken, Chase would have to go into the final round as favorite, but also a great chance for Jett to show he can win on a full SX track against a full field of top 450 riders, unlike the motocross season, no one missing at the moment bar Tomac.
"His reaction after this race shows that he stupidly thought he had screwed Chase out of points. Also that he doesn't consider Roczen competition for the title. If he did he wouldn't have wanted Ken getting more points at the expense of Chase."
If I am Ken this is what would piss me off more than the letting him by, the fact that he sees Chase as the only threat at the final round, pretty much saying to Ken, nah I got you, not worried about you at the final round, but Chase could beat me.
He might have jut given Kenny the fuel to take this title.
Being an Aussie 100% I am a Jett fan, but have always been a big fan of Kenny, I am a big Suzuki fan, as much as I want to see Jett win, I would be just as pumped to see Ken pull this off, imagine Ken getting the first ever SMX title, and be a current double Champion (WSX and SMX) and Suzuki having both their titles with their kick started machine.
Has Ken done anything to earn to be seen as a title threat the last years?.
He is known to fade mid moto, struggle with the 3 moto triple crowns etc. On paper Chase is the one Jett should be worried about.
Ken kan throw in a great ride now and then but lacks the consistency
And Mookie !!!!
“Has Ken done anything to earn to be seen as a title threat the last years?”……
2021 SX:
“…known to fade mid moto, struggle with the 3 moto triple crowns etc”
Also finished on the podium at a triple crown this year……..
He lead the most laps of the outdoors after Jett, he only raced one round. Let that sink in
I think Jett did the smart move under the current point system, he knew that he woluld not lose any points in championship by letting Kenny take a easy stressfree win in the last moto. Sexton now has 90 points, Jett 88 and Kenny 80 points. Lets say on the last 2-3 laps Kenny tries to catch Jett, has a tip over and Sexton passes Kenny - now Sexton goes to final round with 94 points Jett still has 88 points, lets say Kenny catches Jett tries to pass, Jett tips over now the points swing could be even bigger. Jett took the maximum from this current points system to go to the last race. I know that the last race pays 3 x points and when they end up 1-2-3 again, these 4 points dont matter as much, but one first turn pile up and (Sexton and Lawrence not finishing 1-2) and those 4 points might decide this championship.
I'm all for riders doing and finishing each moto their best but this current points system does not entcourage this.
Pit Row
https://racerxonline.com/2023/09/18/breakdown-smx-playoffs-round-2
JT is spot on
It is a plausible theory.
The main thing that makes me think it’s not the most likely theory is that Jett faced serious pressure from Chase multiple times in the second half of the outdoor season when he also knew he didn’t have to win. Chase was never going to catch him in championship points and together they yarded everyone else most of the time.
It’s also plausible that he did it for the exact reason that he related after the race - to try and out more points between himself and Chase. Jett has always been pretty frank about what he’s been thinking during a moto; not really any reason to think he’s not being honest now.
It was an odd move to pull, but I believe the perception is much worse than the reality. He was thinking of championship strategy mid-race, and although he got it wrong with respect to the other finishing positions he did say that he checked his thinking multiple times to ensure he wasn’t compromising his own finish position. Ultimately I doubt he’ll do it again.
As for the real truth, we’ll probably never know. Some people will believe the reason he gave; others will look for hidden or unspoken reasons.
He's past his sickness it seems like. I don't recall him fading in 2023 at all. Last weekend wasn't really fading, Chase and Jett were just faster than him.
A lot of similarities to Reed at the same stage of his career. Nearing thirty, a lot of wins and titles under his belt, on a capable team without the pressure of a full factory ride.
Could 2023 be for Roczen like 2011 was for Reed?
Lotta posts here. I wonder if anyone mentioned the time Kenny let Andrew Short win in Seattle. Must have been 2012, maybe 2011? Kenny on the ktm350, easily could have passed Shorty but just let him take the W because they were such good buddies. I think this was shorts only SX win in the 450 class.
Yes, only raced one round cause his body can’t handle a whole season… Some people sure put him up high after one good moto this weekend.
How many mains did we see him limp to the finnish line the last seasons after he lost it totaly mid moto? How often do we se Sexton or Jett do it?
He faded plenty of races this winter.
"This" winter? Do you mean in the beginning of SX? He didn't really fade, he just didn't have the speed early in the season. Keep in mind he signed with HEP four weeks before A1, didn't have much seat time. He also got better as the season went on, which isn't normal for Ken. In fact he only had one SX race outside the top 10.
Really, plenty? Which one for example? I may be wrong but I don't remember one. The last years for sure, but in 2023 I don't. He had some races where he was just slow - like Houston where he started 8th and just finished there. But he didn't fade. He was just slow that day from lap 1.
He's made huge steps forward this year. Was outside the top 5 only a handful of times and one of only 3 or 4 guys that did all mains. I don't even remember a season where he was better after Daytona than he was before Daytona.
I'm confused....who won again? Oh yeah....the guy who Honda pays to win. The guy that won $100K. Do you really think Honda is going to "pull him aside" for putting their bike on top of the podium? Wow!
That is not team tactics, its bad math!
Letting him by isn't the issue. The thing that makes it suspect is making sure the entire world knew you let him by that brings everything into question. No matter the motivation for letting him by, the respectful way to do it is to make it look like a racing move and just say yep he got me today. Not sure why this is so hard for people to grasp.
Post a reply to: Let Ken bye