Dan Fahie post race interview with Lewis

KurtJ99
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5/4/2026 1:57pm

Honda: Been with the Lawrences for several years and through a chassis/model update. Had small problems, worked through them. Top of class.

Suzuki: same chassis / same rider for several years - though Kenny did change alot in previous years he is stable now and knows what he wants.

KTM: Eli knows what he wants out of any bike, KTM knows how to tailor a bike. Jorge returning home so they already know what he needs.

Star Yamaha: Willing to do whatever is needed, has had a few small bobbles with Webb and Haiden before, but nothing chronic - mostly top of class.

and then there's Kawasaki: Neither the team nor the recent riders (Jorge/Chase) can figure out what each other needs to be successful. 

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1
5/4/2026 1:58pm

I feel like this Kawi situation is like Factory Yamaha in 2018/19. The stock bike was winning every shootout but the factory bike looked awful with Webb and Plessinger struggling every weekend. Star took over the 450 program and the bike turned around soon after. The most likely scenario here is that Factory Kawi is screwing up the bike. If Prado and Sexton both drop their multi year contracts year one Kawi needs to change management and or personnel of the team.

19
5/4/2026 2:05pm
motox701 wrote:
1 - Dan grew up racing moto, and is a moto guy through and through. Yes, he worked in road racing, but moto is his first...

1 - Dan grew up racing moto, and is a moto guy through and through. Yes, he worked in road racing, but moto is his first obsession.

2 - The team is now openly discussing how they are testing motor, chassis and suspension options that they would not have otherwise used in the past - does this not seem like they are willing to make tough choices and veer outside of what used to be considered corporate guard rails?

He's in a tough spot, and most folks expected Chase to deliver, and hopefully for all involved, he will. It appears as though that the team is doing whatever they can to move the development of the machine to be more competetive, when in the past, many folks have said Kawi was too rigid to make changes outdside of their pre-defined corporate limits. Now they are, and still taking heat? 

Maybe Chase has a little accountability here as well. Who knows, maybe the way he communicates back to the tuners might be flawed. Maybe actionable steps to improve performance and the directions taken, as a result of Chase's direct feedback has them going in the wrong direction. 

Who knows, but it sure is fun to watch. 

He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps...

He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps when he found out Eli was interested. He ran off Gilly whrn he was doing things with the bike for Eli that he didn’t understand. He ran off the KYB guys when they wanted to make changes to help out Eli. He made Adam run a shit shock because that’s what they ordered from Japan. Now that his house of cards is about to fall, and everyone is putting him under a microscope, he’s suddenly willing to do what it takes to make a rider happy? And you want to excuse him? 

DonM wrote:

Let’s not put all the blame on Dan…there is another culprit…

Yes, so I guess I misspoke, the drunk Jet Skier was the one that set up Millsaps, and did the dirty work.   

4
Buckland
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5/4/2026 2:05pm
Crutcher wrote:

Different OEM at outdoors. It’s done. 

Which one?

3

The Shop

GrapeApe
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5/4/2026 2:07pm
motox701 wrote:
1 - Dan grew up racing moto, and is a moto guy through and through. Yes, he worked in road racing, but moto is his first...

1 - Dan grew up racing moto, and is a moto guy through and through. Yes, he worked in road racing, but moto is his first obsession.

2 - The team is now openly discussing how they are testing motor, chassis and suspension options that they would not have otherwise used in the past - does this not seem like they are willing to make tough choices and veer outside of what used to be considered corporate guard rails?

He's in a tough spot, and most folks expected Chase to deliver, and hopefully for all involved, he will. It appears as though that the team is doing whatever they can to move the development of the machine to be more competetive, when in the past, many folks have said Kawi was too rigid to make changes outdside of their pre-defined corporate limits. Now they are, and still taking heat? 

Maybe Chase has a little accountability here as well. Who knows, maybe the way he communicates back to the tuners might be flawed. Maybe actionable steps to improve performance and the directions taken, as a result of Chase's direct feedback has them going in the wrong direction. 

Who knows, but it sure is fun to watch. 

He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps...

He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps when he found out Eli was interested. He ran off Gilly whrn he was doing things with the bike for Eli that he didn’t understand. He ran off the KYB guys when they wanted to make changes to help out Eli. He made Adam run a shit shock because that’s what they ordered from Japan. Now that his house of cards is about to fall, and everyone is putting him under a microscope, he’s suddenly willing to do what it takes to make a rider happy? And you want to excuse him? 

Didn't Fisher run off Reed? Fahie had a lesser role back then.

3
5/4/2026 2:16pm
motox701 wrote:
1 - Dan grew up racing moto, and is a moto guy through and through. Yes, he worked in road racing, but moto is his first...

1 - Dan grew up racing moto, and is a moto guy through and through. Yes, he worked in road racing, but moto is his first obsession.

2 - The team is now openly discussing how they are testing motor, chassis and suspension options that they would not have otherwise used in the past - does this not seem like they are willing to make tough choices and veer outside of what used to be considered corporate guard rails?

He's in a tough spot, and most folks expected Chase to deliver, and hopefully for all involved, he will. It appears as though that the team is doing whatever they can to move the development of the machine to be more competetive, when in the past, many folks have said Kawi was too rigid to make changes outdside of their pre-defined corporate limits. Now they are, and still taking heat? 

Maybe Chase has a little accountability here as well. Who knows, maybe the way he communicates back to the tuners might be flawed. Maybe actionable steps to improve performance and the directions taken, as a result of Chase's direct feedback has them going in the wrong direction. 

Who knows, but it sure is fun to watch. 

He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps...

He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps when he found out Eli was interested. He ran off Gilly whrn he was doing things with the bike for Eli that he didn’t understand. He ran off the KYB guys when they wanted to make changes to help out Eli. He made Adam run a shit shock because that’s what they ordered from Japan. Now that his house of cards is about to fall, and everyone is putting him under a microscope, he’s suddenly willing to do what it takes to make a rider happy? And you want to excuse him? 

GrapeApe wrote:

Didn't Fisher run off Reed? Fahie had a lesser role back then.

Fahie was the behind the scene guy so to speak. He pushed his way into the managers role in 2011. 

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DonM
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5/4/2026 2:21pm
He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps...

He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps when he found out Eli was interested. He ran off Gilly whrn he was doing things with the bike for Eli that he didn’t understand. He ran off the KYB guys when they wanted to make changes to help out Eli. He made Adam run a shit shock because that’s what they ordered from Japan. Now that his house of cards is about to fall, and everyone is putting him under a microscope, he’s suddenly willing to do what it takes to make a rider happy? And you want to excuse him? 

DonM wrote:

Let’s not put all the blame on Dan…there is another culprit…

Yes, so I guess I misspoke, the drunk Jet Skier was the one that set up Millsaps, and did the dirty work.   

Yup…that guy…

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2
GrapeApe
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5/4/2026 2:40pm
He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps...

He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps when he found out Eli was interested. He ran off Gilly whrn he was doing things with the bike for Eli that he didn’t understand. He ran off the KYB guys when they wanted to make changes to help out Eli. He made Adam run a shit shock because that’s what they ordered from Japan. Now that his house of cards is about to fall, and everyone is putting him under a microscope, he’s suddenly willing to do what it takes to make a rider happy? And you want to excuse him? 

GrapeApe wrote:

Didn't Fisher run off Reed? Fahie had a lesser role back then.

Fahie was the behind the scene guy so to speak. He pushed his way into the managers role in 2011. 

Right, Fahie had a lesser role when Reed was there and took over as manager after the 2011 season. Fisher ran off Reed and almost Pro Circuit as well. His dismissal was well-earned.

 

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5/4/2026 5:31pm

This situation is akin to turning around a cargo ship in the Suez Canal......I have difficulty envisioning Chase as a podium guy in 3 weeks at Pala. My bet is Prado yards him week in and week out-that will be a tough look, when it already looked pretty tough throughout SX.

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1
sandman768
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5/4/2026 5:38pm

Last question should have been…….so…where is the new 2 stroke?….. 

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Spike33
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5/4/2026 5:45pm
Crutcher wrote:

Different OEM at outdoors. It’s done. 

Buckland wrote:

Which one?

White 

1
2
Juck
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5/4/2026 6:25pm
bents wrote:
This situation is akin to turning around a cargo ship in the Suez Canal......I have difficulty envisioning Chase as a podium guy in 3 weeks at...

This situation is akin to turning around a cargo ship in the Suez Canal......I have difficulty envisioning Chase as a podium guy in 3 weeks at Pala. My bet is Prado yards him week in and week out-that will be a tough look, when it already looked pretty tough throughout SX.

This reminded me of the Prado vs Marchbanks debate going into this season, but now it's Prado vs Sexton going into outdoors. And I think almost everyone would take Prado. Hell, they're not even that far apart in supercross

1
Juck
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5/4/2026 7:02pm
motox701 wrote:
1 - Dan grew up racing moto, and is a moto guy through and through. Yes, he worked in road racing, but moto is his first...

1 - Dan grew up racing moto, and is a moto guy through and through. Yes, he worked in road racing, but moto is his first obsession.

2 - The team is now openly discussing how they are testing motor, chassis and suspension options that they would not have otherwise used in the past - does this not seem like they are willing to make tough choices and veer outside of what used to be considered corporate guard rails?

He's in a tough spot, and most folks expected Chase to deliver, and hopefully for all involved, he will. It appears as though that the team is doing whatever they can to move the development of the machine to be more competetive, when in the past, many folks have said Kawi was too rigid to make changes outdside of their pre-defined corporate limits. Now they are, and still taking heat? 

Maybe Chase has a little accountability here as well. Who knows, maybe the way he communicates back to the tuners might be flawed. Maybe actionable steps to improve performance and the directions taken, as a result of Chase's direct feedback has them going in the wrong direction. 

Who knows, but it sure is fun to watch. 

I think Weimer was spot on in his Pulp interview when he said that Kawi may have changed their ways in terms of how strict they are with set up now, but the problems they are having currently stem from all those years they didn't allow riders to test to gain feedback for bike development.

Now this is conjecture but I think they were probably strict with Prado too as he was a newcomer to the US and they thought they knew more than him, but now with Chase, both because he is a former champ stateside, and they now have a lot of eyes on them because of the Prado fiasco last season they are being a lot more open with setup. 

The thing is though, from what we've heard, Chase has no idea how to set up a bike. So if anytime would be a good time for Kawi to be strict with setup, it would probably be now. On the other hand, the lack of development at Kawi from all those years of not allowing testing is hurting even more now, as they now have a top rider who has no idea how to setup a bike, and they have no base to provide him as a direct result of that lack of testing.

9
1
JDub067
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5/4/2026 8:00pm

Chase is a hot mess with bike setup- but unfortunately due to historical matters, including last year with Prado, Kawi looks worse in this situation.

He needs to go to Star on an incentive based contract by himself, get the bike in a window and leave it alone 

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2
The Wolf Man
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5/4/2026 10:14pm
motox701 wrote:
1 - Dan grew up racing moto, and is a moto guy through and through. Yes, he worked in road racing, but moto is his first...

1 - Dan grew up racing moto, and is a moto guy through and through. Yes, he worked in road racing, but moto is his first obsession.

2 - The team is now openly discussing how they are testing motor, chassis and suspension options that they would not have otherwise used in the past - does this not seem like they are willing to make tough choices and veer outside of what used to be considered corporate guard rails?

He's in a tough spot, and most folks expected Chase to deliver, and hopefully for all involved, he will. It appears as though that the team is doing whatever they can to move the development of the machine to be more competetive, when in the past, many folks have said Kawi was too rigid to make changes outdside of their pre-defined corporate limits. Now they are, and still taking heat? 

Maybe Chase has a little accountability here as well. Who knows, maybe the way he communicates back to the tuners might be flawed. Maybe actionable steps to improve performance and the directions taken, as a result of Chase's direct feedback has them going in the wrong direction. 

Who knows, but it sure is fun to watch. 

He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps...

He lied to Wiemer to get him to re sign. He ran off Reed when he tried making changes to the bike.  He ran off Millsaps when he found out Eli was interested. He ran off Gilly whrn he was doing things with the bike for Eli that he didn’t understand. He ran off the KYB guys when they wanted to make changes to help out Eli. He made Adam run a shit shock because that’s what they ordered from Japan. Now that his house of cards is about to fall, and everyone is putting him under a microscope, he’s suddenly willing to do what it takes to make a rider happy? And you want to excuse him? 

DonM wrote:

Let’s not put all the blame on Dan…there is another culprit…

Ms Mystery over here...

4
3
The Wolf Man
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5/4/2026 10:16pm
Indy mxer wrote:
JA looked good his Kawi, and had numerous podiums in 24. Never really heard him complain much. This isn't all on the team. Chase is a...

JA looked good his Kawi, and had numerous podiums in 24. Never really heard him complain much. This isn't all on the team. Chase is a part of the problem, it's been his mo. But I do think they'll figure it out. Chase is too good not to.

30minmotos wrote:

Right. That totally negates all the other stories you’re right.

Indy mxer wrote:
Not really what I was saying, but ok. My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at...

Not really what I was saying, but ok. 

My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at times. And JA rode pretty damn good on it.

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Screenshot 2026-04-25 132810
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5/4/2026 11:38pm
JDub067 wrote:
Chase is a hot mess with bike setup- but unfortunately due to historical matters, including last year with Prado, Kawi looks worse in this situation.He needs...

Chase is a hot mess with bike setup- but unfortunately due to historical matters, including last year with Prado, Kawi looks worse in this situation.

He needs to go to Star on an incentive based contract by himself, get the bike in a window and leave it alone 

Why does he need to go to Star to do that? He had the KX in a 'window' early this year when he won a race. You don't have a bike that far away from right and still win a race. Another manufacturer isn't the answer.
7
JDub067
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5/5/2026 1:52am
Why does he need to go to Star to do that? He had the KX in a 'window' early this year when he won a race...
Why does he need to go to Star to do that? He had the KX in a 'window' early this year when he won a race. You don't have a bike that far away from right and still win a race. Another manufacturer isn't the answer.

Needs stronger leadership than he has at Kawi, and needs to go it alone without his Dad as his practice mechanic. From all accounts Keir is usually on a different page to the team with setting the bike up. Chase is in a no win situation and has too many tabs open in his brain and needs stability, strong leadership and one voice when it comes to engineering the setup 

4
1
neysbo
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5/5/2026 5:14am
30minmotos wrote:

Right. That totally negates all the other stories you’re right.

Indy mxer wrote:
Not really what I was saying, but ok. My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at...

Not really what I was saying, but ok. 

My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at times. And JA rode pretty damn good on it.

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Screenshot 2026-04-25 132810

Well, your a little off, he knows and asks for things that the team will not do. 
 

1
Buckland
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5/5/2026 5:44am
neysbo wrote:

Well, your a little off, he knows and asks for things that the team will not do. 
 

Can you give some examples? Does he want dual rear shocks? What are they asking for that factory teams cannot oblige?

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3
5/5/2026 6:04am
30minmotos wrote:

Right. That totally negates all the other stories you’re right.

Indy mxer wrote:
Not really what I was saying, but ok. My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at...

Not really what I was saying, but ok. 

My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at times. And JA rode pretty damn good on it.

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Screenshot 2026-04-25 132810

Do you even follow the sport or do you just like being a clown? Serious question

5
1
DonM
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5/5/2026 6:26am
Indy mxer wrote:
Not really what I was saying, but ok. My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at...

Not really what I was saying, but ok. 

My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at times. And JA rode pretty damn good on it.

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Screenshot 2026-04-25 132810

Do you even follow the sport or do you just like being a clown? Serious question

Well he is on his 3rd username….

4
4
ohh_454
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5/5/2026 7:09am

Someone send big Lews interview with Fahie to the Kawi brass in Japan, maybe this will get them to fire him lol

3
jaun
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5/5/2026 8:04am Edited Date/Time 5/5/2026 8:05am
Indy mxer wrote:
Not really what I was saying, but ok. My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at...

Not really what I was saying, but ok. 

My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at times. And JA rode pretty damn good on it.

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Screenshot 2026-04-25 132810
neysbo wrote:

Well, your a little off, he knows and asks for things that the team will not do. 
 

That are impossible....then throws a fit 

1
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jaun
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5/5/2026 8:06am

I'd like to see Kawi go back to KYB like Tomac but they really needed to do that from the start so it wasn't a shit show when they changed 

Motofinne
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5/5/2026 10:55am
wrc777 wrote:

I don't think Chase knew how good he had it at KTM and Honda.

Especially KTM. They freaking put on KYB suspension on the bike for him, that is mindblowing. I doubt a team (in the modern era) has ever bent over backwards for a rider like that.

I get that he left Honda. Jett and Hunter were coming and that was always going to be an difficult situation to be in.

4
2
gt80rider
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5/5/2026 11:23am

I heard kawi factory contracts are written with ink that disappears in less than a years time

😊

5
uncledaddy69
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5/5/2026 11:25am
Crutcher wrote:

Different OEM at outdoors. It’s done. 

Completely fake news. 

4
The Wolf Man
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Suburb, NSW AU
5/5/2026 2:49pm
Indy mxer wrote:
Not really what I was saying, but ok. My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at...

Not really what I was saying, but ok. 

My point was the bike is capable of being up front. Even Chase has shown that this year at times. And JA rode pretty damn good on it.

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Just don't ask this guy...or his son...for any set up advice...

Screenshot 2026-04-25 132810

Do you even follow the sport or do you just like being a clown? Serious question

Serious question. Do you really think Chase and his Dad have nothing to do with his ongoing problems setting up a bike and with gelling with any teams he is on? This is the third factory team he's been on in which the same problems keep occuring. 

For further context, it has been well known in the pits for a long time that Chase's dad is problematic and that Chase himself is often rude and disrespectful to team personnel. But if you want to put this latest debacle all on Kawi go ahead...

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