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Typically a huge fan of Lewis's work, I really believe he is becoming one of the premier interviewers in our little sport. But I really think he dropped the ball here. Why didn't he ask either Bruce or Broc how did they manage to come into the season so seemingly unprepared? No off-season races to totally focus on preparation and they still are testing, changing parts, working 80 hours a week to get the bikes right during the season? Tomac is on a bike that is new to him, Webb is on a new bike to him, Suzuki has Anderson on a scooter new to him, numerous 250 riders are on new bikes, yet Kawasaki's 450 team, with the backing of a multi-billion dollar international company is the team that has entered their season seemingly with their pants down. Why are they still so far off on set up, why wasn't this asked? Perhaps there was a pre-arrangement to not ask that question?
Serious question, who developed this generation bike, seems strange they have to fix it after they get it. Seems the development guy should be fired? Unless it was the mxgp. Guys and the buke was developed mors for mx and they figured it would be easy to adapt for sx?
Also seems intresting the Lawrence's seem to get credit for developing the current CRF. are they just better at testing and understanding the motorcycle then Chase?
The bike is really good for average joes, not so good for elite SX/MX speed. If you make it better for professionals then the average rider won't like it as much.
The secrecy in MX/SX is seriously holding back the sport. These teams guard their setups like state secrets, but the levels these guys are chasing are irrelevant to the average guy.
Realistically, I’d probably run a very similar lap time on a clapped-out ’92 CR250 as I would on a 2026 brand new model.
Hiding bike issues or rider drama doesn't protect sales it hurts them because it kills the storytelling, and therefore growth of the sport. Look at what Drive to survive did for F1. The sport has exploded in America in recent year because of the story telling and the behind the curtain view that Netflix gave.
Lewis and Gypsy have doing a great job getting people to open up and creating platforms for people to talk, but we still have a long way to go before enough is shared so that the sport can grow to the level it deserves to be at!
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Give it time, this is mostly a generational thing. Half these teams are being run by guys who have been doing this since before the internet. There was MXA and cycle news and tape delayed broadcasts. They didn't answer to anyone publicly and they like it that way. This notion that these are production bikes and that's why they have to keep everything secret is just the rationale they came up with to justify doing it the way they always wanted to do it to begin with. Ian Harrison says this all the time and I just laugh because he's basically saying well of course I have to lie to you about our bike if something is wrong....
Guys like Lars seem to realize that it's all nonsense and are much more forthcoming with info. The number of people who are dumb enough to think chase sexton being uncomfortable on a bike applies to them and who are also in the market for a new bike is approaching zero.
You can't polish a turd and you're much better off being out in front of issues instead of letting the internet fill the void. Teams figure it out a little more all the time but the Ian Harrison and Bruce Stjernstrom types aren't going to change so it'll take some time.
I apologize sincerely about that. I was a little too hung up on the here and now, so you're right to criticize.
However, Kawasaki put no restrictions on the interview at all. I wouldn't have pressed record in that case.
For what it's worth, I was kicking myself after for not asking for his opinion on starts. Sorry again.
How Broc is still employed makes no sense to me. Nothing against him personally, but he was hired to test the bikes for the factory team and that is clearly not working.
In all fairness, I think pressing Tickle harder until he said something he probably shouldn’t, would have been the wrong approach. All that would do is make him the scapegoat and maybe cost him his job.
The Kawi head honchos are the ones that need to be grilled.
The interview was good as it is imo.
That's what I got from it too. Brocks awesome... But it sounds like the bike is being set up for a 8-12 place guy, when Prado and Sexton are elite top level guys. I just don't think Brock is pushing the bike that last 2-5%....
The thing is , its a balancing act between getting a good interview, and making the whole thing uncomfortable.
If you you call it out for what we can all see it is, who wins?
Since you wrote this, Sexton is out of Daytona, and everyone is looking back to 2025 and going ' here we go again' .
It was a great interview, Broc came out of it well IMO , he is just a guy doing what he is told in a corporate world.
And i have been in that position, where i can ask a question, that i know wont be well received and cant be answered, and have also chosen not to do it, because otherwise next time you ask for time, it will be a no.
You can give people a chance to make a point without being confrontational.
Conversely, you could have a conversation with Prado, Ben Watson, Mitch Evans, Seewer, and Weimer, and they could tell us things that we both know to be true, and have done for 10 years, on both sides of the pond, but what does it really achieve.
Dont beat yourself up, its been a good month of content.
He is only responsible for half the work according to Kawi/him. He tests, give feedback. Team decides what actions to take, what to put on the bike or what to adjust. That process is broken.
It's more likely a way of working and cultural issue.
Firing Tickle most likely wouldn't resolve the problem since the method they seem to be using is limiting his capability to affect the results.
You're right. It all starts at the top.
I agree. There's more behind the curtain that you can't see. Broc seems to be a sincere guy and a gamer.
Maybe the bike frame itself has serious limitations for elite riders? Maybe Kawi overlords won't let him implement recommendations changes?
You can't just blame him.
In my experience, test riding can only tell you that ‘A’ is better than ‘B’ (and stopwatch either confirms, or not).
Knowing what to then try as ‘C’ is difficult.
No apologies needed Lewis, nobody else is doing these interviews. It was just an oversight, you had a lot of good questions. To me I am just bewildered by that one you missed, why do they feel they can be so far off after an entire off season focused on set-up? I can't help but think everybody got just that much faster.
There’s one common denominator and it’s Chase. He hasn’t ever been able to setup a 450. He and Kenny were always searching on the Honda. Same with KTM and now Kawi. I did not think his speed would be as affected by the Kawi switch so I think the team is lost as well.
Maybe this will cause some self reflection and Kawi will restructure there race program
It’s not broc, it’s not the bike itself, it’s not chase, it’s not Prado. It’s the team. It’s exactly the same as team Yamaha before star turned it around.
Listen to the interviews around when star took over the 450 program. Everyone hated that bike before star got it. Then all of a sudden star is able to find 15 lbs to shave off the bike, dump all the dumb ass overbuilt way too rigid fork lugs, triple clamps, axles whatever else they went the wrong way with and within weeks or months went from the bike riders careers went to die on, to the bike that took ferrandis Webb and Tomac straight to the top of the box.
It’s the team. The team is full of baby boomers with more ego than talent. More ego than sense. More ego than technical skills. It’s the baby boomer way: it’s a work culture issue.
I don’t disagree and its compounded because of chase’s historical struggles of setting up a 450.
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Broc made it perfectly clear that he is not deciding anything, he just gives opinions on the parts and set ups he is given. He stated that several times I believe.
People rave about the chassis and handling. Engine is the only real complaint and that can be addressed easily. I can’t understand how it can be this difficult to set-up as a pro level race bike. Baffling.
Yep the thought out there that it’s good for joes and not for pros is literally mathes with zero insight. The bike isn’t good for pros if your team setting it up is in outer space with too much ego to ever come back to reality.
I think broc himself said the stock bike handles amazing, it’s what the team does to it that has them struggling.
Very much agree.
I know this isn't supercross, but Ricky Russell got on a KX450 a week or two before the first JDay race this past week and absolutely crushed in in brutal sand conditions (STOCK exhaust system btw 😆) There were some have hitters there. Factory KTM's Ben Kelly, Zach Osbone, Tyler Medaglia, really the top 15 were all hammering. 2 30 minute motos at this pace is something.
A fine example or rider, not the motorcycle.
Some crazy drone footage via Facebook, Ian Howes. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1189260269704318
But is he helping? Canard definitely helps Honda, Chiz was instrumental in getting Roczen's bike "close". Kawi is a complete disaster and maybe he shouldn't be gone altogether, but something needs to be done.
This is not a knock on tickle, but he knows his role, and the people who put him in that role don't want him stepping outside of it. Chiz worked under Larry Brooks in a factory support effort. Not a lot being dictated from above. Canard works under Lars and for a phenom and his family who are smart enough to soak up knowledge from anyone they can. No ego. Also seems like canard has been to Japan working on production stuff plenty of times too. With the current setup at kawasaki you can't determine much at all about tickle ability as a test rider. Firing him accomplishes nothing.
Makes me wonder what they changed on the ‘27. Do you messed with a great chassis to please pro level ridders only? Going to be interesting.
Good question. Maybe subtle changes to the chassis and suspension?
I would expect changes to the airbox design, maybe similar to what the teams are using?
A new air filter design would be a must for me. I love my 24 but the air filter design should get some engineer fired.
Canard was the test rider for Honda during Chase's time there, and Chase was pretty unhappy with that scooter too.
Am I the only one shocked that Kawasaki didn't take or ask for any input from Tickle on the 2027? That Tickle hasn't even seen a 2027?
Did you eventually get the bike to your liking?
Post a reply to: Broc Tickle podcast on Kawasaki's situation