Looking like West Coast is most likely gonna be Deegan, Hampshire, Shimoda, and Kitchen. Or at the very least, these are the only ones with a realistic shot at the title. Who y'all got? For me it's:
1. Deegan -- can't deny, it seems like he has more hunger, composure, and consistency then anyone else (look to his starts last year, his ability to push past his limits wo crashing, etc.)
2. Kitchen -- I think Kitchen has more raw speed and talent than Hampshire and Jo, and we're gonna see that come into fruition this year
3. Hampshire -- Will probably crash out a few too many times
4. Shimoda -- He's defo faster in MX, but in SX his whoop speed is just not up to par (I calculated his segment times in the whoops from 2023, and they were on average 0.25 seconds slower than the fastest rider)
P.S. I assume Hampshire will be on West since his 2 teammates are rookies and Kitchen bc everyone else on PC that's a title contender (Forkner, Hammaker, and McAdoo) are coming off injuries
I’d venture to say Kitchen going east coast. He’s based in Florida now. Mcadoo has been riding since before smx & he’s chompin at the bit to go race. Vohland is a west coast boy I’m sure he would perform better on the west coast surfaces. Throw in maybe forkner lining up west coast (he is Cali based now from my understanding & he rode several outdoors plus 1 round of smx) I wouldn’t exactly call that coming off injury. Depends if they covered up any injury. If I remember correctly they said minor knee tweak, plus coming through LCQ’s at smx wasn’t worth running the last 2. So depends what your assumptions are but I’d say those 3 on west. EDIT. Forkner just posted it’s his first day back riding so yeah that’s chalked. My bad.
how about the ktm boys? Vialle back to the east & throw juju in for west! Juju has been riding a lot with sexton & appears to be rippin bad. West coast based & raised. Seems like a good fit. Vialle is FL based too so that just makes sense to me but I have no official intel.
How about Ryder D or Pierce Brown west? I think that’s about a toss up for who runs what coast
Man this will be talked about the week leading up to A1. The only rider I have heard say for sure is Shimoda.
Pierce Brown should advance closer to the front on a more regular basis, he has made steady progress each year, and this could, should be the year.
Jo show vs. Deegs for the west coast title
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Barring injury or mechanical...Deegan will win his coast.
Shimoda CAN do it...but will he?
There are other contenders but that's all they are.
Yeah Jo looked like he was struggling in Paris...
Yeah I’d agree Vohland will be west just didn’t list him since I wouldn’t consider him a title contender. It’ll Defo be between Kitchen and McAdoo for the other west coast spot.
As for the other teams could see it going either way who gets the west coast spot, but again didn’t list them just because I doubt any of them will be close to being a title contender.
Pierce Brown maybe has podium speed but just crashes way too much.
Yeah that’s the issue with Jo, it seems like he chokes every time there’s pressure on him. Even in Paris the 2 races he lost he easily could’ve won had he not choked and messed up the rhythm after the sand section, or pulled the move Jett did on Hunter for the last corner pass. Instead he rode on the outside and got stuck behind I believe Owens. If he wants to win he’s gotta to get more aggressive and make block passes more consistently (like the one he did on Deegan).
Why do you think kitch on west coast?
They all have to go through Vince first
I'm hoping the Lawrences can teach Jo how to be intense and aggressive, while staying consistent. That's what it will take to be champion, and while I'm a huge fan of Jo, I haven't seen the aggression I believe he will need yet.
So far he was always better towards the end of the season and I also think that he needs to step it up in the beginning if he wants to win a title. Very talented guy and he could probably shit on anyone in this class if he wanted to. He is probably my pick for outdoors, but not for SX until I see what you said.
Before I think about any predictions in the 250 class, I hope that everyone comes in healthy first, specially the PC riders..
Forkner just started riding, same with Hammaker after his big crash at LA SMX.
Vohland will probably race West. But he’s not a contender.
It’s between him and McAdoo. McAdoo said on Pulp, he prefers East. He’s also coming off an injury unlike Kitchen.
Kitchen imo is also faster/has more talent (look at how many times McAdoo crashes himself out), and usually Mitch puts his fastest guy on West.
And Kitchen did West last year, while McAdoo has usually done east aside from last year
Doubt they’ll teach him much unfortunately. Looks like Jo (from his interviews and Insta) is staying in Cali, riding by himself at the Honda test track while Hymas, Jett, and Hunter are all together in Florida.
I thought I remember reading that he was staying with Nick Wey as his trainer.
Jo don't choke...
He learnt the ropes on Honda, had a few good building seasons on the Kawi, then he went a little too balls out and couldn't find a rhythm... He dropped the ball but I don't think it was choking, he just got a little carried away from wanting to get the job done.
have a feeling Levi Kitchen will be finding a new gear in 2024. just watch.
Kitch took a month off too. He is a few weeks ahead of forkner though. My guess is:
West: Cameron and Seth
Pit Row
would it have made any sense for Forkner to move to the premier class for 2024?
If Mitch puts McAdoo and Vohland up against Jo and Deegan he could in effect stack the East.
Just spitballin'.
If his wants both coasts he would likely add Kitchen. Going to be fun if everybody stays healthy.
My prediction for the 250 west coast is key riders getting injured before the season or at the first race, only two riders being legitimate title shots after two races, and by the third race everyone will be complaining about how the coasts should be combined, what a meat grinder pro racing is for young riders, how Savatgy and McElrath got screwed, Friese should be banned, and Mitch Payton's and Forkner's shitty luck. Am I close?
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