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The commentary about the 27 bike is interesting. Dan states he doesn't believe it will help the current situation but he later states he doesn't have much information about the bike, or even when he expects to receive it.
Where does each party go from here?
If two top riders split from Kawi in two years no factory rider will touch them with a barge pole for at least a few years.
And where does Chase go? Star Yamaha is the only realistic option but can they pay him what he would want? They now have Deegan on 450, probably Webb on an SX only deal, and they’ll be preparing for Cole Davies to go 450 in 2028.
So with those comments, and the recent events. The likelyhood that Chase Sexton races some other bike starting A1 2027 is probably substantially higher than him staying? Like 70/30 or even 80/20 in favor of Chase packing his bags and leaving the shitshow?
I do wonder if Kawasaki Japan intervene, the US operation is literally wasting millions of dollars at the moment on nothing. Burning through the budget without anything to show for except horredous results and a shattered reputation.
Your boner is showing.
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Yea I got that too, but his rejection of the question doesn't look great and says a lot. If the interviewer was trying for some separating news, he could have squashed it.
Either way, what a wild unfolding of kawi usa. This one could have some long lasting damage in getting riders, sponsors, etc.
Agreed. How can a team be this dysfunctional for this long. Can you imagine performing this poorly at your job and not being fired? This is ridiculous.
There's no way the factory race team has not seen the '27 bike, doesn't know the specs, and doesn't know when they'll get their hands on one, right? Kawi probably already has production units on a boat.
The ‘27 is supposed to be an update of the current bike instead of all-new. Hard to imagine the update fixes a problem the team hasn’t figured out yet. Who knows……
I heard that as well “F U - I’m not confirming or denying the internet rumors” - no matter what they are. IMO no effing way a healthy Chase skips out on Nationals.
Yeah, I'm not sure what to think. Both interviews are confusing to me.
Even though I'm a team green fan, I just don't think it's the bike. Chase won a SX main and placed 2nd at Detroit. And he's also won some heats.
When I watched his interview from yesterday he seems to be a bit all over the map. He says yes the motor is fast, but then says they haven't made much headway, but never says what the issue is. Handling, suspension, motor? Then sort of compliments the team for working hard. Just a weird vibe to me. But I do think it's in his head, he's still looking for the perfect setup. Most of the other riders rarely complain about their bike set up, they just ride.
Like KR said last year when they asked him about Prado, he basically said all the factory bikes are good.
Even if true.. it comes down to do we believe they've tested and tried everything available, or not.
If its not possible to make the kawi do what he wants? Then what? He wasn't happy on the KTM either.
He’s just trying to toe the line and not throw anyone under the bus. Which is smart because he’s gonna have to ride for another team/ brand at some point.
He says his biggest problem is with the turning of the bike but they haven’t really addressed that.
I saw a quote from him last week where he said they're making progress. He was like this at KTM last year as well. Thats why I don't think it's the bike.
But that's just my opinion.
Just PR speak imo. He can’t trash the bike publicly.
Results are speaking for themselves.
How can anyone be surprised by this idiot, not only should he not be running a team he shouldn’t be allowed in front of a microphone….Am I the only one that thinks them going to twisted for testing and not Pro Circuit is eerily similar to when Fisher went to FMF….
I’d argue twisted is more relevant when it’s comes to tuning and engine building then PC these days. And definitely when it comes to ecu tuning.
Star Yamaha went to Enzo for suspension til recently. HEP uses twisted and AEO. Honda used Factory Connection.
It may be a painful realization but I don’t think PC has ever been as irrelevant as they are now.
As I said this feels eerily similar to when Fisher decided to go with FMF…it cost him his job.
More bikes in the pits are tuned by Jamie then by PC.
Pit Row
I’m not disagreeing with you but your perception of Pro Circuit is wrong outside of Star they are the best team in the 250’s and they have a 30yr relationship with factory Kawi you would think that’s the first place they would go 🤷🏼♂️ Maybe Mitch said he couldn’t help but I doubt that. What it really says is how lost these fools are and there is only two people to blame for their fall from grace…they should have been fired when Eli left
if they were doing pipe testing or porting maybe but no one is going to PC for mapping.
I would put Honda 250 effort in recent years above PC and I’d argue club is doing way more with way less.
I don’t see it that way, Mitch has bigger things to worry about like getting his team back to winning before he’s tinkering on any 450 motors imo. Isn’t Twisted doing Kenny’s motors?
To me he's saying it isn't the bike. I'll bet Chase has already made noise that he wants out. So if he leaves where does he go? If you were a viable team would you want to take the risk? The last 3 teams seems to be chasing something either the team or Chase can't out a finger on. With each bike being different, Chase seems to be the inflexible one.
I'm sure Star would be willing to sign him on a 1-2 year deal low base salary deal with performance bonuses. Chase will land on his feet.
Star would take him and then won’t put up with his bullshit. And they will also tell his dad to kick rocks
Yaa, as much as ppl bitch about Brian Deegan, it seems like he’s not out there messing with the bike and trying to make it better himself like Chases pops, or Tony Alessi back in the day.
Oh for sure, i agree with that. But he will land on his feet after this shitshow. But the pressure will be immense to perform on the next team/bike.
Kawasaki is the biggest loser in this. There is not a single elite level rider that would sign for them after this unless they are the only factory option left on the table.
Wasn’t Anderson doing pretty well in SX in 2023ish? What happened between then and now or was Jason just a unicorn that somehow managed to figure the bike out
‘22 and ‘23 were different platforms then the ‘24 and on models. But Anderson out the ‘24 and ‘25 bike on the podium too so 🤷🏻♂️
JCoop? A one for one swap with Chase, maybe?
Why Mitch?
I like the guy, I like PC & I like his team, but……
He hasnt had spades of success in these past few years…
So why do you think Mitch should run the 450 programme?
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