Panic Button for Chase/Kawi?

LP31
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299
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Noosa, QLD AU
2/20/2026 11:59pm

I like Chase but Im afraid its all between the ears.

Honda bike issues losing the front, Jett and Hunter sorted it out.

KTM hates the bike cant go through whoops, Tomac and Prado seem fine ie yes they have an updated shock.

Kawi, rode for 3 mths set the bike up and couldnt stay on the track at A1. Radically changes the bike to a pro circuit set up and wins. Then changes the bike every week.

Get Tickle to set the bike up and just ride the f… thing.

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RACING
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Waddafeuque FR
2/21/2026 1:12am
RACING wrote:
Is there anything worth listening in Stjernstrom's interview apart from "Kawi's great, we do all we can for our riders"?I have a hard time deciding if...

Is there anything worth listening in Stjernstrom's interview apart from "Kawi's great, we do all we can for our riders"?

I have a hard time deciding if I should spend half an hour of my life with the guy.

🤔

Well, I got what I expected. 

Blah blah blah, corporate BS one-o-one. Kawasaki, let the good times roll. 

Good thing we can speed up the casts, these days...

 

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CPR
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AU
2/21/2026 2:52am
Tyler D wrote:
Not taking any sides, but Headcases like Chase are WHY people like Roger D get rigid with the window. He doesn't know what he wants and...

Not taking any sides, but Headcases like Chase are WHY people like Roger D get rigid with the window. He doesn't know what he wants and apparently can't communicate it well. Not saying teams should be so rigid, but it becomes a self reinforcing thing bc the tech nerds don't want a rider thats stuck in his feelings to lead them on a wild goose chase. The more clear and articulate and specific and convicted a rider is the more likely the team will bend. Lewis Hamilton struggles because he gives shitty feedback. Max verstappen excels partly because he gives good feedback. Hell he builds his OWN car setups in iRacing sim. 

Would love to know what the chiz / roczen dynamic was like. And what the tickle / kawi dynamic is like now. Would also love to know what tomac wanted that kawi wasn't willing to provide. 

To me it seems like shim stacks make a lot of the difference in feel that a rider is looking for and are easy to change. The Lawrence's I guess wanted more gussets on their frame and/swingarm. That's where it gets harder, but how often do things get to that point really.  

I agree, but only to a certain degree. 
It’s literally a team’s job to set up the bike, regardless of the rider’s skill at testing and giving appropriate feedback. It’s part off the competition.

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2/21/2026 3:29am
CPR wrote:
I agree, but only to a certain degree. It’s literally a team’s job to set up the bike, regardless of the rider’s skill at testing and giving...

I agree, but only to a certain degree. 
It’s literally a team’s job to set up the bike, regardless of the rider’s skill at testing and giving appropriate feedback. It’s part off the competition.

A team cant set up a bike if they dont know what to change . 

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5

The Shop

CPR
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AU
2/21/2026 3:42am
CPR wrote:
I agree, but only to a certain degree. It’s literally a team’s job to set up the bike, regardless of the rider’s skill at testing and giving...

I agree, but only to a certain degree. 
It’s literally a team’s job to set up the bike, regardless of the rider’s skill at testing and giving appropriate feedback. It’s part off the competition.

A team cant set up a bike if they dont know what to change . 

It’s literally their job to work that out, with or without rider feedback.

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2/21/2026 5:13am
CPR wrote:

It’s literally their job to work that out, with or without rider feedback.

Thats a very childish take on how to expect to build a winning team.

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davis224
Posts
7344
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Cornland, IL US
Fantasy
2/21/2026 5:52am
Tyler D wrote:
Not taking any sides, but Headcases like Chase are WHY people like Roger D get rigid with the window. He doesn't know what he wants and...

Not taking any sides, but Headcases like Chase are WHY people like Roger D get rigid with the window. He doesn't know what he wants and apparently can't communicate it well. Not saying teams should be so rigid, but it becomes a self reinforcing thing bc the tech nerds don't want a rider thats stuck in his feelings to lead them on a wild goose chase. The more clear and articulate and specific and convicted a rider is the more likely the team will bend. Lewis Hamilton struggles because he gives shitty feedback. Max verstappen excels partly because he gives good feedback. Hell he builds his OWN car setups in iRacing sim. 

Would love to know what the chiz / roczen dynamic was like. And what the tickle / kawi dynamic is like now. Would also love to know what tomac wanted that kawi wasn't willing to provide. 

To me it seems like shim stacks make a lot of the difference in feel that a rider is looking for and are easy to change. The Lawrence's I guess wanted more gussets on their frame and/swingarm. That's where it gets harder, but how often do things get to that point really.  

CPR wrote:
I agree, but only to a certain degree. It’s literally a team’s job to set up the bike, regardless of the rider’s skill at testing and giving...

I agree, but only to a certain degree. 
It’s literally a team’s job to set up the bike, regardless of the rider’s skill at testing and giving appropriate feedback. It’s part off the competition.

So, if it's the team's job, wouldn't making their job easier by being good at communicating what you want and knowing when to stop chasing settings speed the process up and take it to another level? Or just dig your heels in and say "not my job!" and wonder why it isn't instantly happening?

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2/21/2026 6:41am
LP31 wrote:
I like Chase but Im afraid its all between the ears.Honda bike issues losing the front, Jett and Hunter sorted it out.KTM hates the bike cant...

I like Chase but Im afraid its all between the ears.

Honda bike issues losing the front, Jett and Hunter sorted it out.

KTM hates the bike cant go through whoops, Tomac and Prado seem fine ie yes they have an updated shock.

Kawi, rode for 3 mths set the bike up and couldnt stay on the track at A1. Radically changes the bike to a pro circuit set up and wins. Then changes the bike every week.

Get Tickle to set the bike up and just ride the f… thing.

I wonder if the KTM financial aspect and team relations was more why he left and not as much the bike. Which would really be sad watching how well prado and tomac are doing

15
YZ125H1
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Elizabethtown, PA US
2/21/2026 7:13am
Seems like Fahie is hellbent on using factory-only parts. Factory doesn't always mean better. It usually means more rigid/stiff. Put the bike to 100% stock and go from...

Seems like Fahie is hellbent on using factory-only parts. 

Factory doesn't always mean better. It usually means more rigid/stiff. 

Put the bike to 100% stock and go from there (even in race conditions). 

There's history of KTM riders using 48mm forks instead of the 52s for example..

That’s what I found interesting about the rigid comments. The Kawi in stock form is always revered for having a compliant plush chassis. The media always raves about how good the bike feels at Glen Helen.

I was also shocked to hear how many stock parts roczen runs on his bike.

3
JazzyJJ
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Nunya, WY US
2/21/2026 7:46am
LP31 wrote:
I like Chase but Im afraid its all between the ears.Honda bike issues losing the front, Jett and Hunter sorted it out.KTM hates the bike cant...

I like Chase but Im afraid its all between the ears.

Honda bike issues losing the front, Jett and Hunter sorted it out.

KTM hates the bike cant go through whoops, Tomac and Prado seem fine ie yes they have an updated shock.

Kawi, rode for 3 mths set the bike up and couldnt stay on the track at A1. Radically changes the bike to a pro circuit set up and wins. Then changes the bike every week.

Get Tickle to set the bike up and just ride the f… thing.

frosty1317 wrote:
I wonder if the KTM financial aspect and team relations was more why he left and not as much the bike. Which would really be sad...

I wonder if the KTM financial aspect and team relations was more why he left and not as much the bike. Which would really be sad watching how well prado and tomac are doing

I don’t know if I’d call that “sad”. If you think there’s a risk of your employer going BK, you do what you think is best and secure your future. Common sense I’d say.

7
2/21/2026 7:54am

Maybe try a scoop tire on the front 

7
1
Johnny Ringo
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Tombstone, AZ US
2/21/2026 9:39am

Maybe he’s been riding the new two stroke during the week

11
Jub
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Nunya, MD US
2/21/2026 9:51am
CPR wrote:

It’s literally their job to work that out, with or without rider feedback.

Thats a very childish take on how to expect to build a winning team.

A factory team should be able to build a "good" bike right out of the gate. Each rider has preferences though and they need to communicate how to get there. The feedback might be that the bike is twitchy and the rear is losing grip on corner exits. The team might suggest lowering or softening the rear. If the rider says the bike is twitchy, I want to raise the rear, the team is going to roll their eyes. If they have a good relationship, they should explain to the rider that the suggestion makes no sense. If the bike is twitchy, we aren't going to raise the rear. If the rider gets mad that their feedback wasn't taken, they're wrong.

I'd hope that everyone that makes it to a factory team would know that one but just throwing an example out there. The rider should give behavioral feedback and the more experienced ones may be able to propose a remediation and go back and forth with engineers. I think things will go sour when the rider and team disagree about what to do, and sometimes the rider might think something that makes no sense. Also though, some things end up working counter-intuitive in the real world to how you expect they would so sometimes you have to test something outside the box. It's all a respect thing at the end of the day, as with anything. If the rider and team can bounce ideas off eachother with mutual understanding and respect, that's a good test rider. If the rider can't give anything meaningful to work towards, bad test rider. If the rider thinks they know significantly more than they do about what to change, bad test rider.

For a good rider/team pairing, listen to what Ian Harrison said about Eli setting up throughout the day last week in Seattle. Eli struggled a bit in practice, in the heat races, and kept making changes. He got to where he needed to be and won the main despite not starting well. You could tell that Ian Harrison, the team manager, was super impressed with how Eli handled the day. I'm sure 24 year old Eli couldn't do that the same way but that's how things would ideally work.

5
1
aees
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US
2/21/2026 5:02pm

He now just gives up and settles for a 6th in the heat race unable to move fwd. Second time I will say we have seen that somewhere before 😄

3
Gary Duck
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CA US
2/21/2026 5:06pm

Tear that #3 KTM 50 down and make sure it's not an ebay big bore... 

3
1
mxjeff575
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Festus, MO US
2/21/2026 5:10pm
Gary Duck wrote:

Tear that #3 KTM 50 down and make sure it's not an ebay big bore... 

There's no rule against breaking the rules !

8
Gary Duck
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2/21/2026 5:12pm
Gary Duck wrote:

Tear that #3 KTM 50 down and make sure it's not an ebay big bore... 

mxjeff575 wrote:

There's no rule against breaking the rules !

I don't know how I got that smartass remark in the wrong thread, I haven't even started drinking yet...

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prozach
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Eureka, CA US
2/21/2026 5:48pm Edited Date/Time 2/21/2026 6:58pm

Dude needs to learn how to start. 

Among other things...

 

That has to be 4 races now that he has been the clear last place person going into the first turn.  Like they aren't just bad, they are horrible.  

8
Kyzer138
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Boston, MA US
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2/21/2026 7:01pm

Guys guys, it’s okay, Will said they “found something” again 

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2
mtbkris2
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San Diego, CA US
2/21/2026 7:03pm

Prado is vindicated. Both sexton and march banks have been a complete mess

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4
2/21/2026 7:06pm
prozach wrote:
Dude needs to learn how to start. Among other things... That has to be 4 races now that he has been the clear last place person going into...

Dude needs to learn how to start. 

Among other things...

 

That has to be 4 races now that he has been the clear last place person going into the first turn.  Like they aren't just bad, they are horrible.  

Again tonight. Last by a bike length. How does this even happen. Marchbanks was 18-20 off the start. The other kawis are constantly out starting both of them off worse gates. I'm so confused 

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2/21/2026 7:07pm
mtbkris2 wrote:

Prado is vindicated. Both sexton and march banks have been a complete mess

I'll say it again. Jorge, I'm sorry. 

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2
TK40_FC
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Canton, OH US
2/21/2026 7:09pm
Kyzer138 wrote:

Guys guys, it’s okay, Will said they “found something” again 

Probably the shape of the seat foam, like the same issue he had on the KTM.. lol. 

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2
KurtJ99
Posts
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Location
CA US
2/21/2026 7:11pm

Savatgy crashed and was only 6 seconds behind Sexton at the end. You could say Savatgy should have Sexton's ride, but I don't think Savatgy wants it now. Savatgy would be like "yeah man, you just stay right where you are, keep that @#$ bike away from me"

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2
2/21/2026 7:14pm
prozach wrote:
Dude needs to learn how to start. Among other things... That has to be 4 races now that he has been the clear last place person going into...

Dude needs to learn how to start. 

Among other things...

 

That has to be 4 races now that he has been the clear last place person going into the first turn.  Like they aren't just bad, they are horrible.  

What’s even worse is Eli pretty much had the exact same horrific start right next to him and made the orange bike fly tonight. It’s fuggin rough being a Chase fan these days.

14
FroDiddy
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US
2/21/2026 7:15pm

It's gonna be a long 3 years for Chase.  What a waste.  

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2
VHM
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NO
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2/21/2026 7:16pm
Kyzer138 wrote:

Guys guys, it’s okay, Will said they “found something” again 

Found new parts to try? 😅

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ohh_454
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Nuevo, CA US
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2/21/2026 7:17pm

Season starts at Daytona, we may need to win out tho 🤣🤣🤣

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RG437
Posts
362
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2/5/2023
Location
Leicester GB
2/21/2026 7:23pm

That’s 3 races in a row now where Sexton has been closer to being lapped than he is to the win. If they weren’t worried already they must be now. Hard to say where they go from here 

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