Panic Button for Chase/Kawi?

Natester551
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91
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4/25/2024
Location
St. George, UT US
2/22/2026 7:25am

I found it interesting that Hunter's bike looked really twitchy in the waning laps at Arlington when the track got choppy, but he adjusted his riding,  plowed forward (and kept sending the quad!), and basically kept ET3 at bay and won.  I'm a bit worried that Chase doesn't seem to be able to do that....it's concerning. 

3
1
2/22/2026 7:26am

I personally know it's bad when I'm struggling to put Chase in my 5th place Fantasy pick, when the years prior he would be in my top 3. 

13
2
Leemur891
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382
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Location
Fort Collins, CO US
Fantasy
2/22/2026 7:34am

I think we’re passed the panic button at this point and onto the “throw shit on a wall and hope it sticks” button. Like I said yesterday, it’s tough being a Chase fan.

2
2
truck
Posts
3449
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Location
Louisville, KY US
Fantasy
2/22/2026 7:34am
matze wrote:
The bike is plenty capable, its the rider not the bike. Hell did this retard not test ride before signing the contract!11??111And if so that makes...

The bike is plenty capable, its the rider not the bike. Hell did this retard not test ride before signing the contract!11??111

And if so that makes ALL complaints he may have invalid and he is not allowed to speak up cause he knew exactly what bike he is gonna ride!!111

soggy wrote:
Last year I would have agreed with you. But seeing how Jorge was doing and chase’s results so far in starting to think Kawi is pretty...

Last year I would have agreed with you. But seeing how Jorge was doing and chase’s results so far in starting to think Kawi is pretty lost right now. Which my be exacerbated because sexton has never been great at bike setup

This is the biggest indicator to me...... if it was just chase then it's pretty easy to dismiss the bike.... but if you're going to argue that the improvement prado showed this year is also all mental and a total coincidence? Sorry, not buying that one. 

Add in Marchbanks struggling and Anderson being at least as good if not better than last year.... just too much evidence piling up that the bike is an issue. 

I put no stock in test riding a bike. Don't think it means anything. Not sure there's any correlation between how it feel putting in some easy laps to try it out and how it feels pushing for the razors edge. Good first date or two says nothing about whether the marriage will work. 

21

The Shop

2/22/2026 7:35am
Moto Nomad wrote:
He's five races in and everyone talking about him leaving the team already. He's in fifth place with one win and close to top 5 every...

He's five races in and everyone talking about him leaving the team already. He's in fifth place with one win and close to top 5 every week. That's not a panic button situation.

It is when both parties' expectation would've been more like 3 wins and top three in points..
Zycki11
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Edwardsville, IL US
2/22/2026 7:40am

The bike looks non compliant and slow to be honest.

2
RACING
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Waddafeuque FR
2/22/2026 8:01am

Kawasaki. Let the good times roll.

😄

8
USA
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2536
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9/4/2016
Location
Richmond, TX US
Fantasy
2/22/2026 8:17am
matze wrote:
The bike is plenty capable, its the rider not the bike. Hell did this retard not test ride before signing the contract!11??111And if so that makes...

The bike is plenty capable, its the rider not the bike. Hell did this retard not test ride before signing the contract!11??111

And if so that makes ALL complaints he may have invalid and he is not allowed to speak up cause he knew exactly what bike he is gonna ride!!111

Tip of the hat to you sir. Great satirical post that most people dont appear to have picked up. 

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1
2/22/2026 8:35am
Leemur891 wrote:
I think we’re passed the panic button at this point and onto the “throw shit on a wall and hope it sticks” button. Like I said...

I think we’re passed the panic button at this point and onto the “throw shit on a wall and hope it sticks” button. Like I said yesterday, it’s tough being a Chase fan.

I think it’s time to realize that the KX, and the whole team, need a revamp. 

4
RACING
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Waddafeuque FR
2/22/2026 8:58am

At least in the US, you don't have to deal with what we get everytime there's a Kawi/Prado/Sexton discussion here in France: "It's a great bike: Febvre won the MXGP title on it!"...

😄

4
1
2/22/2026 9:02am
RACING wrote:
At least in the US, you don't have to deal with what we get everytime there's a Kawi/Prado/Sexton discussion here in France: "It's a great bike...

At least in the US, you don't have to deal with what we get everytime there's a Kawi/Prado/Sexton discussion here in France: "It's a great bike: Febvre won the MXGP title on it!"...

😄

Because the AMA bike and Works MXGP bike are so similar...

8
wrc777
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3109
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5/21/2020
Location
Greenwood, IN US
Fantasy
2/22/2026 9:10am
RACING wrote:
At least in the US, you don't have to deal with what we get everytime there's a Kawi/Prado/Sexton discussion here in France: "It's a great bike...

At least in the US, you don't have to deal with what we get everytime there's a Kawi/Prado/Sexton discussion here in France: "It's a great bike: Febvre won the MXGP title on it!"...

😄

Kawi sort of bought that title by moving Prado to the US. 

4
RACING
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Waddafeuque FR
2/22/2026 9:19am
RACING wrote:
At least in the US, you don't have to deal with what we get everytime there's a Kawi/Prado/Sexton discussion here in France: "It's a great bike...

At least in the US, you don't have to deal with what we get everytime there's a Kawi/Prado/Sexton discussion here in France: "It's a great bike: Febvre won the MXGP title on it!"...

😄

Because the AMA bike and Works MXGP bike are so similar...

And Febvre's style is absolutely similar to Prado's or Sexton's.

So are the tracks.

😄

2
RACING
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Waddafeuque FR
2/22/2026 9:21am
RACING wrote:
At least in the US, you don't have to deal with what we get everytime there's a Kawi/Prado/Sexton discussion here in France: "It's a great bike...

At least in the US, you don't have to deal with what we get everytime there's a Kawi/Prado/Sexton discussion here in France: "It's a great bike: Febvre won the MXGP title on it!"...

😄

wrc777 wrote:

Kawi sort of bought that title by moving Prado to the US. 

Even though both Gajser and Herlings got injured, Febvre almost lost to a rookie...

 

1
prozach
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Eureka, CA US
2/22/2026 9:38am Edited Date/Time 2/22/2026 9:42am
prozach wrote:
Here are first turn images all from different 450 mains this year.  He isn't riding to his potential, but he can't be this bad on starts...

Here are first turn images all from different 450 mains this year.  He isn't riding to his potential, but he can't be this bad on starts and expect to have much better results when the other top guys are up front almost every race off the start.  

10000196891000019688 01000019685 01000019686 01000019687 0
ohh_454 wrote:

Chase Larocco right there damn

Larocco was at least a solid mid pack starter. lol  Chase  has probably only been in the top 15 around the first corner twice in 7 rounds.  It's comically bad.  

Chase wasn't ever a great starter, but was at least a consistent 3-7th place starter in the past.  

JB 19
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Marion, OH US
2/22/2026 9:56am

The fact that he wasn't jumping the big hits at Arlington that some of the 250's were is very strange.   

15
JB 19
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2/22/2026 9:59am Edited Date/Time 2/22/2026 1:06pm
kylemenz1 wrote:

I think it’s time to realize that the KX, and the whole team, need a revamp. 

Where there's this much smoke there has to be fire.   This feels like Yamaha before Star took over the 450 program.  

7
ohh_454
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Nuevo, CA US
Fantasy
2/22/2026 10:05am
prozach wrote:
Here are first turn images all from different 450 mains this year.  He isn't riding to his potential, but he can't be this bad on starts...

Here are first turn images all from different 450 mains this year.  He isn't riding to his potential, but he can't be this bad on starts and expect to have much better results when the other top guys are up front almost every race off the start.  

10000196891000019688 01000019685 01000019686 01000019687 0
ohh_454 wrote:

Chase Larocco right there damn

prozach wrote:
Larocco was at least a solid mid pack starter. lol  Chase  has probably only been in the top 15 around the first corner twice in 7...

Larocco was at least a solid mid pack starter. lol  Chase  has probably only been in the top 15 around the first corner twice in 7 rounds.  It's comically bad.  

Chase wasn't ever a great starter, but was at least a consistent 3-7th place starter in the past.  

I know, this is pretty bad. I was big on Kawi and Chase working out and doing good, but damn this isn’t going good at all. Kawi has to do something and do something quick because there’s no way Chase should be 30 seconds back at the end of the race. Maybe Kawi will let Chase do some off-season races because they did not come out swinging this year. 

2
mxracer666
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766
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Location
NE Iowa, IA US
2/22/2026 10:13am
BS12 wrote:
I know its only 7 races into a 3 year contract, but I'd be intrigued to know how we would do on a Quad Lock Honda...

I know its only 7 races into a 3 year contract, but I'd be intrigued to know how we would do on a Quad Lock Honda. Joey's killing it currently. 

Chase would be (even more of) a head case, knowing he wasn't on a full factory team.  He wouldn't make it to the start line without pushing the front wheel out.

1
2
2/22/2026 10:28am

i just found it "sad" when they did show him and he didn't even try for the quad nor even the little triple leading into the whoops. Is that "bike setup" or IDGAF? He KNOWS his real comp is hitting those combos, he KNOWS he should be hitting those combos...but doesn't give it a shot?

2
1
RACING
Posts
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Location
Waddafeuque FR
2/22/2026 10:50am

Who said "I race that bike as fast as I can without putting myself in danger"? 

A-Prado

B-Sexton

C-Both

15
2/22/2026 11:16am
BS12 wrote:
I know its only 7 races into a 3 year contract, but I'd be intrigued to know how we would do on a Quad Lock Honda...

I know its only 7 races into a 3 year contract, but I'd be intrigued to know how we would do on a Quad Lock Honda. Joey's killing it currently. 

mxracer666 wrote:
Chase would be (even more of) a head case, knowing he wasn't on a full factory team.  He wouldn't make it to the start line without...

Chase would be (even more of) a head case, knowing he wasn't on a full factory team.  He wouldn't make it to the start line without pushing the front wheel out.

Or would it have the opposite psychological effect? Less pressure. Look at Kenny and Ando. People wrote off the RMZ but they look like geniuses right now. 

ipbrew
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Location
The Sticks CA
2/22/2026 11:24am

Is this a Wally Wonders post (Wally needs content)?

2
2/22/2026 11:30am
Leemur891 wrote:
I think we’re passed the panic button at this point and onto the “throw shit on a wall and hope it sticks” button. Like I said...

I think we’re passed the panic button at this point and onto the “throw shit on a wall and hope it sticks” button. Like I said yesterday, it’s tough being a Chase fan.

"It's tough being a Chase fan." I think Chase has broke me of being a fan of any one rider anymore lol. I'm 48yrs old and I find myself just rooting for great racing and appreciating certain riders style anyways. I've never had a rider frustrate me like Sexton. It can be the last lap of the main event and Chase has a 10sec lead and my ass is still pucked up until he crosses the finish line. Maybe there really is issues with the Kawi but Chase is the one who signed with the team. He looked as good as he's ever looked on the KTM last year and yet he still decided to move to another team. We all called this. We were scratching our heads when the rumors came out he was going green, as he was battling Webb for the '25 sx title. And here we are now. "Looking for more comfortability on the bike." Chase being Chase

8
JDub067
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8/13/2022
Location
AU
2/22/2026 12:04pm

factory Kawi has a lot of similarities to factory Yamaha before Star took it over. There’s a welded on culture that needs a reinvention 

4
2/22/2026 12:04pm
i just found it "sad" when they did show him and he didn't even try for the quad nor even the little triple leading into the...

i just found it "sad" when they did show him and he didn't even try for the quad nor even the little triple leading into the whoops. Is that "bike setup" or IDGAF? He KNOWS his real comp is hitting those combos, he KNOWS he should be hitting those combos...but doesn't give it a shot?

So can we say Chase “gave up”/ “quit”?

1
4
Sparkey
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Location
Meridian, ID US
2/22/2026 12:07pm

So can we say Chase “gave up”/ “quit”?

Sure why not.  Lets spin this out of control 😂

1
1
2/22/2026 12:07pm
BS12 wrote:
I know its only 7 races into a 3 year contract, but I'd be intrigued to know how we would do on a Quad Lock Honda...

I know its only 7 races into a 3 year contract, but I'd be intrigued to know how we would do on a Quad Lock Honda. Joey's killing it currently. 

mxracer666 wrote:
Chase would be (even more of) a head case, knowing he wasn't on a full factory team.  He wouldn't make it to the start line without...

Chase would be (even more of) a head case, knowing he wasn't on a full factory team.  He wouldn't make it to the start line without pushing the front wheel out.

Or would it have the opposite psychological effect? Less pressure. Look at Kenny and Ando. People wrote off the RMZ but they look like geniuses right...

Or would it have the opposite psychological effect? Less pressure. Look at Kenny and Ando. People wrote off the RMZ but they look like geniuses right now. 

Those of us who have owned/raced those RMZs alongside other brands, know there was no writing off of that bike. 

The bikes are all within fractions of each other.

4
1
2/22/2026 12:21pm
i just found it "sad" when they did show him and he didn't even try for the quad nor even the little triple leading into the...

i just found it "sad" when they did show him and he didn't even try for the quad nor even the little triple leading into the whoops. Is that "bike setup" or IDGAF? He KNOWS his real comp is hitting those combos, he KNOWS he should be hitting those combos...but doesn't give it a shot?

So can we say Chase “gave up”/ “quit”?

no - I just find it quite indicative of where his mind is at = "ain't no way I'm hitting those combos or I might die"

1

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