Put a Forkner in it!!!

I gotta admit, with the injuries he’s had I think that a season of finishing main events is sort of a victory in itself. Last night was rough, but if that’s the roughest night this season I’d say that’s a good step. 

I thought that he’d be closer to the front by now, but the point about him adapting to a new bike after maybe 10+ years has some validity to it as well. If he stays healthy the rest of the year, I think he’s a challenger in 26. 

I’d love Pops to let us know HIS expectations this year and how everything is going from their point of view. Is Austin riding to his full capabilities? Is he only taking it to 80%? Things like that. His qualifying was excellent last night, so I’m curious what they are thinking!

That person got fired  and is no longe making those decisions at Triumph. 

I don’t care either way about the results or lack of speed, it’s the riding itself that bothers me. He looks sloppy on the bike. Over jumping and under jumping rhythms, the head wobbles around more and big landings he seems to just crumple into the bike. It’s been all season including a press day video I watched so I’m not sure if there is a strength issue or what but I’m definitely worried for when he tries to go fast with current technique/form. 

I know a couple people that have had TBI/brain surgery and they just aren’t quite the same person afterwords in just their attitude or day-to-day activities, even if everything is cleared as 100% recovery. After everything Austin has gone through, I find it really hard to believe none of that couldn’t have possibly affected everything it takes to be an elite racer. Glad he’s still around to live his life but I personally feel like it’s unfair to hold him to his own previous standards at this point. 

A lot of people will say you need to re-wire your brain after a big injury, I think that is ten-fold here. He’s still making main events at his current level. Only time will tell where he can take his talent moving forward. No matter where his racing trajectory goes, he’s already won in life. He’s found success in racing, escaped death and has a beautiful family in the works. I think saying “stick a fork in ‘em” is kinda rude. 

mathes alluded to some drama with bobby hewitt and triumph. any details on that?

Forkner has never had much speed outdoors. He's much much better at SX. 

That's what I've been noticing. He looks terrible on the bike. Slumped over, no spark or aggression. According to him he's matching Old Man Smith at the practice track so perhaps races are freaking him out?

He's a different person now. The Forkner of old rode like he had nothing to lose but now he's married with a kid on the way. After all the injuries and his brain scare I'd have to imagine his entire mindset is totally different. You can't ride with reckless abandon when you've already been through so much Hell with injuries PLUS a family to take care of now.  Honestly at this point I kinda wish he's just walk away while he still can and find something else to do for a living. Likely something in the industry I can't imagine him doing a normal 9-5 when all he's known his entire life is MX. 

No sure I had the same surgery as Austin, but I had my head opened up and life was way different after that for sure!

How are there thumbs down on this???

You don’t lose speed. 

I think he’s just backing the speed down to ride well within his limits to complete a season. He has a family to provide for and he is older. 

To me, it looks like he is riding 80% of his capabilities and has some hesitation when sections get difficult (whoops, huge ruts in sections). It's already an amazing accomplishment to see him riding again. Last year injuries on top of all of his previous injuries probably took a huge mental toll on him and it takes time to recover from those. I still think he has the talent and capacity to get back to winning speed, he just needs time. If I was his team manager, I would tell him to just get into the mains and progress through the season. Next season he normally should be able to get back to top 5 regular speed. For now, let's build confindence in the bike and in yourself. Long term he still has a long way/career to go! I'm rooting for him.

As I've said on here before. It blows my mind you guys thought after he had major brain surgery that he would come back and be faster than before. Dude needs to retire. Way too many crashes.

It was tough to see him battling with Henry Miller who's basically out of a pickup truck. I'll echo previous statements, that he just needs to make it through the season. 

Not trying to counter your point, but if you have been watching the AX series, Henry has been cleaning everyone's clocks - every dang race, and with some notable SX competition.  He is up a few levels this year over previous years - he found a lot more speed.  I would have thought the same thing with Forkner and him battling, but Henry is definitely on a different level this year, it made watching Forkner battling with him hurt a bit less (IMO).

I think the difference is that Miller has been building for years into a solid rider. With all the time off the bike for Forkner, it's impossible for him to have the fitness base as the other guys. I think he will keep improving.

Yeah by no means a slight to Henry, He rules. Just the difference in equipment and budget. 

Spittin' truth.😉

I thought I saw a couple of times in that LCQ Forkner shaking his head in what I assumed was disgust in his riding. The old Austin is still in there, I think he just needs more time to get that confidence back.

It's a fine line between being tough and resilient vs. risky and stupid.

Certainly there is no lack of will on Forkner's part, but this screams questionable and rushed at best.

He's unable to access his own talent as things stand. Time might help, trying to race your way back into "shape" seems counterproductive. 

I know it’s been mentioned about his brain surgery and his injuries, but I’m pretty sure he mentioned he had corrective eye surgery to get rid of his contacts. Sometimes that can mess with your depth perception and makes ruts challenging to deal with since you’re used to one thing and now it’s different. 

It is clear it is in his head and he has a mental block. Understandable, only time and reps will get you out of it.  He apparently rips at the test track so it isn't a lack of speed or skill. I am sure he is tired of being hurt, family on the way, and is in his own head.  It happens, he will get out of it.  His technique has changed since the kawi and Ryno though 

Honest observation from someone that’s been watching Austin since he was the little blonde kid getting his SX license by racing AX and gettin’ taken out by bikes coming at him from the other side of the stadium…I think without a rider…

I’ve watched Austin get a little bit better every week and that includes the week he was sick and couldn’t get thru the sand section to save his life…I think it was Tampa?

I’m noticing a bit of “Just Huck It!” Austin coming back…as of late.

Indy was a course that was really, really trying to put him on the ground…which it did a bit…yet, he still threw down a “49” and he ate every shit sandwich that the entire day of racing threw at him…and just kept at it.

As for going to the LCQ? I’m actually more inclined to see a really good benefit from that than most of you will. Why? I want him taking as many gates, getting as many laps out on the track and racing against the best in the class…as much as possible…as many laps as possible…again, as many times as possible. 

Because, he’s been slowly “getting it back”. I’ve worked thru this with other riders…this process of “getting it back”… and he’s doing extremely well with what he’s dealing with.

So, it’s like this: I’m stoked.

Manny 

I respect anyone out there giving it a go, especially someone who has been through as much as Forkner.

I'll never understand some of the down votes around this place. 

There’s no such thing as a healthy season after you’ve been lobotomized. He’s basically permanently disabled.

I don’t know how the adults around him haven’t stepped in and seen he could benefit from some more time off. 

I get gate drops and all, but stepping back after the horrific year last year to recover physically and mentally/emotionally. This season isn’t going well at all, crashing a bunch, he’s about become a dad. He can still help develop the bike and not lose his confidence riding LCQ’s. I guess having the bike on track is more important, and a good fill in is hard to find.