Following his performance at Daytona, it sure looks like Jett is figuring it out. Not only was he faster than anyone else on an incredibly difficult track, but he was virtually mistake free. If he wins again this weekend, this championship is over for all intents and purposes. With the exception of Chase, all the riders in the 450 class that are capable of beating Jett when he makes a mistake are likely retiring in the next year or two, and even if they stick around they aren’t going to get faster in comparison to Jett just based on their age (Anderson, Webb, Tomac, Roczen, Plessinger, etc.).
As excited as everyone is about Deegan, I think it is safe to say that he’s at least a few years away from challenging Jett for a 450 championship (assuming he ever gets there). Is there anyone on the horizon that I’m missing?
If Jett goes on to dominate for the next several years, does he have the personality to transcend the sport and carry it on his shoulders like Jeremy did through the bulk of the 1990s? I personally can’t see myself spending hundreds of dollars to take my family to a race where I know the outcome before I get there. It was a different situation in the days of $10 treadhead seats. Am I getting carried away, or is this keeping Feld upper management up at night?
I am not quite getting this. You're disappointed someone is very good at riding a dirt bike?
I get the costs being an issue, but dominance breeds legacies, and this builds stakes because when someone does reach Jet''s level the sport is all the better for it because you know they are racing much closer to the limit.
Close racing isn't in short supply anywhere. If you don't want to know who is going to win, or likely to, there's a whole host of other motorsport competitions you could go an watch. The reality is they generally are lower-stakes.
I’m not talking about other motorsports. I’m talking about Supercross and the fact that I can’t see myself spending big money to go watch a race with a virtually predetermined outcome.
I think the lack of competitive racers for Jett can be a concern. Young riders in this country cannot seem to make the jump to 450s very easily at all. Jeremy, Ricky, Hannah seemed to make the sport more popular though?
Then don’t go?
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We said the same thing when Stewart moved up. You just never know.
I know Webb personally, if you said in year 2018 he was going to be 2 time 450 champ, I would have called you a liar.
You never know.
A lot of people (a loud minority) vocalise this, but I don't think it's actually reflected in the way people interact with motorsport. Close racing isn't in short supply and can be found everywhere. There's thousands of races that have a big selection of winners, but they aren't popular. There's a reason for this.
What Jett is doing is kinda proving that the current crop of 450 riders weren't quite as good as we may have thought and there's a new level to be reach. That's pretty gnarly in anyone's books. What will happen is Jett will dominate for a bit, build a huge following, and some new wonder kid will bring it to him and it'll be the biggest season in Supercross history because they'll be racing at a higher level than we've ever seen.
Racing where you don't know who is going to win generally infers it doesn't matter who wins. If it doesn't matter who wins there isn't value. You only need two riders for a legendary season by the way.
That is my point. I’m afraid lots of people might make that decision.
So what's your hope? That riders don't improve and stay at exactly the same level? This isn't how sports, particularly motorsports, work.
The most predictable motorsports, by the way, tend to be the most popular.
"virtually predetermined outcome" 🥴🤓😳
1. Jett
2. Chase
3. AP
4. Coop
5. Jett
6. Jett
7. KRoc
8. Jett
50% is predetermined? Jett's got the future and nobody is coming up? Step away from the bong. Why oh why do I get sucked into these threads? Why? 🤢
It isn't predetermined at this point, but it is trending in that direction. I'm not worried about today, I'm worried about tomorrow.
This is known as "putting the cart before the horse." Take it one day at a time cuz...
I think the racing has been fantastic this year !
Ok, so maybe I am worried about nothing. That seems to be the general consensus.
“Past Performance is Not Indicative of Future Results”
This applies mainly to investing but it applies to sports as well. This sport is filled with landmines. Tread cautiously but do enjoy the ride.
....and what your take on the future of Motocross after Jett's perfect season?
Sometimes a rider dominates until the next gem rises. If anything Jett is good for the sport and the time will come when someone figures out how to beat him.
An almost universal truth of racing and sports in general is dominant performances breed fans. Fans that are already there seem to appreciate good, close, battles but nothing brings 'em through the turnstiles and gets those viewers like a hero. Think what it really comes down to is people need a protagonist or an antagonist and a bunch of good dudes scrapping it out but unable to rise above aren't that hero.
"The time will come when someone figures out how to beat him."
Chase, Coop, AP, and KRoc victories this season don't count?
I don't know how everyone is not adding Chase into this equation. He was on Jett's ass last year, and when Chase gets good starts when he gets up to speed on this new KTM, it is going to be hard for Jett to catch up without making mistakes.
Pit Row
You must not have been around from 93 - 2000. Supercross was still great when MC was racing. The interest just shifts from "who is going to win" to "can ANYBODY beat him". Then it goes to appreciating the talent you are witnessing and if he can still keep doing it.
I was heartbroken when RC came along and we saw the "fall" of the King. Then it was appreciating what RC was doing. It's a vicious cycle being a fan.
Because its only possible for Chase to get faster, not Jett too?
That was his first try at AMA 450MX, and he went 22-0. What if, think for a second....he gets even faster, more comfortable on the bike, builds from last years settings/set-up.
Or, what if Chase can't get back to his Honda speed (which everyone thought was blazing fast) ? Or he goes back to tucking the front (like Daytona)....
It can go either way, but that's why we line them up and drop the gate...
I love Moto!
I think the everyone has been watching Jett make mistakes, correct them (and rarely repeat them), and "figure it out", thus trending towards total domination. Even with a depleted field last summer, he obviously figured things out very quickly and dominated. It's just a matter of time before it is a foregone conclusion that he's going to win.....but like Alan says it'll turn when the next wunderkind pops up, learns from Jett, and displaces him. It's not like Jett is going to be around forever, and this cycle has been repeated so many times. Regis hit the nail on the head....
I get what you’re saying; but, there’s been other times…other eras in SX where someone comes along and smokes the field…& there will be, again.
What if Jett doesn't gel with the incoming new Honda, and Sexton figures out the KTM?
New chassis for '25?
Did anyone think in year 2007 that Chad and James would battle it out for the 2009 SX championship? No we thought Stew was going to wax everyone until he decided to retire.
I was completely opposite. If you were a fan of MC, I'm sure it was a great time to be alive. If not (raises hand) then it was torturous. Yeah, those first few years were a wonder to behold, but after a while, it just became depressing knowing the outcome of the race before you even gave your ticket at the gate. Having RC come in and dethrone MC was the highlight of my moto fandom.
At least during the RC era, there were challengers. The battles with CR22 and JS7 were incredible (yeah motocross was a different story) and we never really got that with MC. Emig and Lusk put up a little fight, but MC basically had is way (when he wasn't on a Suzuki).
The difference now, is that I really like Jett. I think he's a good kid, and what he does on a bike is next-level stuff. It is truly a beauty to behold.
The OP is right: Jett is about to put all the pieces together, and when he does, game over. The guys chasing him are on the downsides of their careers with the exception of Sexton. We could be in for an era of dominance the likes of which we haven't seen since the 90s. If you're a fan of watching a riding clinic, it's going to be awesome. If you're a fan of compelling racing...not so much.
Just my very humble opinion.
Supposed to be, Lars has talked about there being a new bike to adjust to next year, it's due in the cycle, and Gajser is racing it this year.
"If Jett goes on to dominate for the next several years, does he have the personality to transcend the sport and carry it on his shoulders like Jeremy did through the bulk of the 1990s?"
I love this one... I never ever was as bored as during McGrath's never ending SX reign...
I was impressed the first year, enjoyed it for two or three more years and then prayed for the end of the snoozefest... Even in 97, I knew he'd be back. He lost for so little, with such bad luck and almost no pre season testing on a less than perfect bike...
Whatever their personality, unbeatable guys get boring after a while.
He’s had a couple of close calls already all it takes is one big one. Look at Kenny.
I just hope he stops saying, "nawh but..." before every sentence.
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