Mid season check up - Who is impressing you and who is disappointing to you?

I’m much higher on jcoop than you.

I think he’s thinking big picture, ala Dungey style:

He’s thinking season points/career longevity it seems. He is taking safe lines and safe choices getting great starts and solid consistent finishes even while showing race leading speed in qualy.

Nice thread of fresh air. 

Personally, I'm not necessarily "impressed", but thrilled to see how well Kenny Roczen is doing.

Impressed with the improvement of Justin Cooper, and Justin Hill.

Coty Schock wins the most impressive for me in the 250 class.

Forkner: disappointed I knew it would take some time but his body English and riding style look way off 

Smith: Bummed out for him we have some mutual friends here in NC and it seemed like he was on the right track this year. 

Anderson: Has flashes of it but he seems to drop back quickly after a certian point. 

Justin Cooper sort of frustrates me a little bit I feel like he is riding so safe and like he is riding not to lose his 4th or 5th place position instead of trying to ride into a podium position. This has lead to solid results and pretty injury free lately but at some point it feels like he needs to find out if he is a podium guy and take some chances and if he is not then he is still a consistent top 5 guy riding like he is now. 

Impressed:

Roczen….impressive on a bike that is lacking updates. Likely has more than enough $ to walk away but still grinding.

J.Cooper….slow & steady progress…has the skill for better results based off his qualifying times. Appears to be missing something, but we can work with speed.

J.Hill…. Great results and speed…..appears focused….but…..only leads me to believe he was not putting in the work previously.

C. Shock….looks to be improving weekly….Current ride looks decent but looks to be ready for a better funded team…..like PC? 
Max Antsie…..did not expect him to be this fast in SX…. 
Disappointing…..

As stated…Barcia…..looks to be mailing it in….family, kids and $…. Not risking anything….can’t say I blame him…

AP….I know podium at Daytoner but appears distracted? Maybe too busy trying to be a cowboy or redneck? Or maybe he just has more personality than the others? 
M.Stewart…. Hear me out…the win was epic, I”m a fan…..but appears to be back on cruise control…we know he has the speed…

Sexton…. I will include him …..so fast but poor decisions ….. wears heart on sleeve… really would like him to win it all to redeem himself….

Random thought…..

C. webb…..just can’t get behind this guy…not sure why….puts himself in the right positions to succeed…clearly has the speed….opportunists…..Everyone has had some misfortune or bad luck so far….accept him….. I guess you make your luck racing?

Anderson…. Still has the speed for a few laps, then throws the anchor out…. Appears to be lack of fitness?

Most impressed - 250s For me goes to Cole Davies for obvious reasons. It’s crazy how jett like his style is and he didn’t have that last year. That kids done some off season magic 

Most Impressed 450 - Probably Hill for me. We came in talking how stacked the class is and Hill was literally nowhere on my radar

Most disappointing 250 - This is a weird one for me because maybe my expectations should have been tempered given what he’s gone through .. but Forkner. I guess I was hoping podiums at least but he’s not even close

Most disappointing 450 - I was gonna say AP but he seems to be making progress and Daytona was really good for him. He looked like he did last year with his aggression. So after Daytona I’m going to say my biggest disappointment is just Injuries. 

Justin Cooper - way better on a 450 than I was expecting

Sexton - bummer situation

It's pretty wild that if Factory Yamaha needed an active rider for a 450 fill-in this weekend, it would be Jerry Robin. 

Chase Sexton, impressive. He’s usually the fastest rider out there and shows he can come up from the back of the pack.

Chase Sexton, disappointing. He makes some bad choices and ends up in the dirt.

K-rocket, very impressed. He’s smooth yet sneaky fast. Rips out of the gate and is consistent.

There was a LOT of talent just a short time ago and opportunity has never looked so good for guys that were 5th-22nd. I thought for sure AP, Barcia, Anderson would be chomping at the bit to go nail podiums... been some but rare for it to happen so far. Roczen seems to be the one stepping it up the most.

Also I think Kawasaki should take a serious look at Justin Cooper.

I like your list with the exception of Cooper. I feel he is right where I would have expected leading into the season. I do not mean to make a dig at him but he seems like a rider who may never be a consistent 450 podium guy and I’d be shocked if he was a future 450 winner. Great rider, just not a 450 winner 

I’m shocked Roczen is arguably the fastest rider on the track for a full main. I don’t know why but I thought this may be the year his downward spiral would slowly begin and he has done the exact opposite. He is my favorite with the riders who are left and I would love to see him win the title. 

Barcia has been around a long time so he’s right where he belongs. Same with Dylan and Malcolm. Mookies win was one of the all time thrills for me and I would not have ever expected it this deep into his career. I’d love to see it again but it may be the only time we get to witness a near perfect main event. Other than that he is right where expected. 

Huge disappointment for me was AP up until last weekend. Last years early points leader has been a disappointment. Let’s hope Daytona is the confidence builder he needed and we may see him sneak in a win before the seasons over 

Man if brayton, josh hill, ap, Barcia, Malcolm, and many more can pull off a 450 win I don’t see what I coop can’t. He puts himself in great positions with his killer starts, he sprints extremely well, he’s smart and has good race craft.

If he nails a start you really don’t think he could make a break for it while some of the other favorites have to slice their way to the front?

What updates does the RMZ need particularly?

J Coop not hitting the whoops is crazy. 

To be honest it’s what I admire the most about him right now.

How many seasons have been ended by skimming? How many by jumping them?

What’s the actual lap time difference?

Is that risk anywhere near the reward?

How many people will he beat in a race and the season because they yard sale it in the whoops and end their seasons?

Lock on grips…

BNG

250

Davies has impressed. Shows signs of being an elite rider but needs more consistency that should come with more experience.

Hymas has been a disappointment in that he has elite rider written all over him but he hasn’t taken that next step like Deegan has… Hoping he takes the next step.

Anstie looks very fast… 

I thought Vialle and Brown and Kitchen would lead the East… 

450

Webb is Mr consistency 

Hill has flashed elite speed and he has flashes of elite bike skillls. Can he take the next step up to Sexton Tomas level? 

Cooper has flashed elite speed early on… Still is working to get to that elite level.

Disappointment in Sexton’s mistakes. He is so smooth like Jett.

Yeah, that would do it. Shame they're still on carbeurators and non inverted forks over there at suzuki.

I”m a Suzuki fan from way back and still own many vintage Suzukis… there was a time when Suzuki was pushing the envelope of development in dirt & road bikes….I like many old/ vintage things….but when I buy a new MX bike, I want a New Mx bike…add an electric start, hydro clutch, better rear shock and chop off 25lbs and now were talking….

Most Impressive: Cole Davies.

Disappointing: Feld dumbing down obstacles. 

I’m honestly so excited to see Hill grab that fastest qualifier and finish consistently near the front.  I’m a huge fan of an underdog/comeback.  He is so talented and a chiller.  

X2. Even though I would like to see him press a little harder, he’s smart and is staying consistent and safe. Seems like he’s learning a lot from Webb. Even so, this is his best chance to get to the front. 

I was hoping Mookie would get on a roll a little after his win. 

All the rest are just that - all the rest.

Agreed, this is a serious deficit in his game. He needs to get DV or someone for private coaching as it's clear he's not getting it at Star with Freeloader Craig or any of the others. 

Most impressive: Vital

Most disappointing: Vital 

J Coop falls on the disappointing for me, he is playing it too safe. Dude should have won at least 1 of the Arlington motos, but didn’t seem like he wanted to win

Most impressive is Davies, Hill, and Anstie

Man after my own heart....   🤣

Davies

Shock

Hymas looked pretty damn fast at Daytona.

Not disappointed in anyone

450 disappointing: Prior to Daytona, Plessinger, Sexton

450 impressing: Hill (as many others have said), Webb

250 disappointing: Forkner (though not that surprising - he's been through a lot so given that, he could easily be on the "impressing" side too)

250 impressing: Cole Davies (probably the most obvious guy to pick)

I'm very impressed with Coke Davies, Kenny Roczen and Max Anstie.  Also Coty Schock and Julian Beaumer have been on fire.  Before his injury, Eli was super impressive. I feel like he was just getting warmed up. 

I also am impressed with Webb. He gets written off every single year, and somehow manages to be in contention by the midcway point. Mentally strong and believes in himself. 

I thought Haiden would be a little more dominant, but now that he's back on his old program, I expect him to be up front more often and winning. Not disappointed though. 

Sexton...he should have an almost full race lead by now, but we all know the story. It's disappointing. 

And though he's out, Hunter Lawrence was a bit disappointing.  I expected better results in his second year, but look to see him come out swinging for the outdoors. Any updates on him?

As far as Mookie and Hill. Both impressive and super talented riders. Happy Mookie got his win, but it seems to be the same old song and dance with both those riders; flashes of brilliance, top notch speed, but inconsistent. 

I am happy with the season overall though (aside from the injuries).  I really expected Jett to run away with the series and it never happened, which is good for us fans. 

Giving my own post a thumbs up. 👍