When does PC take over the 450 kawi team?

Flatliner
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Flatliner 6/18/2026 2:05pm
6/18/2026 2:05pm
dingaling wrote:
Outside of the weirdo rides Tomac ripped on the Kawi. 1 SX title and 3 MX titles. He racked up most of his SX race wins...

Outside of the weirdo rides Tomac ripped on the Kawi. 1 SX title and 3 MX titles. He racked up most of his SX race wins on the Kawi. Some of comeback rides were insane. 

Only Weiner didnt perform on it. RV, Tomac, Savatgy, AC, JA all ripped on it. 

Now is the current management outdated?? Possibly. But Prado and Sexton are not good gauges to make that conclusion on. 

MXMattii wrote:

You're cherry picking names what about Will Hahn, Davi Millsaps, Josh Grant...

Milsaps was fired,  Grant was past his prime and had all the injuries a guy could have.

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dingaling
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dingaling 6/18/2026 2:06pm
6/18/2026 2:06pm
MXMattii wrote:

You're cherry picking names what about Will Hahn, Davi Millsaps, Josh Grant...

It's a hard argument to make that bike/team are no good by saying the B rider didn't do well when the A rider was winning Championships.

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Zucchini Nibs
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Zucchini Nibs 6/18/2026 2:29pm
6/18/2026 2:29pm
dingaling wrote:

It's a hard argument to make that bike/team are no good by saying the B rider didn't do well when the A rider was winning Championships.

Even the riders who win championships complain/have injustices with the bike. Tomac and Villopoto being the clearest examples.

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dingaling
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dingaling 6/18/2026 3:39pm
6/18/2026 3:39pm
onewheelwheaties wrote:
I think the bike has a setup window that it works in, and the rider has a window there are comfortable in, and you need both...

I think the bike has a setup window that it works in, and the rider has a window there are comfortable in, and you need both to overlap for success. Maybe the window of the bike is narrow, or maybe Prado’s and Sexton’s windows are narrow, or perhaps both and they don’t overlap much or often. 

Sometimes the bike might be off 2% or whatever but the rider is just 3% better than the field so it doesn’t matter, like when RV hated the frame but was still winning in outdoors. I think it’s close either way from a zoomed out perspective, but these guys are trying to optimize into tenths of a percent.

I agree with you on everything. It's all a fine balance. The problem with Chase is even when it's looks likes he's found that balance and wins he still isn't satisfied. Honda nope. KTM nope. Kawi...

I don't think anyone is 100% happy with the bike. But they make it work. And greats guys still win. Chase needs this mentality. Kenny on a 8yo bike changed and look what it did to him.

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3strokemx
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3strokemx 6/19/2026 4:58am
6/19/2026 4:58am Edited Date/Time 6/19/2026 5:00am

Didn't Anderson win the SX title, move to Kawasaki have yo-yo results, crash get banged up, only race on occasion and sometimes got lapped?  

Sounds similar to the Prado and Chase stories

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quadzrulebro 6/19/2026 5:37am
6/19/2026 5:37am Edited Date/Time 6/19/2026 5:48am
3strokemx wrote:
Didn't Anderson win the SX title, move to Kawasaki have yo-yo results, crash get banged up, only race on occasion and sometimes got lapped?  Sounds similar...

Didn't Anderson win the SX title, move to Kawasaki have yo-yo results, crash get banged up, only race on occasion and sometimes got lapped?  

Sounds similar to the Prado and Chase stories

You’re incorrect (as usual).  He won the title in 2018, then had mediocre seasons (with no wins) in 2019, 2020, and 2021 before switching to Kawasaki in 2022 and winning 7 races.  He is literally probably the worst example you could have brought up to illustrate your narrative.

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Paul333
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Paul333 6/19/2026 7:21am
6/19/2026 7:21am
mxpappy711 wrote:

Why? Marchbanks is doing fine on it. 
The bike won two SX races this year 

LOL


You nailed it…

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ohh_454
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ohh_454 6/19/2026 7:24am
6/19/2026 7:24am
dingaling wrote:
Outside of the weirdo rides Tomac ripped on the Kawi. 1 SX title and 3 MX titles. He racked up most of his SX race wins...

Outside of the weirdo rides Tomac ripped on the Kawi. 1 SX title and 3 MX titles. He racked up most of his SX race wins on the Kawi. Some of comeback rides were insane. 

Only Weiner didnt perform on it. RV, Tomac, Savatgy, AC, JA all ripped on it. 

Now is the current management outdated?? Possibly. But Prado and Sexton are not good gauges to make that conclusion on. 

MXMattii wrote:

You're cherry picking names what about Will Hahn, Davi Millsaps, Josh Grant...

Wil Hahn was thankful for having that ride for 2 years, I like he said he was getting 300k a year from Kawi and I don’t think I ever heard Josh Grant say anything bad about them, Kawi kept his career going for another 2 years as well. Davis a different story tho, but I heard they let him go to free up money once they knew they could sign Tomac. 

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Paul333
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Paul333 6/19/2026 7:29am
6/19/2026 7:29am

Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the HRC Honda sucked? The Lawrence’s proved that was BS. 

Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the Red Bull KTM sucked? Eli, Prado, and now the Coenen’s proved that was BS. 

But Sexton is 100% correct and the Factory Monster Energy Kawasaki sucks? Hint; It’s BS 

 

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Spike33
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Spike33 6/19/2026 7:32am
6/19/2026 7:32am
Paul333 wrote:
Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the HRC Honda sucked? The Lawrence’s proved that was BS. Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the Red Bull KTM sucked...

Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the HRC Honda sucked? The Lawrence’s proved that was BS. 

Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the Red Bull KTM sucked? Eli, Prado, and now the Coenen’s proved that was BS. 

But Sexton is 100% correct and the Factory Monster Energy Kawasaki sucks? Hint; It’s BS 

 

Truth hurts. 

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thatswhathappens 6/19/2026 7:38am
6/19/2026 7:38am
Paul333 wrote:
Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the HRC Honda sucked? The Lawrence’s proved that was BS. Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the Red Bull KTM sucked...

Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the HRC Honda sucked? The Lawrence’s proved that was BS. 

Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the Red Bull KTM sucked? Eli, Prado, and now the Coenen’s proved that was BS. 

But Sexton is 100% correct and the Factory Monster Energy Kawasaki sucks? Hint; It’s BS 

 

Let's completely ignore the disparity between 2025 Kawi Prado purposely trying not to qualify and 2026 KTM Prado running close to the front.

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ACBraap
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ACBraap 6/19/2026 1:29pm
6/19/2026 1:29pm
big.dos wrote:
It was mentioned on PulpMX that he had more settings etc he wanted Chase to try after A2 but they went in another direction. Running the...

It was mentioned on PulpMX that he had more settings etc he wanted Chase to try after A2 but they went in another direction. Running the team might be a step too far but I think it would be wise for the Factory team to at least consult with PC more (unless they are and we aren't aware of it)

I think at this point we can conclude that Kawi is an old dog that is not going to learn new tricks.

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seth505
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seth505 6/19/2026 1:50pm
6/19/2026 1:50pm

All I know is I'd be embarrassed if I were associated with the factory program. One week, they are on the broadcast saying they basically threw the PC catalog at the bike, a few weeks later they are saying they got the services of another private suspension shop to try out....YIKES

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matze
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matze 6/19/2026 2:04pm
6/19/2026 2:04pm Edited Date/Time 6/19/2026 2:11pm
Paul333 wrote:
Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the HRC Honda sucked? The Lawrence’s proved that was BS. Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the Red Bull KTM sucked...

Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the HRC Honda sucked? The Lawrence’s proved that was BS. 

Didn’t Sexton say openly & publicly the Red Bull KTM sucked? Eli, Prado, and now the Coenen’s proved that was BS. 

But Sexton is 100% correct and the Factory Monster Energy Kawasaki sucks? Hint; It’s BS 

 

thatswhathappens wrote:

Let's completely ignore the disparity between 2025 Kawi Prado purposely trying not to qualify and 2026 KTM Prado running close to the front.

and what some people on here always bring up: "Sexton has always been a headcase with weird crashes" Yes, but he wasnt nearly as slow and inconsistent on these other rides. He was right there with Jett, remember? U gotta be out of ur mind denying there is something wrong with the bike. Not just at this point. Its been a catastrophic year to say the least

Secondly, yeah Marchbanks is doing great, but also riding at a way slower pace than the elite guys. Which plays a big part in setup. That and it could just mean hes getting along better with the Kawi as it is, but its Kawis teams job to make it work for Sextons liking too

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davistld01
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davistld01 6/19/2026 2:29pm
6/19/2026 2:29pm
matze wrote:
and what some people on here always bring up: "Sexton has always been a headcase with weird crashes" Yes, but he wasnt nearly as slow and...

and what some people on here always bring up: "Sexton has always been a headcase with weird crashes" Yes, but he wasnt nearly as slow and inconsistent on these other rides. He was right there with Jett, remember? U gotta be out of ur mind denying there is something wrong with the bike. Not just at this point. Its been a catastrophic year to say the least

Secondly, yeah Marchbanks is doing great, but also riding at a way slower pace than the elite guys. Which plays a big part in setup. That and it could just mean hes getting along better with the Kawi as it is, but its Kawis teams job to make it work for Sextons liking too

Maybe the fact that Marchbanks is making the Kawie 450 look good...while not riding at the pace of the elite contenders is a key point. The bike works when it's not asked to cross the "line" that forces it to be pushed like Sexton and that level of rider tends to push it. When it's forced to be ridden to it's limit, it shows all it's shortcomings...and becomes a scary pile.

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quadzrulebro 6/19/2026 2:39pm
6/19/2026 2:39pm
matze wrote:
and what some people on here always bring up: "Sexton has always been a headcase with weird crashes" Yes, but he wasnt nearly as slow and...

and what some people on here always bring up: "Sexton has always been a headcase with weird crashes" Yes, but he wasnt nearly as slow and inconsistent on these other rides. He was right there with Jett, remember? U gotta be out of ur mind denying there is something wrong with the bike. Not just at this point. Its been a catastrophic year to say the least

Secondly, yeah Marchbanks is doing great, but also riding at a way slower pace than the elite guys. Which plays a big part in setup. That and it could just mean hes getting along better with the Kawi as it is, but its Kawis teams job to make it work for Sextons liking too

davistld01 wrote:
Maybe the fact that Marchbanks is making the Kawie 450 look good...while not riding at the pace of the elite contenders is a key point. The...

Maybe the fact that Marchbanks is making the Kawie 450 look good...while not riding at the pace of the elite contenders is a key point. The bike works when it's not asked to cross the "line" that forces it to be pushed like Sexton and that level of rider tends to push it. When it's forced to be ridden to it's limit, it shows all it's shortcomings...and becomes a scary pile.

I dunno.  I keep hearing from the fanboys that Prado is “elite”.  Marchbanks was giving him all he wanted last weekend.

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OR Racer46
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OR Racer46 6/19/2026 5:27pm
6/19/2026 5:27pm

Let's just play this game for a second .   Who is this magic management team that you speak of that can turn everything to rainbows For Kawi ? If Sexton leaves ,Who does Kawi go after that is going to win championships ?    

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MXMattii
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MXMattii 6/19/2026 6:41pm
6/19/2026 6:41pm
matze wrote:
and what some people on here always bring up: "Sexton has always been a headcase with weird crashes" Yes, but he wasnt nearly as slow and...

and what some people on here always bring up: "Sexton has always been a headcase with weird crashes" Yes, but he wasnt nearly as slow and inconsistent on these other rides. He was right there with Jett, remember? U gotta be out of ur mind denying there is something wrong with the bike. Not just at this point. Its been a catastrophic year to say the least

Secondly, yeah Marchbanks is doing great, but also riding at a way slower pace than the elite guys. Which plays a big part in setup. That and it could just mean hes getting along better with the Kawi as it is, but its Kawis teams job to make it work for Sextons liking too

davistld01 wrote:
Maybe the fact that Marchbanks is making the Kawie 450 look good...while not riding at the pace of the elite contenders is a key point. The...

Maybe the fact that Marchbanks is making the Kawie 450 look good...while not riding at the pace of the elite contenders is a key point. The bike works when it's not asked to cross the "line" that forces it to be pushed like Sexton and that level of rider tends to push it. When it's forced to be ridden to it's limit, it shows all it's shortcomings...and becomes a scary pile.

That would also tell us why input from Tickle and all other test riders isn't helping.

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Mit12
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Mit12 6/19/2026 10:31pm
6/19/2026 10:31pm

It would be a good idea. What do they have to loose? All you have to do is look at Star Yamaha. They took a 450 Yamaha that every rider did not like and won very little and turned it into one of the best 450s in the field. 

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