Panic Button for Chase/Kawi?

3/24/2026 6:11pm
insertinfo wrote:
HONDAKTMYAMAHA!!!!!!!! This bike/frame has literally NO LOAD TRANSFER!!!!!!!!And this is the 2025 pig Prado and Chase have been dealing with. Big head placed in the only...
2025-HONDA-CRF450-1 e-scaled

HONDA

2025-KTM-450SXFengine

KTM

2025-YAMAHA-YZ450F-6 e-scaled 0.jpg?VersionId=5

YAMAHA!!!!!!!! This bike/frame has literally NO LOAD TRANSFER!!!!!!!!

2025-KAWASAKI-KX450-3 e-1-1536x1024.jpg?VersionId=uDoNeJdvvZYaHxLTkNL75v7U

And this is the 2025 pig Prado and Chase have been dealing with. Big head placed in the only way possible... Sorry but Kawasaki engineers need to get some things sorted... Since the Villopoto days in 11/12/13/14... Same problem. Other brands have advanced, kawasaki is standing still.


Sorry for my bad english, not many will understand but that's what it is...

They would fix the issue if they knew what it was. 

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Tyler D
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3/24/2026 7:13pm

@insertinfo , the honda looks canted farther forward than the kawi. kawi it appears theyve made efforts to slim the head. 

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USA
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3/24/2026 7:28pm

Kawasaki? More like, Kawa-sucky!! 

I'm here til Thursday 

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kiwifan
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3/24/2026 8:56pm Edited Date/Time 3/24/2026 8:57pm
OwenJakes wrote:
A guy went from winning titles and being world class on a KTM to struggling to be the rider they really are on a Kawasaki? Have we...

A guy went from winning titles and being world class on a KTM to struggling to be the rider they really are on a Kawasaki? 
Have we seen this before?

kiwifan wrote:

Seemed to me he was winning titles on the Honda too 

Go back and look at his first season of SX on the Honda 450.  Wasn’t much winning going on.  I believe he finished 12th in points.

Why would I be referring to his first season (although that was his first 450 season as a rookie) fact is he won a few titles on them like it or not 

The Shop

The Wolf Man
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3/24/2026 9:12pm
insertinfo wrote:
HONDAKTMYAMAHA!!!!!!!! This bike/frame has literally NO LOAD TRANSFER!!!!!!!!And this is the 2025 pig Prado and Chase have been dealing with. Big head placed in the only...
2025-HONDA-CRF450-1 e-scaled

HONDA

2025-KTM-450SXFengine

KTM

2025-YAMAHA-YZ450F-6 e-scaled 0.jpg?VersionId=5

YAMAHA!!!!!!!! This bike/frame has literally NO LOAD TRANSFER!!!!!!!!

2025-KAWASAKI-KX450-3 e-1-1536x1024.jpg?VersionId=uDoNeJdvvZYaHxLTkNL75v7U

And this is the 2025 pig Prado and Chase have been dealing with. Big head placed in the only way possible... Sorry but Kawasaki engineers need to get some things sorted... Since the Villopoto days in 11/12/13/14... Same problem. Other brands have advanced, kawasaki is standing still.


Sorry for my bad english, not many will understand but that's what it is...

They would fix the issue if they knew what it was. 

A torn labia is the rumour floating aound the industry...

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MrMoto
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3/24/2026 11:54pm Edited Date/Time 3/24/2026 11:59pm
sandman768 wrote:

Obviously not comfortable, hopefully they get it figured out soon……

Chase is watching all of Keefer's vids and pods about bolts and engine mounts making the difference...   they may become secret lovers...

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BS12
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3/25/2026 12:44am
What Sexton needs to do is come back and qualify at P1, then holeshot and lead every lap of his heat and the main.  And then...

What Sexton needs to do is come back and qualify at P1, then holeshot and lead every lap of his heat and the main.  And then all will be forgiven…

Ehh, wait for the following week's results and how he backs it up before making any conclusions. 

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Not hillbilly
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3/25/2026 2:54am
What Sexton needs to do is come back and qualify at P1, then holeshot and lead every lap of his heat and the main.  And then...

What Sexton needs to do is come back and qualify at P1, then holeshot and lead every lap of his heat and the main.  And then all will be forgiven…

BS12 wrote:

Ehh, wait for the following week's results and how he backs it up before making any conclusions. 

True, but the wild part is that we all know Chase is absolutely capable of doing this.

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3/25/2026 6:15am
insertinfo wrote:
HONDAKTMYAMAHA!!!!!!!! This bike/frame has literally NO LOAD TRANSFER!!!!!!!!And this is the 2025 pig Prado and Chase have been dealing with. Big head placed in the only...
2025-HONDA-CRF450-1 e-scaled

HONDA

2025-KTM-450SXFengine

KTM

2025-YAMAHA-YZ450F-6 e-scaled 0.jpg?VersionId=5

YAMAHA!!!!!!!! This bike/frame has literally NO LOAD TRANSFER!!!!!!!!

2025-KAWASAKI-KX450-3 e-1-1536x1024.jpg?VersionId=uDoNeJdvvZYaHxLTkNL75v7U

And this is the 2025 pig Prado and Chase have been dealing with. Big head placed in the only way possible... Sorry but Kawasaki engineers need to get some things sorted... Since the Villopoto days in 11/12/13/14... Same problem. Other brands have advanced, kawasaki is standing still.


Sorry for my bad english, not many will understand but that's what it is...

"Since the Villopoto days in 11/12/13/14... Same problem"

He won the supercross title in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. 

32 supercross wins during those seasons.

Not saying their isn't room for improvement in the design, but Ryan had massive success on the KX450.

I will point out again, regardless of design, it took Honda 20 years to win another premier supercross title. Why?

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3/29/2026 1:52am

This thread is pretty quiet after last night 😅

 

Very happy to see him on the podium. That being said, let's see how he does next week. 

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BossWool2800
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3/29/2026 3:29am

At least there’s a green bike out there.

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3/29/2026 3:56am

This thread is pretty quiet after last night 😅

 

Very happy to see him on the podium. That being said, let's see how he does next week. 

Just another day in the office as a Chase fan. Great result his first race back from injury. I know to temper my emotions as he could be lost next week. I just want him to be fully up to speed and healthy for mx, at this point. 

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shortty761
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3/29/2026 4:12am

At least there’s a green bike out there.

Marchbanks brought home 10th as well which is pretty damn good imo with who’s he is up against

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davistld01
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3/29/2026 4:37am

In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the rest of the bike. Here he is, going back to stock and getting second! Yeah, maybe he is a head case…

…but maybe the factory Kawasaki DOES indeed suck?

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wrc777
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3/29/2026 5:18am
davistld01 wrote:
In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the...

In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the rest of the bike. Here he is, going back to stock and getting second! Yeah, maybe he is a head case…

…but maybe the factory Kawasaki DOES indeed suck?

Both things can be true at the same time. 

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VHM
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3/29/2026 5:42am
davistld01 wrote:
In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the...

In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the rest of the bike. Here he is, going back to stock and getting second! Yeah, maybe he is a head case…

…but maybe the factory Kawasaki DOES indeed suck?

Jason Weigandt says it`s a totally different engine package from his last race but it`s not a stock motor, from 9:05

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CPR
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3/29/2026 5:43am
davistld01 wrote:
In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the...

In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the rest of the bike. Here he is, going back to stock and getting second! Yeah, maybe he is a head case…

…but maybe the factory Kawasaki DOES indeed suck?

When I heard Sexton saying “stock” on press day, I was wondering if stock means the same thing to him as you and me?

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3/29/2026 5:45am

Whatever he did, he looked good. Still doesn’t look like he trusts the bike, but it looked much better than it has.  

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1
3/29/2026 6:09am

First race back from an injury. Zero pressure, zero expectations, shocker he rode very well. It's always Chase, not the bike. And if I had a favorite rider, it's Chase. But we all know it 

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aees
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3/29/2026 6:19am
davistld01 wrote:
In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the...

In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the rest of the bike. Here he is, going back to stock and getting second! Yeah, maybe he is a head case…

…but maybe the factory Kawasaki DOES indeed suck?

VHM wrote:

Jason Weigandt says it`s a totally different engine package from his last race but it`s not a stock motor, from 9:05

Engine is guaranteed not stock, but I think Chase is referring to power. Still has factory touch for internals.

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KurtJ99
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3/29/2026 6:22am
davistld01 wrote:
In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the...

In the post-race interview with Lewis, Chase again said his bike had a new motor…and it was “pretty much stock” as was a lot of the rest of the bike. Here he is, going back to stock and getting second! Yeah, maybe he is a head case…

…but maybe the factory Kawasaki DOES indeed suck?

CPR wrote:

When I heard Sexton saying “stock” on press day, I was wondering if stock means the same thing to him as you and me?

Maybe they did the reverse of this Days of Thunder meme. Told him it was a stock motor. Tell the rider whatever he needs to hear. 

YARN | l knew it all along. Harry put on special tires ...

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Leemur891
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3/29/2026 7:58am

Good ride from Chase. Also gifted some positions. Onto the next one with hopes that it isn’t an entirely new bike again. 

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Johnny Ringo
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3/29/2026 8:25am

If he would have ridden this way before he got hurt there wouldn’t have been any drama

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3/29/2026 8:46am

Side note, I think it’s super lame he only does interviews with Lewis when he’s doing good. He’s like a toxic gf, nice one night, cold and dismissive the next. Really doesn’t do his reputation any favors.  

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BossWool2800
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3/29/2026 9:14am
shortty761 wrote:

Marchbanks brought home 10th as well which is pretty damn good imo with who’s he is up against

Yep agreed. Marchbanks looks to be making steady improvements, especially considering his first year on 450s.

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Not hillbilly
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3/29/2026 9:47am
Side note, I think it’s super lame he only does interviews with Lewis when he’s doing good. He’s like a toxic gf, nice one night, cold...

Side note, I think it’s super lame he only does interviews with Lewis when he’s doing good. He’s like a toxic gf, nice one night, cold and dismissive the next. Really doesn’t do his reputation any favors.  

This definitely seems to be true 

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truck
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3/29/2026 10:10am

Lot in here to digest....

"Pretty much stock" engine but different airb box, mapping, exhaust.... is he talking about transmission? Head? Cam? 

My takeaway from the interview is that the bike is still bad but he's accepted it and is trying to make the most of it. Has tried all kinds of different things and it stays basically the same. Focused on starts over the last week or so. 

Little bit different situation than KTM and maybe a little more encouraging? If he can keep his head on his shoulders and just make the most of it he's still good enough to win on this bike.

That wasn't really an option on the KTM because the issue was how inconsistent the bike was. Great at times and then it wasn't. So can't really just accept it and learn to ride around the weaknesses. 

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prozach
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3/29/2026 11:04am

Dudes season would be completely different if he rode exactly the same as he did all season, but started as good as Hunter every race.  He might even have the points lead right now or at least close to it.  

Is that two good starts this season now?  One win and one second in those two races?  

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JazzyJJ
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3/29/2026 11:07am
prozach wrote:
Dudes season would be completely different if he rode exactly the same as he did all season, but started as good as Hunter every race.  He...

Dudes season would be completely different if he rode exactly the same as he did all season, but started as good as Hunter every race.  He might even have the points lead right now or at least close to it.  

Is that two good starts this season now?  One win and one second in those two races?  

So he’d win more if he was better? Amazing 

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