Sexton racing this weekend or out again?

3/26/2026 12:12pm
As soon as everyone grasps and accepts that each race for Sexton and Kawi this year is a test session to gain data for next years...

As soon as everyone grasps and accepts that each race for Sexton and Kawi this year is a test session to gain data for next years run it won’t hurt anyone’s feelings anymore. 

Very limited data at Kawi for a race bike. 

It’s a 3 year contract. Should be dialed by year 3. 
✌️

Flatliner wrote:

No,  no.

They aren't paying 2mil a year to test during year one.

So you think they are paying $6mill for 3 championships?

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Flatliner
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3/26/2026 12:17pm Edited Date/Time 3/26/2026 12:18pm
As soon as everyone grasps and accepts that each race for Sexton and Kawi this year is a test session to gain data for next years...

As soon as everyone grasps and accepts that each race for Sexton and Kawi this year is a test session to gain data for next years run it won’t hurt anyone’s feelings anymore. 

Very limited data at Kawi for a race bike. 

It’s a 3 year contract. Should be dialed by year 3. 
✌️

Flatliner wrote:

No,  no.

They aren't paying 2mil a year to test during year one.

So you think they are paying $6mill for 3 championships?

I think he's being paid to be a top contending rider indoors and out, and first year he's expected to win, more than once.

No top guy signs a new deal and gets a test year.

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RDnutz
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3/26/2026 12:20pm
As soon as everyone grasps and accepts that each race for Sexton and Kawi this year is a test session to gain data for next years...

As soon as everyone grasps and accepts that each race for Sexton and Kawi this year is a test session to gain data for next years run it won’t hurt anyone’s feelings anymore. 

Very limited data at Kawi for a race bike. 

It’s a 3 year contract. Should be dialed by year 3. 
✌️

RDnutz wrote:
So you think Kawi paid the big $ to have him be a test development rider? That doesn't sound like a traditional method for developing your...

So you think Kawi paid the big $ to have him be a test development rider? That doesn't sound like a traditional method for developing your race program and assimilating your newest star rider. Pretty sure they want all that done BEFORE the actual season starts?

Kawi has very little data from last season for the race bike. 

Kawi will be more than happy with a championship within 3yrs. 

Wouldn’t you?

wrong on all 3 points IMO

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Mototech853
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3/26/2026 3:34pm

Kawi has very little data from last season for the race bike. 

Kawi will be more than happy with a championship within 3yrs. 

Wouldn’t you?

I think it’s been mentioned they have a new bike for 2027. If so that could put them right back where they started this season so there goes year two. Two seasons of testing and one of racing?

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The Shop

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3/26/2026 4:23pm
I think it’s been mentioned they have a new bike for 2027. If so that could put them right back where they started this season so...

I think it’s been mentioned they have a new bike for 2027. If so that could put them right back where they started this season so there goes year two. Two seasons of testing and one of racing?

That’s a real thing, every time a new bike comes out it takes a year or so to get it at its best. Development time makes a difference, look at how much the yellow bike has improved over the last few decades since it’s last redesign!

sorta kidding about the Zuk..

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USA
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3/26/2026 5:17pm Edited Date/Time 3/26/2026 5:18pm

I was kind of having a bad day, but it always cheers me up to get on Vital and see how valiantly people defend their idiotic theories

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The Wolf Man
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3/26/2026 9:12pm

He's racing...he's no longer 'banged up' and has managed to get rid of his Epstein Barr...

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3/26/2026 11:08pm

Kawi has very little data from last season for the race bike. 

Kawi will be more than happy with a championship within 3yrs. 

Wouldn’t you?

I think it’s been mentioned they have a new bike for 2027. If so that could put them right back where they started this season so...

I think it’s been mentioned they have a new bike for 2027. If so that could put them right back where they started this season so there goes year two. Two seasons of testing and one of racing?

They are testing this year to have a Chase tested design for next year. 

Outdoors will be a new frame. 

Flatliner
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3/27/2026 8:17am

Kawi has very little data from last season for the race bike. 

Kawi will be more than happy with a championship within 3yrs. 

Wouldn’t you?

I think it’s been mentioned they have a new bike for 2027. If so that could put them right back where they started this season so...

I think it’s been mentioned they have a new bike for 2027. If so that could put them right back where they started this season so there goes year two. Two seasons of testing and one of racing?

They are testing this year to have a Chase tested design for next year. 

Outdoors will be a new frame. 

You think they'll have 27' models in the country by may?  When RV got the 12' frame he didn't get it till august.

Johnny Ringo
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3/27/2026 8:19am

Should be top 10 with some help

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Nairb#70
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3/27/2026 10:13am

Should be top 10 with some help

EVERYONE else is injured and out, isn't that enough help?

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3/27/2026 10:49am

If it is a new bike for 27 then i think he should ride all WSX & use that for testing & at least start the year semi comfortable/ confident.

Press516
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3/27/2026 10:52am

Chase no doubt see's a bit of this negativity posted about him...  I suspect he's developing a little chip on his shoulder.  Let's hope it stays the metaphorical type of chip, not literal.  He could come out firing, top the chart on qualifying and be a threat to win tomorrow...  Or he could over do it and make a lot of mistakes and roll across the line in P6.  We just don't know.

But the best part, we all want more fast guys on the line and that's what having Chase back is...

DonM
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3/27/2026 11:12am
If it is a new bike for 27 then i think he should ride all WSX & use that for testing & at least start the...

If it is a new bike for 27 then i think he should ride all WSX & use that for testing & at least start the year semi comfortable/ confident.

LOL!!!! Apparently you are unaware of Kawi USA stance on international racing…won’t happen with the current leadership

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Kenny Banyan
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3/27/2026 11:19am
davistld01 wrote:

Sexton on the podium this Saturday! 

Anything is possible when this extremely talented head case throws his leg over a motorcycle. 💯🔥

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SrfNdirt
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3/27/2026 4:38pm

Officially back on a "mostly stock" bike 😎

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Spike33
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3/27/2026 5:50pm

8th in the heat and doesn’t lineup for the main 

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ando
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3/27/2026 5:52pm
SrfNdirt wrote:

Officially back on a "mostly stock" bike 😎

That short interview with Lewis was terrible.  Would have been more informative if he’d said the bike was still mostly green.

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3/28/2026 4:36am Edited Date/Time 3/28/2026 4:54am
SrfNdirt wrote:

Officially back on a "mostly stock" bike 😎

ando wrote:

That short interview with Lewis was terrible.  Would have been more informative if he’d said the bike was still mostly green.

I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of the championship, it made sense to sit out Birmingham as well so he got an extra 2 weeks to get ready to return.  Second, he described the crash and didn’t say a thing about a bike failure as was speculated earlier.  Finally, he said he was working on himself rather than focusing on further changes with the bike.  Sounded to me like a guy who knows that whether the bike is perfect for him or not, he needs to pull his head out of his ass and ride like Chase Sexton is capable of riding.  He might not be capable of a podium this weekend, but he sure didn’t sound hopeless to me.  All eyes are on him this weekend.  I guess we’ll see how he handles that pressure soon.

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ando
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3/28/2026 4:43am
I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of...

I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of the championship, it made sense to sit out Birmingham as well so he got an extra 2 weeks to get ready to return.  Second, he described the crash and didn’t say a thing about a bike failure as was speculated earlier.  Finally, he said he was working on himself rather than focusing on further changes with the bike.  Sounded to me like a guy who knows that whether the bike is perfect for him or not, he needs to pull his head out of his ass and ride like Chase Sexton is capable of riding.  He might not be capable of a podium this weekend, but he sure didn’t sound hopeless to me.  All eyes are on him this weekend.  I guess we’ll see how he handles that pressure soon.

I must have watched a short excerpt; they were only talking about bike setup.

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3/28/2026 4:53am
I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of...

I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of the championship, it made sense to sit out Birmingham as well so he got an extra 2 weeks to get ready to return.  Second, he described the crash and didn’t say a thing about a bike failure as was speculated earlier.  Finally, he said he was working on himself rather than focusing on further changes with the bike.  Sounded to me like a guy who knows that whether the bike is perfect for him or not, he needs to pull his head out of his ass and ride like Chase Sexton is capable of riding.  He might not be capable of a podium this weekend, but he sure didn’t sound hopeless to me.  All eyes are on him this weekend.  I guess we’ll see how he handles that pressure soon.

ando wrote:

I must have watched a short excerpt; they were only talking about bike setup.

I listen to the whole interview while driving to Detroit yesterday.  Definitely the most interesting storyline of the weekend.

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Indy mxer
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3/28/2026 9:14am
SrfNdirt wrote:

Officially back on a "mostly stock" bike 😎

ando wrote:

That short interview with Lewis was terrible.  Would have been more informative if he’d said the bike was still mostly green.

I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of...

I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of the championship, it made sense to sit out Birmingham as well so he got an extra 2 weeks to get ready to return.  Second, he described the crash and didn’t say a thing about a bike failure as was speculated earlier.  Finally, he said he was working on himself rather than focusing on further changes with the bike.  Sounded to me like a guy who knows that whether the bike is perfect for him or not, he needs to pull his head out of his ass and ride like Chase Sexton is capable of riding.  He might not be capable of a podium this weekend, but he sure didn’t sound hopeless to me.  All eyes are on him this weekend.  I guess we’ll see how he handles that pressure soon.

Very well said. That was pretty much my take as well.

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Motofinne
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3/28/2026 11:15am Edited Date/Time 3/28/2026 11:15am

One interesting thing is that Matthes said on his podcast with Blair that he has heard that they have made progress with the bike but Sexton himself is on record with Lewis yesterday with the fact that no progress regarding the bike has happened during the time off. Makes you wonder how much you can trust the info the team is sending out to the media.

 

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truck
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3/28/2026 11:23am
Motofinne wrote:
One interesting thing is that Matthes said on his podcast with Blair that he has heard that they have made progress with the bike but Sexton...

One interesting thing is that Matthes said on his podcast with Blair that he has heard that they have made progress with the bike but Sexton himself is on record with Lewis yesterday with the fact that no progress regarding the bike has happened during the time off. Makes you wonder how much you can trust the info the team is sending out to the media.

 

Maybe, but my theory putting it all together is that the recent progress has led them back to more or less where they started. They've found their way out of the wilderness. That's why the team says they made progress while sexton says not much has changed on the bike and he spent the time working on himself. If, big if.... Sexton has accepted that the bike he came into the season with is the best version they're going to find and it's up to him to make the most of it.... that would potentially be some real progress. 

Also could still be a disaster and this is just wishful thinking on my part. 

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Spike33
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3/28/2026 11:34am

Detroit round always feels so flat. Might be time to take it off the schedule. 

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truck
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3/28/2026 11:49am
Spike33 wrote:

Detroit round always feels so flat. Might be time to take it off the schedule. 

I don't even consider going to rounds where pits aren't open. It's like going to half the event. Crazy to me that there's still several rounds like this. 

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vdrsnk04
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3/28/2026 11:52am
Motofinne wrote:
One interesting thing is that Matthes said on his podcast with Blair that he has heard that they have made progress with the bike but Sexton...

One interesting thing is that Matthes said on his podcast with Blair that he has heard that they have made progress with the bike but Sexton himself is on record with Lewis yesterday with the fact that no progress regarding the bike has happened during the time off. Makes you wonder how much you can trust the info the team is sending out to the media.

 

He said they made some adjustments to the bike before he got injured. So that’s true as well. But since the injury he focused on bettering himself, not the bike. Per the interview with big Lew.

snowy816
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3/28/2026 2:56pm
SrfNdirt wrote:

Officially back on a "mostly stock" bike 😎

ando wrote:

That short interview with Lewis was terrible.  Would have been more informative if he’d said the bike was still mostly green.

I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of...

I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of the championship, it made sense to sit out Birmingham as well so he got an extra 2 weeks to get ready to return.  Second, he described the crash and didn’t say a thing about a bike failure as was speculated earlier.  Finally, he said he was working on himself rather than focusing on further changes with the bike.  Sounded to me like a guy who knows that whether the bike is perfect for him or not, he needs to pull his head out of his ass and ride like Chase Sexton is capable of riding.  He might not be capable of a podium this weekend, but he sure didn’t sound hopeless to me.  All eyes are on him this weekend.  I guess we’ll see how he handles that pressure soon.

I agree he said allot really, what I find interesting and makes me wonder allot of suspension work and mostly stock engine (which is far from us mortal stock engines). Maybe the problem was the Prado engine was causing his issues with handling - remember Kawaski only have last year to go off which Reed said his engines has stupid fast / powerful. So if their initial engine spec was more Prado lopsided was Chase issue? More power creates harder suspension set up.

 

Maybe?

snowy816
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3/28/2026 3:00pm
ando wrote:

That short interview with Lewis was terrible.  Would have been more informative if he’d said the bike was still mostly green.

I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of...

I disagree.  First off, he confirmed that he really was too injured to race Daytona and Indy, and decided that since he was already out of the championship, it made sense to sit out Birmingham as well so he got an extra 2 weeks to get ready to return.  Second, he described the crash and didn’t say a thing about a bike failure as was speculated earlier.  Finally, he said he was working on himself rather than focusing on further changes with the bike.  Sounded to me like a guy who knows that whether the bike is perfect for him or not, he needs to pull his head out of his ass and ride like Chase Sexton is capable of riding.  He might not be capable of a podium this weekend, but he sure didn’t sound hopeless to me.  All eyes are on him this weekend.  I guess we’ll see how he handles that pressure soon.

snowy816 wrote:
I agree he said allot really, what I find interesting and makes me wonder allot of suspension work and mostly stock engine (which is far from...

I agree he said allot really, what I find interesting and makes me wonder allot of suspension work and mostly stock engine (which is far from us mortal stock engines). Maybe the problem was the Prado engine was causing his issues with handling - remember Kawaski only have last year to go off which Reed said his engines has stupid fast / powerful. So if their initial engine spec was more Prado lopsided was Chase issue? More power creates harder suspension set up.

 

Maybe?

Also from timed qualifying he looks more flowing in corners as before he looked very hesitant , like stop in apex point and shoot. Also he looked terrible IMO in the whoops first few rounds.

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Mavetism
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3/28/2026 6:56pm

Welcome back Chase! Looking good all day, no crashes, 2nd place. Good to see.

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