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What do those two scenarios have in common?
That even if he is winning he is a head case. I don’t care if Jett is there or not.
A long time ago a peer in a management position was cycling through direct reports at an alarming rate and blaming them for poor department performance. Our general manager said to him one day - “how many more will it take before I stop looking at them and start looking at you?”
I’d agree but when Jett is on the line it appears Chase just pushes too hard.
With regard to the current situation I don’t think it’s as easy as blaming just one factor. More likely it’s the perfect storm of factors - a bike with dubious potential, a rider who is notoriously bad at setup, and a management team who don’t have the wherewithal to get things right.
The pathways have been different but Chase and Prado have ended up in similar situations. Kawasaki will be the biggest losers in this. They allowed it to happen once which was bad but recoverable; if Chase somehow exits the contract early no factory level rider will want to touch them with a barge pole. Even with a new bike and cleaning house they’ll be in the wilderness for at least a few years.
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Wonder if this is what Phil was talking about when he said he knew what was wrong but couldn't say? He has said before that Jamie is who got his Canadian kawi right.
Maybe I’ve missed confirmation, but is it just the engine that is the complaint? I can’t remember if Prado complained about the engine or chassis first, but I remember both. Has Chase been verbal on both as well?
I dont have any evidence to back this, and it's really just a hunch, but I get the feeling Chase just really really wants something he can't have, like "my last year GEICO 250" in terms of an overall feeling/frokt rear balance, and he won't take "we simply can't give you that" as an answer.
Isn’t Kawasaki known for paying riders very well? I don’t remember where I saw that, but it’s something I remember hearing multiple times over the last 40 years.
Maybe that’s why they keep getting top riders.
Yeah wow, it really is that bad!
How is that Kawi engine builder doing who told Prado to f..up? Does he still have office job at Kawasaki?
he told Chase he's not a champion either in his book
So Dan Fahie can`t confirm or deny if Chase is racing the nationals?!
From 29:45
That is quite telling....
And when asked what he's been impressed with he comes up with "speed" when chase has been well off the pace this year.....
WTF?
Everytime I hop on this thread reading the replies from people defending the team, downplaying the whole situation, "everything is fine", I think ok, maybe they are right to some degree. Its not that bad. And THEN listen to the actual interviews from the people involved it gets worse and worse week by week. Its crazy the manager cant confirm he is racing outdoors. If Chase really parts ways with kawi..who would have thought Prado is the one staying on the Team for MUCH longer ahahahah
Also, listen to what Chase said to Steve yesterday. The one thing hes really frustrating with the bike (turning), the team IS NOT even working on, or in his words "they havent touched on it". Like what kind of shit team is this honestly? 😂
Video should start on the part im refering to:
bro they have time to start working on that, it's only round 16 😂
Someone mentioned they wonder how long before the Kawasaki brass in Japan do something to straighten out this US Factory Team. They are a big part of the problem. They have always resisted feedback on everything. However, after seeing this interview by Team Manager Dan Fahie it's clear that the recent criticism of him and interactions with the riders in the past is sub-par. If he can't confirm Chase is racing the Nationals is beyond embarrassing at this point. If the brass in Japan put their ego's aside and let Pro Circuit run the 450 team they might be better off. Not sure Mitch really wants or can do that but my goodness this is beyond ridiculous at this point.
Pit Row
What I got from his interview is that Kawasaki Japan does not design their bikes to do well in Supercross, they design them to do well in motocross. As such, they have little interest in determining how to change the bike to fix any Supercross-specific problems. Kinda makes sense, as motocross is what all but maybe .000001 percent of global riders participate in.
I think the Kawi team manager shot that question down instantly because it’s just another way of asking if the rumours of Chase and the team already talking about parting ways is true. If Chase is on the team and healthy he’ll be racing outdoors. Kind of a silly question to ask given the context I think.
Not sure I agree with that. Why not just say “Yes”?
youre trolling right?
I took that from his response as well. Just a rejection of the question. Not a good look either way, and frankly nothing would shock me at this point.
The team manager not confirming Chase will be racing the nationals shatters a lot of preconceived notions regarding this team. Including the offseason the team has been working on making the bike right for Chase for at least 6 months. With all the resources of a multi-billion-dollar international corporation's reputation and corporate pride at stake. This is just a single cylinder two wheeled machined not a supersonic jet fighter, it is clearly not a machine issue - how many things can they go over, especially if you take into consideration Chase's previous issues getting along with his past teams. This is worse than imagined, Chase needs to leave, Kawasaki needs a reset as well. This is two premier riders - albeit Prima Donnas - in a row that have flamed out at Kawasaki, what a fiasco.
I think everybody is just scratching their head at this point
Did he say at the end, "it's not one thing, it's many things"?
Whether it's Fahie's fault or not, it's clear that the US Factory team needs a hard reset and restructure.
Prado and Chase clearly aren't the easiest riders on earth to work with but they are just a contiuation of years of poor results and mismanagement for the team at this point and sometimes in business the person at the top simply has to take responsibility. Espcially when so many diferent riders and personaities seem to be having the same recuring issues. When was the last truly good season for kawi in the US? 2022 SX Anderson?
I don’t know what I’d be trolling about. Why would he even entertain that question any more than he did? Besides, he told the truth, between injuries and a potential split no one knows if he will race outdoors or not.
Now the question may be, “Who would be a good team manager to turn Kawi around?”
Jason Thomas talked about Chase wanting things from the bike that were just not possible, like the bike to be quick steering, but low in the back and so forth. While Prado had a whole lot if other issues outside of the bike. But then you hear other riders talking about severe mgmt inflexibility compared to other teams. Either way, they’ve had a complete impasse with two accomplished riders, so there needs to be a critical change in management first.
Your disdain for Prado should be studied it’s so wild.
It’s the bike. Accept it.
Post a reply to: Panic Button for Chase/Kawi?