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I mean he was for a while. Just because he grew and matured doesnt erase when he was younger and less mature and able to handle pressure. Theres a reason why he only has 2 sx titles even though hes 2nd all time in wins. Ppl didnt just make that up. That being said once he finally got that first one (waaay later than he should have, he should have beat dunge) once he got that first one it settled him down mentally and hes been able to handle it muuuuch better now. That plus the cumulative effects of experience and age year after year after year its settled him down a lot.
Chase will mature with age as well. Hes the first to say on podcasts that he used to spazz out after he lost and hed go crazy and it would drag him down all week. Ppl around him say hes gotten much better lately about not getting soo emotional. He def still has a ways to go though. Rides like he had outdoors last mx season are what slowly build up that experience of having done it before. This would be a great year for him to take that next step up. Its def possible. The only thing is webbs mental game is a 100 in madden and hes gonna bring it. Gonna be a great test for chase, if he withstands coops mental onslaught this season thats going to grow him a lot mentally. Its really perfect timing, he needs this right now to push his mental game and help him get to that next step.
Good post and I agree with you. ....but for example, Eli still has off "Elitomac" nights....and then you see the vital thread the next morning: "Eli is done...he'll never win again". These guys are under immense pressure, the armchair quarterbacking gets old.
CHASE:
Needs to stay on 2 wheels and is best on a fast track that stays somewhat decent
COOPER:
One is the best all time at figuring out how to ride a torn up track late in the main event
You’re clearly not viewing them through the same lens either, one guy is slightly faster but way more inconsistent. If you wanna just talk about their highlights Sexton seems way better, but how many times have we seen him on the ground? I know a crash literally took Coop out of ‘23 when Sexton won but one is on the ground ALOT more than the other, and that’s valuable in a championship; ie 2017 Tomac vs Dungey, 2021 Roczen vs Webb. For the record though I don’t wanna see Chase keep crashing, he’s already got it kind of off but to see him get that monkey off his back would be a feel good story
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Would be surprised, but would love to be wrong. It was a perfect Florida storm for Mookie, but will not happen consistently at remaining venues whether indoors, different dirt or different fan demographics.
Congrats to Mookie, but not a consistent top 3 contender in remaining rounds this year. Probably ever.
I hate you....you dream crusher you.🙃
What a crazy night in the webb vs chase saga. Chase started off his race by choosing to take a completely unnecessary and MASSIVE gamble by trying to time the gate and compleeeeetely blew it. Dude! Even if that goes right the amount of risk involved ccompared to the reward is not worth it. He already has the red plate! He should be trying to keep it and ride smart and mistake free. He rode like its vegas and he can only win the championship with a surprise win. What a dumb idea that was.
Anyways after that debacle he got up and got going and then crashed a couple corners later. That could have been the end of the championship right there.
From there though he put his head down and had an absolutely incredible ride! It would probably be one of the best rides ever if him and eli hadnt done it multiple times this season already. That being said to go from last to 3rd in the 450 class is nuts. He completely saved his season with that ride. This day would have seemed like a complete and total success… if not for the one guy hes trying to beat having an even better ride. Oops.
Webb had no hiccups to speak of and rode like a methodical freight train. He got the start, stayed exactly where he needed to be for exactly as long as he needed to be, then when the time came he struck. Then he ran away and passed the finish line tied for first overall in the championship and will be running a red plate next week. Brutal. This is why chase cant be taking crazy risky gambles. Its going to be a dog fight to the end.
And he's working on it diligently.
Just because Chase is doing a really good job trying to lose it doesn't refute the point that it's his to lose. It actually re-enforces it. Chase was clearly the fastest guy by a large margin tonight. But he still tried to fight the start gate and biffed it lap 1. Great recovery but botched ride. At least it makes the championship exciting.
Why in the world would you try and time a gatedrop when you are arguably the fastest guy, and already have the points lead? It reeks of desperation. If he would of got a midpack start he wouldve won Detroit, but does he have the confidence to realize that?
Tomac is not a head case for anyone that follows the sport properly. There is two (3 if you include injury) simple reasons why he has gone backwards, and not won more championships:
1. Bike setup. Armpump when not setup properly, so he can't hang on and goes backwards. That has been confirmed by him and media several times now.
2. Starts.
Nothing "mental" about that.
Chase isn't a head case either. He doesn't crack under pressure specifically. He makes mistakes when he has to puch it. Just as RJ, Mcaddo, Forkner, Hunter. It's a mix of riding style and being able to push beyond what technique actually allows him to ride at. That's why Chase can qualify so fast. Smooth tracks, one lap.
This sport isn't that mental as people like to state. If it was mental, Malcom, AP, Anderson etc would have plenty more of wins. I can't think of one rider where it has been concluded it was mental last 5 years that had turned it in either direction based on that. But they all use it from time to time, when it's actually a bike setup, physical shape/status thing, or just coincidence (Malcom last week, AP).
That's what Damon Bradshaw and Marty Tripes thought.
Haven't listened to interviews, did he say that? Feels more like he/his body reacted to something and felt gates dropping now. Could be sound he heard?
Nobody can deny Chase has serious lapses of judgement during races reasonably often, Cooper never does. Last night was another example, as was the previous weekend.
Tomac was a headcase during kawi days, listen to gypsy tales interview him, it was very hard for him to admit but he said his title he lost to dungey was mental.
Interesting. Because he also said that all that time he went backwards and everybody referred to that he lost it mentally, was due to armpump and bike setup. But what that Honda days?
I think those were his Honda days, Osborne has mentioned a bit about having trouble setting up his bike
I mean either way its a rookie move right?
Pit Row
Yea on his level you have to be more immune, better late in that case than get stuck.
I can image at that point it could be more mental. But later as a senior rider I don't think that holds up for many as an explanation/excuse. I'm talking about the fact people think they are weak mentally. I don't classify making poor racing decisions as mentally weak, that's just lack of elit level race craft.
Almost every rider has admitted that the mental side is huge.
Of courde, I agree. But don't see a lot of examples where the mental change dugg a rider out of a hole and changed their results. Maybe missing someone.
My point is, all of the ones expected or contending to win, has a strong mental capacity. They would fail without it, but non are (as I see it).
JC32, he doesn't dare to go hard. But is it mental weakness, or decisions he make because he is aware of risks? That's not lack of mental toughness.
Getting passed, and dropping off a few seconds because you know you don't have the capacity to stick with a rider without risking it. Mental break down, or just active decision?
Not sure if there are others that would be good examples of really breaking down mentally?
The point is if chase rode at 95% and took third all the time but never crashed he wouldn't catch near as much shit but also wouldn't have the titles that he does. He'd just be another one of the lovable also rans and we've got plenty of guys filling that role and cashing a good paycheck already.
Jade dungey said on weege show that chase reacted to AP head bob.... still not great but beats guessing as an explanation....
Well he's doing a hell of a job of it.
Tomac said himself it was all mental on gypsy. He said hes only believed he was 'the guy' in the past few years
I wouldn't say on point. They've been ok but it's not like he's had a top 3 start in every main this year.
Exactly he even says it himself.
Arlington being a triple crown is gonna be really interesting for Chase vs Coop
Kenny gotta really capitalize on the other triple crown races this year
Post a reply to: I keep hearing this is Chases championship to lose now