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Say what you want, but talent speaks. He brought a 450 title and significant number of wins to both of his last two teams
High-risk for any team to take him in at this point.
Prado just did exactly what you said most people wouldn’t do.
I hear and see this take a lot, but it’s not how I remember it.
Sexton’s comfort problems at Honda were mainly SX only. Roczen had the same concerns when there. When the Lawrences got on the bike, they commented that the setup was bad; that’s blame pie on both the riders and team.
The KTM did have some mechanical issues, shocks were unreliable enough that Vialle chose to sit out a race for “safety” reasons. That sort of problem is bound to strain personal relationships, and there’s some strong personalities at KTM. So again that’s on both the rider and the team.
Kawi has been another whole level of disaster. He’s rarely even looked like the speed demon we know.
Also when are people going to realise that at this level, where the difference between success and failure is fractions of percentages, that the results of different riders means very little as a comparison.
Different elite riders need different things.
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I beg to differ. Prado has a history of winning on the KTM. They’re also in very different points in their career. You also have no idea, nor do I, what his contract for next year looks like. Prado has had an amazing year and I didn’t think he could do it. But he’s also far from a champion contender. Chase’s current contract sounds to be financially what a title contender would get. No one seriously thinks he’s gonna win a title after this disaster. And thus likely never get a base salary like he has now
Matthes reached out to an ex WP tech and he mentioned most of the issues with the KTM shocks were weird settings that cooked the shocks.
MXGP team never had any issues and Lucas Coenen was on the old works shock on the weekend that Sexton used to cook.
Honda was terrible aggressive and stiff set up as you mentioned Lawrences had to start over.
Kawi he is a headcase, spent pre season setting the bike up and dumped all that testing for a pro circuit set up.
Marchbanks on full works bike settings is going great.
Apparently Bobby wants him but Yam dont ie blame the bike etc
Isn't Hampshire saying he still has problems with the shock (fading late in the moto?)? If so, it doesn't sound like everything is fixed and if they have a fix and it isn't being used on his bike... why not? 🤔
I’m guessing he returns on the ‘27 KX.
But, let’s see who’s who and who’s avail as this season progresses and we get into the SMX finals & all that.
Let’s see if Kawasaki has moved on by then…or soon thereafter.
Chase is 16 months older than jorge and has won titles in this class. If anything, jorge took a much bigger risk of never getting another big contract than chase would be doing.
Jorge didnt deserve a big contract after the previous years performance and drama, and neither does Chase after this years performance and drama. I am sure he would be looking at much smaller paychecks if he leaves kawi like it is. His best bet is to probably stay with kawi, hope the 27 is better, and for the love of God get someone to help him set it up and then put it under lock and key. If he can turn it around before his kawi contract is over, he still has future.
Vialle and Prado also had the same issue last year. However it seems that’s fixed on Prado’s current bike. Maybe the result of Husky being KTM’s ‘second tier’ team?
Let’s hope the summer off lets Chase heal up and get his perspective back.
That makes it look like a component design issue and not a result of "weird settings", which sounds like a problem caused by the arrangement/tuning of the components. If it was caused by "settings", how hard is it to change them and alleviate the problem?
Semantics?
There was that one preseason clip of Prado with a blown out rear shock lol..
…it’s difficult to watch a man who came from last to first two years ago at Hangtown to where he is now.
The mis-steps and free fall of a rider of his caliber is just crazy to witness.
I hope I’m wrong, but it will take a minor miracle for Chase to get back to who he used to be….
Im willing to bet money that Sexton isnt on Kawi next year. And more than happy to finally got out of there
I know everyone says Star Yamaha seems to be the next choice. What about HEP Suzuki? He’s good friends with Roczen and he would be “the man” there moving forward when Kenny retires. Plus there is a lot of flexibility in that truck as far as what they’re willing to do with the bike to make it work for him.
He’s definitely fucked his career royaly that’s for sure. It’s a damn shame. He should have stuck it out at KTM. Another new team means getting used to another bike time to settle in etc and more of his prime years passing by.
Pit Row
There’s no way he hasn’t ridden Roczen’s bike at some stage, so I’m guessing he either didn’t like it, or more likely, HEP doesn’t have the money for another top level rider.
I would assume the same. I would almost imagine after this Kawasaki fiasco that HEP could potentially get him for fairly cheap. It’s unfortunate, but I feel like he’s now in a position where he’s entering the realm of rebuilding his career rather than carrying on with the success that he had.
In to say 0% chance he just cruises around for 3 years and collects a paycheck. He may never shed the headcase or tuck the front labels, but he'll do everything he can to be as competitive as he can.
Prado could have chosen to ride out his lucrative Kawasaki contract. Instead he found a way out, and took what was reliably reported to be a bare bones contract with KTM in order to get back where he was comfortable.
I’d say Prado and Chase are at very similar points in their respective careers. Both are mid 20’s, both have multiple 450 titles in the last few years. Both have lost their way in the last 12-18 months. Right now the main difference is Jorge is about a year ahead of Chase in attempting to his get his results back on track.
To your point on K Dub... I thought it would be a good idea for Chase to go to a PHX Honda with factory support for a year much like how Windham did with FC Honda. Less Factory Pressure, do whatever you need to make the bike sing, yet have Factory assistance when needed. He could take his personal sponsors with him...it's not like he'd be racing for pennies.
CS4 on a Ducati at A1, stamp it. 😂
bummer. The Fernando Alonso of AMA SX/MX.
Under the Reed/Jordan banner?
Wait, that would be Triumph, correct?
No competitor, especially a professional, is going to compete with that mindset.
Agreed. There are a lot of things he’s earned some criticism for but dude doesn’t seem to be interested in mailing it in and cashing a pay check. I think if anything all the drama surrounding him comes from trying too hard.
He rode the bike best he could. Won 2 SXs and was running Deegan down late in motos. Seemed like he was getting more comfortable.
When is the new 2027 Kaw available for him to ride, I wonder?
Post a reply to: Chase Sexton out for the remainder of 2026