Panic Button for Chase/Kawi?

Spike33
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Malibu, CA US
3/15/2026 12:58pm
This thread is so long I'm starting to just skim posts so maybe I missed something. Are you using 2015 Tomac as the pinnacle of a...

This thread is so long I'm starting to just skim posts so maybe I missed something. Are you using 2015 Tomac as the pinnacle of a racer jelling with a bike? He lasted 5 motos out of 24. Cool he did win a couple motos by a minute though. Did they give him extra points for winning by so much?

Yes. An extra point was given. Do you not watch the races? 

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3
3/15/2026 1:32pm
Gravel wrote:

This is solid wisdom for people working in a small industry. Best single post in 24 pages.

Your reputation is valuable..

soggy wrote:

I think the only bridge he maybe burnt was ktm.  He’ll have factory rides as long as he wants to race. 

PNWMXer wrote:
I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team...

I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team that busted their ass for him. No “thanks,” “f you,” nothing-just gone. 

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ 

Chase didn’t even respond. 

I’m confident He won’t ride for HRC whilst Lars in in the chair..

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3
3/15/2026 1:43pm
soggy wrote:

I think the only bridge he maybe burnt was ktm.  He’ll have factory rides as long as he wants to race. 

PNWMXer wrote:
I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team...

I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team that busted their ass for him. No “thanks,” “f you,” nothing-just gone. 

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ Chase didn’t...

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ 

Chase didn’t even respond. 

I’m confident He won’t ride for HRC whilst Lars in in the chair..

I heard about that on a podcast. Maybe Pulp? That's such a classless move. Even when I got laid off last year with no severance (not even a thank you) after busting my butt for old employer for years, I still thanked them for the opportunity. 

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Johnny Ringo
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3/15/2026 7:39pm
aees wrote:
Exactly, just as Tomac 2015 on that Honda would have beaten Jett at that time. Some here don't feel the different of a click on the track...

Exactly, just as Tomac 2015 on that Honda would have beaten Jett at that time. 

Some here don't feel the different of a click on the track, how can they possibly understand the impact settings and setup have.

This thread is so long I'm starting to just skim posts so maybe I missed something. Are you using 2015 Tomac as the pinnacle of a...

This thread is so long I'm starting to just skim posts so maybe I missed something. Are you using 2015 Tomac as the pinnacle of a racer jelling with a bike? He lasted 5 motos out of 24. Cool he did win a couple motos by a minute though. Did they give him extra points for winning by so much?

aees wrote:

Yes.

Why did Eli go to Kawi then? He is on record saying he hated that Honda 

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11

The Shop

145mx
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3/15/2026 8:07pm

Theyve literally brought in Villopoto to try set the bike up better, a well known rear steerer, kawasaki are so lost theyre willing to try anything at the moment.

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3/15/2026 9:32pm
soggy wrote:

I think the only bridge he maybe burnt was ktm.  He’ll have factory rides as long as he wants to race. 

PNWMXer wrote:
I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team...

I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team that busted their ass for him. No “thanks,” “f you,” nothing-just gone. 

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ Chase didn’t...

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ 

Chase didn’t even respond. 

I’m confident He won’t ride for HRC whilst Lars in in the chair..

Yep. Lars knows how to behave as a businessman and a gentleman. I'm not so sure about Keir, and I pity Chase for being born under him. 

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3/15/2026 9:53pm
145mx wrote:
Theyve literally brought in Villopoto to try set the bike up better, a well known rear steerer, kawasaki are so lost theyre willing to try anything...

Theyve literally brought in Villopoto to try set the bike up better, a well known rear steerer, kawasaki are so lost theyre willing to try anything at the moment.

What could possibly go wrong?

1
Tyler D
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3/15/2026 10:06pm Edited Date/Time 3/15/2026 10:08pm
soggy wrote:

I think the only bridge he maybe burnt was ktm.  He’ll have factory rides as long as he wants to race. 

PNWMXer wrote:
I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team...

I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team that busted their ass for him. No “thanks,” “f you,” nothing-just gone. 

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ Chase didn’t...

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ 

Chase didn’t even respond. 

I’m confident He won’t ride for HRC whilst Lars in in the chair..

at this point now i REALLY wanna know why stewart and chase parted ways. i always figured stewart had a decent slice of the blame pie given he went through a flaky period, but not now. JS7 told sexton what he needed to change and sexton and his dad thought they knew better and didn't listen? if there's one guy who chase should be able to relate and listen to, its stewart, given their similarities. stew learned some things the hard way for sure that would help him. would love to know what went down there

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CR92
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Fantasy
3/15/2026 10:22pm

Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. 

What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be waiting with some popcorn.

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3/16/2026 12:08pm

Chase hasn’t even earned the right to act like he does in my opinion. I wouldn’t hire him.

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4
3/16/2026 12:46pm
CR92 wrote:
Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be...

Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. 

What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be waiting with some popcorn.

From what I’ve gathered, his dad is his quasi practice mech. His input translates over to Chase’s race bike setups whether it’s right or wrong. Factories eventually get tired of the incorrect input and bike setup demands, and subsequent complaints when something isn’t gelling. I’m sure others have better or specific examples.

1
aees
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3/16/2026 1:33pm
This thread is so long I'm starting to just skim posts so maybe I missed something. Are you using 2015 Tomac as the pinnacle of a...

This thread is so long I'm starting to just skim posts so maybe I missed something. Are you using 2015 Tomac as the pinnacle of a racer jelling with a bike? He lasted 5 motos out of 24. Cool he did win a couple motos by a minute though. Did they give him extra points for winning by so much?

aees wrote:

Yes.

Why did Eli go to Kawi then? He is on record saying he hated that Honda 

He was already signed with kawi long before outdoor started. 

Johnny Ringo
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3/16/2026 1:49pm
aees wrote:

Yes.

Why did Eli go to Kawi then? He is on record saying he hated that Honda 

aees wrote:

He was already signed with kawi long before outdoor started. 

Because he hated th bike

1
4
3/16/2026 2:22pm
This thread is so long I'm starting to just skim posts so maybe I missed something. Are you using 2015 Tomac as the pinnacle of a...

This thread is so long I'm starting to just skim posts so maybe I missed something. Are you using 2015 Tomac as the pinnacle of a racer jelling with a bike? He lasted 5 motos out of 24. Cool he did win a couple motos by a minute though. Did they give him extra points for winning by so much?

aees wrote:

Yes.

Why did Eli go to Kawi then? He is on record saying he hated that Honda 

I dunno why Ringo’s comment has so many down votes. 

On pulp recently John Tomac was on there talking about Eli switching teams. 
He said that Eli had put in a lot of testing on a new chassis (the 2017 model?) 

And Eli wanted to race that in 2016. Honda told him no, he had to race his old 2015 chassis in 2016. Eli said he’s not riding that chassis for another season- and so he switched to Kawasaki,?

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aees
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3/16/2026 2:28pm

Why did Eli go to Kawi then? He is on record saying he hated that Honda 

aees wrote:

He was already signed with kawi long before outdoor started. 

Because he hated th bike

SX.

1
DownSouth
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3/16/2026 3:04pm
soggy wrote:

I think the only bridge he maybe burnt was ktm.  He’ll have factory rides as long as he wants to race. 

PNWMXer wrote:
I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team...

I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team that busted their ass for him. No “thanks,” “f you,” nothing-just gone. 

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ Chase didn’t...

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ 

Chase didn’t even respond. 

I’m confident He won’t ride for HRC whilst Lars in in the chair..

I don't believe that for a minute. If the Lawrence's left Honda, they would take Chase back in a heartbeat.

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3/16/2026 3:23pm
PNWMXer wrote:
I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team...

I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team that busted their ass for him. No “thanks,” “f you,” nothing-just gone. 

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ Chase didn’t...

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ 

Chase didn’t even respond. 

I’m confident He won’t ride for HRC whilst Lars in in the chair..

DownSouth wrote:

I don't believe that for a minute. If the Lawrence's left Honda, they would take Chase back in a heartbeat.

Sorry, but I don't think you've ever worked at elite levels before. Pride and marking one's territory are big, big factors. 

Do you think Elon Musk will ever work with Reid Hoffman again? Chase ain't going back to Honda. 

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5
3/16/2026 3:27pm
PNWMXer wrote:
I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team...

I don’t think he left the bridge intact at HRC when he packed up and left after his last race without a word to the team that busted their ass for him. No “thanks,” “f you,” nothing-just gone. 

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ Chase didn’t...

Lars is on record as saying he reached out and asked Chase to dinner to thank him for his service & for ‘old times sake’ 

Chase didn’t even respond. 

I’m confident He won’t ride for HRC whilst Lars in in the chair..

DownSouth wrote:

I don't believe that for a minute. If the Lawrence's left Honda, they would take Chase back in a heartbeat.

0 chance

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1
h20
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3/16/2026 3:39pm Edited Date/Time 3/16/2026 3:39pm

Chase Sexton 450 Supercross Career in a nutshell…

Kawasaki has a CHASE sexton problem….


 


 

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Tyler D
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3/16/2026 10:15pm
h20 wrote:

Chase Sexton 450 Supercross Career in a nutshell…

Kawasaki has a CHASE sexton problem….


 


 

you can make a blooper reel for anybody, even dungey, but holy shit this is next level. theres just so many in there where he's clearly not thinking. at all. @1;38 sending it into a flat inside because he's so fixated on beating tomac ahead of him. zero patience. needs ADHD meds stat. 

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Spoonguy
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3/17/2026 5:15am
CR92 wrote:
Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be...

Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. 

What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be waiting with some popcorn.

It is all anecdotal, nobody has come forward with actual things Chase's dad has done that were off course.

4
3/17/2026 6:16am
CR92 wrote:
Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be...

Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. 

What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be waiting with some popcorn.

His dad isn’t really doing anything bad at all.  Him and Chases trainer have told him he needs to just stop being so picky and just learn how to ride the bike. 

5
TalinH112
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Belgrade, MT US
3/17/2026 6:31am
CR92 wrote:
Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be...

Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. 

What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be waiting with some popcorn.

Leemur891 wrote:
From what I’ve gathered, his dad is his quasi practice mech. His input translates over to Chase’s race bike setups whether it’s right or wrong. Factories...

From what I’ve gathered, his dad is his quasi practice mech. His input translates over to Chase’s race bike setups whether it’s right or wrong. Factories eventually get tired of the incorrect input and bike setup demands, and subsequent complaints when something isn’t gelling. I’m sure others have better or specific examples.

Just being a devils advocate here, but if Keir has been Chases mechanic his entire life wouldn’t it make sense that he would know how to set a bike up for his son? It is apparent that Kawi is willing to try pretty much anything, being as Chase showed up fully kitted out on PC suspension and ended up winning, but maybe the factory decided that wasn’t a look they wanted and made him change? I’m just saying we don’t exactly know what’s going on behind closed doors and to place 100% of the blame on Keir isn’t where it’s at IMO. Kawi’s struggles transcend Chase and his dad, as we have seen in recent years. 

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Natester551
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3/17/2026 6:50am
aees wrote:

Yes.

Why did Eli go to Kawi then? He is on record saying he hated that Honda 

aees wrote:

He was already signed with kawi long before outdoor started. 

Eli stated in interviews after he went to Kawi that the Honda had spit him off several times without warning, implying that he had major trust issues with the chassis.  It was a weird deal, because he beat Dungey by over a minute at Hangtown on his FC Honda, and dominated the first 5 motos before he crashed at Lakewood and destroyed his shoulders.  

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3/17/2026 7:38am
I dunno why Ringo’s comment has so many down votes. On pulp recently John Tomac was on there talking about Eli switching teams. He said that Eli had...

I dunno why Ringo’s comment has so many down votes. 

On pulp recently John Tomac was on there talking about Eli switching teams. 
He said that Eli had put in a lot of testing on a new chassis (the 2017 model?) 

And Eli wanted to race that in 2016. Honda told him no, he had to race his old 2015 chassis in 2016. Eli said he’s not riding that chassis for another season- and so he switched to Kawasaki,?

He also said Eli was going to re-sign with Honda but when the day came the guy who was supposed to bring the contract decided to go golfing instead so he signed with Kawi.

4
Johnny Ringo
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3/17/2026 8:08am Edited Date/Time 3/17/2026 8:08am
I dunno why Ringo’s comment has so many down votes. On pulp recently John Tomac was on there talking about Eli switching teams. He said that Eli had...

I dunno why Ringo’s comment has so many down votes. 

On pulp recently John Tomac was on there talking about Eli switching teams. 
He said that Eli had put in a lot of testing on a new chassis (the 2017 model?) 

And Eli wanted to race that in 2016. Honda told him no, he had to race his old 2015 chassis in 2016. Eli said he’s not riding that chassis for another season- and so he switched to Kawasaki,?

He also said Eli was going to re-sign with Honda but when the day came the guy who was supposed to bring the contract decided to...

He also said Eli was going to re-sign with Honda but when the day came the guy who was supposed to bring the contract decided to go golfing instead so he signed with Kawi.

Because he had a bad race and disliked the bike that weekend. If he would have signed before the race, done deal. You missed that part

3/17/2026 8:41am

Because he had a bad race and disliked the bike that weekend. If he would have signed before the race, done deal. You missed that part

Yeah maybe I missed that part. He couldn’t have hated the bike that much if he was prepared to re-sign though. I would guess the contract deal irritated him a bit and was part of why he made those comments. 

captmoto
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3/17/2026 8:49am
145mx wrote:
Theyve literally brought in Villopoto to try set the bike up better, a well known rear steerer, kawasaki are so lost theyre willing to try anything...

Theyve literally brought in Villopoto to try set the bike up better, a well known rear steerer, kawasaki are so lost theyre willing to try anything at the moment.

What could possibly go wrong?

How could this hurt? When I first heard of this the first thing I thought is RV is a rear steer guy. Kawi already has MC2 so what's going on here?

3/17/2026 9:48am
CR92 wrote:
Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be...

Okay, curiosity is getting me. So many on here are putting blame on Chases dad, Keir. 

What is he doing? Anyone have some good stories? I'll be waiting with some popcorn.

Leemur891 wrote:
From what I’ve gathered, his dad is his quasi practice mech. His input translates over to Chase’s race bike setups whether it’s right or wrong. Factories...

From what I’ve gathered, his dad is his quasi practice mech. His input translates over to Chase’s race bike setups whether it’s right or wrong. Factories eventually get tired of the incorrect input and bike setup demands, and subsequent complaints when something isn’t gelling. I’m sure others have better or specific examples.

TalinH112 wrote:
Just being a devils advocate here, but if Keir has been Chases mechanic his entire life wouldn’t it make sense that he would know how to...

Just being a devils advocate here, but if Keir has been Chases mechanic his entire life wouldn’t it make sense that he would know how to set a bike up for his son? It is apparent that Kawi is willing to try pretty much anything, being as Chase showed up fully kitted out on PC suspension and ended up winning, but maybe the factory decided that wasn’t a look they wanted and made him change? I’m just saying we don’t exactly know what’s going on behind closed doors and to place 100% of the blame on Keir isn’t where it’s at IMO. Kawi’s struggles transcend Chase and his dad, as we have seen in recent years. 

Could go either way for sure and we aren’t going to know the answer on here.

A wise man once told me “Just because you’ve been doing something for XX years, doesn’t mean you’ve been doing it right for XX years.”

1
aees
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3/17/2026 9:59am

Why did Eli go to Kawi then? He is on record saying he hated that Honda 

aees wrote:

He was already signed with kawi long before outdoor started. 

Eli stated in interviews after he went to Kawi that the Honda had spit him off several times without warning, implying that he had major trust...

Eli stated in interviews after he went to Kawi that the Honda had spit him off several times without warning, implying that he had major trust issues with the chassis.  It was a weird deal, because he beat Dungey by over a minute at Hangtown on his FC Honda, and dominated the first 5 motos before he crashed at Lakewood and destroyed his shoulders.  

I think it was mostly SX related because he made the decision early 2015, like after a few rounds. The crash that took him out didn't help in him summarize the Honda adventure.

No matter what, I don't see Tomac winning by a minute on the kawi, he barely won 2-3 motos outdoors the year after, over a full season.

1

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