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Prado just can’t hang with the top guys here. Finishing 2 minutes behind the leaders is very embarrassing
That gypsy podcast really hits different now. I know he mainly tested SX when that podcast happened, but he basically said he did 3 laps on the Kawi and he already knew it was way better than the gasgas. Surely he wants to only say nice things about his new factory deal.. but come on
I wouldn't be surprised if it works for him in SX. He has said he really liked it compared to KTM in SX. But how much experience does he have? No much.
They pick the bike based on a day or two testing.
Tomac has been on Yamaha for 3 years, tested a great setting at test tracks last week where he was faster on the clock. Completely not working at the race. Can't put that much weight on those "I like the bike or setting statement" when they switch brands and before they have actually raced them.
Chase said the samething going to KTM. Barcia said he thought it was cheating being on KTM due to the amount of traction. The all end up very differently at the end.
I have been giving him the benefit of the doubt, but I am definitely convinced it’s not the bike…
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I just don't buy into Prado's whining about the bike. It is not 20th place off. That's like 2 flat tires bad. It seems like now he really doesn't care. I just don't get it.
What if Kawi had Prado ride pine the next race and put George Harrison on his bike?
Mitch had been beating him lately.
Id imagine Mitch would love it. Actually, let him ride Andersons bike.
Last night I was defending Prado. Im over it now.
The bike can't be that bad. I'm sure there are limitations but it's a factory team. I'd say the majority of the problem/equation is Prado. He is more than capable and he needs to figure it out mentally. Make it work. Thats literally his job.
Its like a few years back at KTM. Everyone complaining the bike was shit. Next thing the Dung comes out of 5-6yr retirement and is their best rider, beating all of them. Its the mental approach.
I guarantee Jett, Chase, Tomac or Hunter could get on that bike/team tweak a couple things and get way better results than Prado is right now.
Vanilla Ice could hop on that bike and do well.
There is something to be said about learning how to ride the bike.
It’s never going to feel like his GG. He needs to get over that and figure out how he can leverage the strengths of the Kawi.
I agree. Im thinking now that he just thought he’d come here and flirt in the top 3, which is great. And he should.
But he isnt and that can play a little psycho billy cadillac in the old head. Do a reset and try to finish top 10 both motos. George Harrison once again finished ahead of Prado on his marketplace purchased KX 450.
I would bet that if Kawi would hand over management of that 450 team to Mitch like Yamaha did with Star, he would turn them sround so fast.
Where is Steve’s interview with Prado, that Lewis was mentioning in his post race podcast
Hey BigLew, since your friends with Prado, can you please ask with wtf was that today. The vital community wants to know. Thanks.
The other teams hear him bitchin about the bike and think, 'We don't need him here bitchin about the bike.' And if I'm Sexton, if the ink ain't dry, I'm weaseling out of a green meanie contract.
Pulled the holeshot and finished 3/4 lap down to the leaders . No aggression, he just looks….slow
After all the bitching he has done about the bike and his lack of supercross skills does anyone even sign him in America after this? Not unless he turns this around before the Kawi contract is up, IMO.
Or, is he just kind of boycotting a team that's not giving him what he's asking for? I don't agree with that if that's the case, but it could be a possibility because there's no way he's this slow.
Pit Row
My take:
1. He is delusionally confident. Every champion needs that.
2. He underestimated the field. USA riders were better than Euros until the tide shifted around 2015. Then it shifted back to the USA around ‘22. Now Jett is ensuring that the moto scene stateside remains elevated.
3. Jorge’s expectations for his debut year were understandably lofty but a touch too lofty. The team seemed to be prepared to show grace through this process before supercross even started. His personal ideations and the media’s tone-setting seemed to flip the narrative from a year one learning experience into he will likely win a lot outdoors. Reality is a tough pill to swallow.
4. The KX 450 is a bit off at that top 1% level…yes, Febvre is doing his thing but he seems to be an outlier and I would again argue that the top 4 right now in the USA are at a true world elite level (i.e. Lawrence bros, Sexton, Tomac)
5. Lastly, that same old political crap is clearly still at play within Kawasaki management. Prado keeps saying things like “if only people knew what was going on”. That has to be a factor.
Bunch of experts in here. Maybe the 4 time world champ should ask you guys what to do.
What it looks like to me is that the overall philosophy of the bike isn't what Jorge prefers and he has been put in a box with what he can change. Cairoli talked about Prado saying the bike feels low in the rear. Maybe he feels like there is no front end feel which makes him ride overly safe. I don't know.
Jett would win on Prado’s bike. Stamp it
I don't know what people expect. Obviously, things are not perfect in his corner and with bike setup, maybe other circumstances off the bike... but none of this is all that surprising. His main method of winning stems from being the perfected version of Mike Alessi, a version that Tony could never quite get Mike to achieve. Jorge is better in every conceivable way than Mike (style, form/skill, speed etc), but the holeshot, sprint and block method wont work everywhere against healthy competition as stiff as it is here in the Lawrence era. That is also assuming he is holeshotting and being a tough SOB to pass, which is also not really happening thus far. Theres no way a healthy Tim Gasjer comes here on any factory backed team and performs this poorly, in my opinion. I am surprised by how lack luster it's been, but am in no way surprised hes not a weekly podium threat in this field on these tracks with how he races and how he generated his success over in Europe.
It makes me wonder if maybe theres some of the similar kawasaki things going on that the Tomac camp struggled with. You have to know that Jorge and His gang know what they want out of a bike. You don't get this far without knowing what direction you want to take a bike but I wonder if they're getting push back on that direction.
Dude Jett finished third in a moto on his own bike because the shock setting was off a bit. Tomac finished 10th on his bike because the setup was off, etc etc etc.
I do wonder what some people in here even see when they watch the racing sometimes, or do you just like talking complete bullshit?
Chase will get wins indoors and outdoors and be constantly in the fight next year on the KX. This blaming the bike is insane.
The bike isn't making Jorge lose 60-90 seconds every moto.
Sorry what’s that got to do with what I said?
Knew that stinky bait would catch something
Ha good reel. There’s so much stupid shit in here it’s getting hard to tell 😂
He's saying your excuses don't hold water
Acting like Jett finishing 3rd after crashing is in anyway similar to what Prado has been doing is not a legitimate argument and you know it. Put them all on equal equipment and Prado would get smashed just like he has all season
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