I've read comments about riders not "getting the good forks" and such. When you're racing at such a high level, why wouldn't the riders not just buy them themselves? I get contractual issues like hey we can't have you running KYB inserts on a factory KTM. But if the best riders gets the best forks, why can't the lesser rider just buy the best forks for themselves? If Chase is allowed to have them, why couldn't I just buy them myself?
If you're making a couple hundred thousand dollars a year (salary, gear deals, ect) , what is 10k for a pair of forks, or 30k for a few pair? Why wouldn't you just consider them a business investment like you would a trainer? If they make that big of a difference and would help you ride good enough to secure longer, more profitable, future rides, why wouldn't you invest?
Factory teams have tested and are running the best of the best. Teams test new things all year long and make changes on what the riders likes.
If a rider isn’t happy with the way it’s working he failed testing and set up during the week.
Ask Paul Webb.
Most of it will come from a liability issue. A factory team will not run something they dont know and can control.
Big egos in the way of everything.
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I remember something about when Darryn Durham was on Star he brought suspension done by PR2 to a race and he knew that was basically the nail in the coffin with him at the team. I think it’s a mix of contractual conflicts and egos.
I was going to bring up Webb. I can't remember the details of when he was fighting with KTM. Is it that he brought in his own forks or that KTM finally made the changes he had been asking for?
Not a factory team I think, but didn't Phil this summer have Art of War do his suspension?
Ken Roczen has a lot of swing at HEP it seems, but there was at least some period of time where he was basically doing this with REP suspension no? I think that REP works with the team now, but I believe that it was just Ken for a time.
I think he raced 1-2 nationals with FC setup cone valves, did better, got shut down, then took the rest of the summer off and was at star the next season. Unless I’m mistaken and the FC suspension was the year before that happened
I thought he said in an interview one of his reasons for going to the team was the ability to use what ever he wanted to find the best set up?
That’s what I remember too. He didn’t like their forks, convinced them to let him run that setup, his results got better and then they took them away. KTM group is so bizarre.
That’s also how I remember it. Could not remember who he used though. I know a lot of guys started using REP rather than the sponsors.
I can't remember who Webb used but yeah he basically started using his own forks and working with another tuner, then AP said hey I want that too, then KTM said nah this isn't happening Webb you're gone and AP will ride what we say you're riding....
Then obviously they bent for Sexton and now they seem a bit more flexible.
Yup and engineers who die and lie until it either sinks or get's fixed on new gen model........even then the same ego's repeat,
Active Ride
Dylan Ferrandis was also on FC at Yamaha towards the end of his contract, I believe.
Yes that is it!
Art of War was the suspension guy at JGR so Cooper had run his suspension for years as an amateur on his JGR Hondas.
Ask Brad Lackey
Pit Row
Webb used FC for the KTM stuff.
Phil used Art of War for Canada this Summer.
Roczen ran FC per his choice when he first went to HEP. Tried a setup that Chiz had been on (Active Ride) then swapped to that for about two years or so on HEP. Then he rode the RM-Z250 last Summer, loaned to them by BarX (which had REP), Ken liked that stuff so switched to REP going into this year.
They better be prepared to get a lot more flexible if they have to deal with Eli and Jorge next year 😂
Just remember active ride kinda blowing up with a lot of big name riders out of nowhere. But then again I have somewhat lost touch in the sport in that aspect.
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