This is still a step fwd for chase

Seems like ktm is searching for settings from track to track. Sexton and Vialle seem to have better pace in the 2nd Moto’s. 

He kinda threw it away or threw it away? You can’t make those kind of mistakes and expect to win. I personally think he’s more beat down mentally now after that race. He started in third place in the first Moto and got beat by 30 seconds.  I could be wrong, but I thought it was ironic that he dodged the question on the podium.  He had so many bobbles and near misses in that second Moto that I lost count. I really wish he could put it together and give Jett a run for his money but something is going to have to change upstairs. 

At this point in time he was still better on the Honda, Jett is not 100%, every time he gets close to Jett trying to hang on he makes a mistake, today with a wounded Jett he got in front trying to run the pace makes a mistake.

The only way Chase is going to challenge him is to change his riding, the way he wants to ride is just not possible no matter what color the front fender is, it's far to rigid, so much weight and force applied which is where half the mistake are generated.

Not sure why he's doing bodybuilding either, maybe drop some pounds so there's less stress on the bike.

Yeah it’s the last 5% that makes it for him. That’s when he starts to force things on the track an looses his front end.

He needs to focus on riding better, not faster. Jett looked like he was on a sunday cruise behind him while Sexton looked like he rode for his life. 
 

At this point it’s up to Chase to learn how to ride those last 5% in the right way, not blaming the bike because he push the front to hard.

I said it in another thread, but Thunder Valley and High Point aren’t tracks that he crushes generally. After Southwick, he’s going to be hitting a stretch of tracks that he has traditionally been amazing at. I want to see those play out because I think he has more wins in him to come. 

I like Chase. 

But a battle with a healthy Jett remains to be seen.

And a still healing Jett was having none of it.

The immediate repass, and then later, hanging tough in a close 2nd place, was showing true badassery.

Still, an awesome moto.

And if Chase can just step up just that last little bit...

Holy shit, the races we could see between those three !!!

Always blaming the bike? Chase has been one of the more candid riders when speaking on his personal shortcomings. 

I’m a fan of Sexton, but my God he’s probably getting so mentally fatigued from worrying about all the variables that he’s had to deal with racing Jett and his crashes during the races that it’s got to be an issue affecting his true ability to ride and focus on the race.

They raised the forks on Chase’s bike on the line during the 2nd moto yesterday and he’s gassing up his own bike… that doesn’t indicate that there’s a lot of calm and a defined strategy in Chase’s pit right now. John Wooden used to tell his players to be quick, but don’t rush/hurry… To me it looked like Chase and KTM were rushing things yesterday to try and find a solution that would allow Chase to find a marginal gain that would help him against Jett who is still banged up.

It's getting old is all I will say...

Mmm, sort of. I agree Hi Point was a big positive for Chase. He’s doggedly up front competing with the Lawrence’s. At least he’s racing with them a little. Let’s just leave it at that.

he still let Jett escape with a 1-1 day while hes still tryna get his shoulder back together, sounds like the same story to me 🤷🏾‍♂️

The good advice in this post ended after your username.

Bodybuilding? What kind of nonsense is that?

Vialles bike looked pretty bad both races. Bike just killed his flow on longer corners and ruts and Sexton looked similar just low at front. 

Hes huge man.

More weight, more load on the bike more front end tucks.

He’s just a big guy.  Gypsy Tales has a really good podcast with Chase’s trainer, Peter Park, talks about his program and strength training quite a bit.

Anyone thinking KTM has the bike better for Chase didn't see him after the moto 2 sight lap...

He came in pointing, threw his arms up in the air and they put the bike on the stand and got to work changing something. He clearly wasn't happy but did ride good in the moto after they "tweaked" it.

so yall saying Lawrence wouldn't win if they switched the bikes? ok. I know this forum has been co-opted by all yall deep in the weeds "settings" peoples, but may I remind you there is a RACER involved?

Take into account that the track had dried and changed drastically like it wasn’t the same track as it was in the 1st moto.

Chase is just gonna have to race the way he knows how. I think his strength has benefited him so far. Jett is just fast and talented. And yes, Jett probably wasn’t at 100% but it’s the reality of MX and SX. None of the riders are really at 100% - they’ve all had injuries and are all have some sort of strain or injury. 

I would think he’s more demoralized. He can’t beat Jett with a bum shoulder that he’s working around by changing up his technique. 

Huge Sexton fan.  I hope he can learn from Decoster and company and figures it out.  That is the beauty of competition.  

He's way too mental about bike setup. Every weekend, he's talking about things they've "found" during the week, and we've also heard of him and his team making adjustments after practice sessions and between motos. I realize that to an extent, this is normal, and every rider is picky in some way/shape/form... but there comes a time in the season when most riders (especially perennial title contenders) just settle on one thing and adjust from there. 

It might have to do with the fact that he's a bigger guy - Tomac and Reed are/were always pretty dependent on having a perfect setup, and they aren't small dudes either.

Agree this is a step forward for Chase.

Chase wants it enough to crash trying, and has shown the speed to pass and gap Jett. Makes every race more worth watching with that level of intensity. 

Big time, the KTM isn't at a point where its good enough to win races even on its bad days.  When they're a little off on the setup, it looks super sketchy.

To me Chase and Hunter are the only two who at least giving it a go to try to beat Jett. Lots of other riders seem to going through the motions. Some have legitimate issues, others are just circulating. Jett has elevated the required speed the last two years. It is interesting to see how this all unfolds. Enjoy!

Chase is out there giving it 100% trying to beat a guy who has, up to this point, been pretty much unbeatable. 

Chase, in my opinion, needs to get to a place where he realizes and actually believes he can run Jett's pace and beat him. Until that happens, Chase is going to rinse and repeat the cycle of crashes and near wins. 

I actually give him props for being the only rider to give a go to try to beat Jett. A lot of people talk about Hunter finishing 30 seconds ahead of Chase in the first moto at Hight Point, but I think that's an anomaly; Sexton disposed of Hunter at Hangtown and in the second moto at High Point.  

But everyone, not just Chase, are trying to find a way to beat Jett. 

Its only sexton who makes the KTM look bad.

He had a choice to pick any bike he wanted on a factory level and he thought KTM was his best choice. Ever since he has complained about it. Just like he did at Honda. 

remember end of SX this year and he said " i believe this bike has a great base for outdoors" and cooper Webb gave him the look?

The same crashes, the same issue and the same complaints... He just needs to stop searching for a magical setting and ride the bike. He clearly struggles with setting up his bike. Now he is setting up a steel frame bike like its a alloy frame?

Because this whole searching for a bike set up talk has become a consistent pattern.