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It just shows that he can't set a bike up on his own.
The PC A-Kit forks have a different clamping diameter than stock, so he has to run the clamps with the forks.
So we are really gonna just ignore the qualifying and heat results?
Seriously.... Prado qualified #2 when Tomac and Roczen were pushing eachother faster and faster. 13th is about what we expected out of him going into the season. Overall, he is so far in the overperforming category that it's crazy to argue otherwise. Hope he can figure out how to pass in SX. I'm sure it's a lot different than MX with all the 180 turns and stuff.
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I truly feel that Chase's main issue is his mindset. He looks like he's approaching everything with a fear of getting beat rather than believing in his talent, speed, and preparation and knowing that he is the guy to beat every time out there.
Isn’t using the whole PC suspension setup proof the Kawi 450 team has some fundamental issues? The 450 team never even looked at the PC setup?If Sexton wasn’t training buddies with Kitchen would he have even known the suspension was that different? Prado didn’t really know anyone at PC coming into last season. He probably assumed the 450 team knew everything the 250 team was doing.
Sexton joins a beleaguered Kawasaki team.
Obviously tested off season but no races which would of helped with bike set up..
Continues on after A1 to swap parts and does better with it at the second round.
Jeez guys he's doing what he supposed to be doing just like the Lawrence brothers last year.
Does Kawasaki have more fundamental issues than the rest of the teams?
While Ken could not get the Honda sorted, had to fly in his old German suspension tuner when he rode for RCH Suzuki. Webb going back to stock suspension on KTM, Sexton running KYB inserts at KTM, some Honda riders using KYB instead of Showa etc.
This happens all the time, some riders constantly searching for things they will never find or struggles to work around some small issues because in their own mind they believe it’s always the bikes fault.
Kawasaki threw everything they had last year to make it work while their long time investment rode around looking backwards and trying not to qualify.
What we are seeing now is just a statement how much they actually trying and that they are not the same team as they were back in RV and Tomac’s days. But last year plenty of people did not want to see it and blamed the team instead of Prado.
I agree with this …but on the start line. I think his fear of not getting a good start last week lead to a horrible gate pick hoping to roll around the inside in a reasonable position. Didn’t work…either start. This week he was so keyed to try to get off the gate that a little flinch from Prado, not his bike but his arms and body if you watch it, made him flinch into the gate. I think if he could magically plunk himself in the top 5 after the first two turns then he would be fine and run to the front. I think rn he fears a bad start…not his speed/ability.
also…I think the Barcia crash messed with his head some last week.
Sexton will undoubtedly win several races this year, assuming he doesn't get injured. The inconsistent results will remain, though. I would like to see him get a top 5 start alongside Tomac, Roczen, and H Law and see how it shakes out. I can't help but believe he's still the fastest guy in the class (aside from Jett), but it doesn't matter if he's going off track or jumping the gate like he has the first two rounds.
It has more to do with the flex of the clamps. PC has option of both diameter tubes. The riders get to pick.
I usually agree with you on this forum but there is a lot of evidence that contradicts the claim that Kawi did everything they could last year (and years before). Go and listen to Lewis's interviews the last couple of weeks with Sexton. Sexton is on record saying that there hasn't been proper development of the bike for a couple of years (said this at A1) and now (SD post race podcast) he said he went with PC stuff that worked better and that PC are able to do more than factory Kawasaki.
So finally it seems like Kawasaki has opened up for new input, which is good for them and Sexton. It doesn't change the history though, and that in their bubble they thought they were doing everything they could but obviously more could be done (input from PC and others).
Not sure but it's definitely longer than it was at the photo shoot in Hawaii. Longer than Prado's bike and I read that it's 7 inches longer than Garrett's bike, which sounds like a lot! I guess Prado isn't the only one who's asked for more bottom end power.
Can we consider these “works” bikes yet?
Maybe for some reason Sexton doesnt know who to test and get an outcome, now he has Kitchens set up which seemed to be better for him it to me, says he cannot test for whatever reason. Same as Coop I know Swanie did all his testing.
Chase did say that but added that it was because the recent Kawi riders weren’t good at giving the team good feedback (paraphrasing) to enable good bike development. It was very clear the team was trying to give Prado what he wanted, but if Prado wasn’t great at being able to clearly pin-point what he wanted, all that effort was wasted.
He also still looks like he struggles with whoops a bit. I'm curious how his speed/stability in the whoops changes as the track deteriorates. He's got to be moving well to run #2 in qualifying but if you see video of him at main time he lacks a lot of speed, not sure why he doesn't try tripling them like J Coop.
Thinking we, a bunch of dudes on the internet, can figure out Chase and his ‘bike issues’ is a fools errand. He can’t sort it out inside his own head.
He has truly brilliant rides and mind boggling mistakes. All on the same bike, and across multiple brands.
My prediction is he will blow is away with beautiful smooth speed on a few occasions and leave us shaking our heads in disbelief on a few occasions. The only remaining question is how will the balance of these two sort out.
Pit Row
Really? No display of riding will get Jorge off the hook. Only humility will. It had nothing to do with his performance. Don't even need to say anything about your post aging well after Saturday...
“That teams so stupid. They’re ignorant. They wont ever change. They wont allow the riders to try different things that they want. Fools”
Same person: “OMG what are they doing? Theyre throwing all those parts at that bike? Do they not even have a clue? They even put ANOTHER RIDERS FORKS AND CLAMPS ON ! Theyre so stupid”
Matthes to Chase in a post race interview from San Diego " I know of two top level riders hitting the gate , your both of them " had me rolling . But i honestly hope he gets his shit together
One thing Chase established at San Diego is that he has the race speed to win. He may have hit the gate, but unlike A1 once he was on the track he had the speed to win the race.
At A1 having top qualifying was an indication of single lap speed on a smooth track, but he couldn't stay on the track and put the race together on a longer, rougher main event in traffic.
Now my only question is when will he win. I'm thinking within the next 3 races, though I'd like Eli to win 'em all.
Anyone know what happened after lap 15? Did he have a scare and backed it down? Shot his load and was done? Glad he settled and finished the race healthy bit just curious if there was a report on what happened after all those fast laps
I believe at 16 he got caught in a pack of lapped riders that held him up for a few laps. And after he cleared them, the gap to the leaders was too large to continue that pace, so he backed off.
I heard him mention in one of the interviews (post-race broadcast?) that he lost his flow later but not a lot of elaboration on the matter.
That is a funny comment!
Didn’t Jett hit the gate outdoors in ‘25?
Sure did
I don’t think I’m gonna go as far as to say he’s “over performing”…especially when we use words like traffic or passing or mediocre start (he sure doesn’t over-perform when he gets a crappy start). 🤣
Here is my recollection/summary of Lewis' post race interview/podcast regarding Chase's comments: Got tired, tightened up, setting or feel went away from him. Once again, maybe not exact words, but my summary. Lewis highlighted Chase's honesty about getting tired in the Vital "Post-Race" show with Michael Lindsay.
Listening to the VITALMX pre and post race interviews via podcast as well as the "Post-Race" summaries should be mandatory for anyone wanting to know more about the actual races. The Steve Matthes Show on RacerX also has good interviews and a race summary with Jason Thomas and Jason Weigandt should also be mandatory. Regardless of how some may feel about those getting us this content, it is packed full of good information on what happened at each race.
Post a reply to: Chase changing the whole setup!?