I always knew it wasn’t the bike….

zeke458
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Youngstown, OH, USA

Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who has ridden one knows it’s a great bike. 

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aees
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8/15/2026 3:14pm
zeke458 wrote:
Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who...

Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who has ridden one knows it’s a great bike. 

They are in fifth, over a minute behind leaders.. it's like Local pro and national pro difference.

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5
8/15/2026 3:22pm
zeke458 wrote:
Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who...

Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who has ridden one knows it’s a great bike. 

And where did George Prado run all day.... and finish?

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Tumic
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Sundsvall, SE
8/15/2026 3:40pm
zeke458 wrote:
Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who...

Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who has ridden one knows it’s a great bike. 

And where did George Prado run all day.... and finish?

Yeah it’s impressive what a 4 time world champion can do when he actually tries…


Or did he put in his best effort when he rode around at dilla last year blocking roost with his hand or at Budds creek trying his best to not qualify?.


Chase complained about the Honda that Jett dominated on, complained about the KTM that Prado was world champ on and complains about the Kawi that Febre was world champ on.

It’s funny how lesser riders can put in good results on that bike but a SX and MX champ and a 4 time world champion can’t.. 

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8/15/2026 3:45pm
Tumic wrote:
Yeah it’s impressive what a 4 time world champion can do when he actually tries…Or did he put in his best effort when he rode around...

Yeah it’s impressive what a 4 time world champion can do when he actually tries…


Or did he put in his best effort when he rode around at dilla last year blocking roost with his hand or at Budds creek trying his best to not qualify?.


Chase complained about the Honda that Jett dominated on, complained about the KTM that Prado was world champ on and complains about the Kawi that Febre was world champ on.

It’s funny how lesser riders can put in good results on that bike but a SX and MX champ and a 4 time world champion can’t.. 

It's almost like people could feel more comfortable with one thing vs. another.

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The Shop

Tumic
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8/15/2026 3:57pm
Tumic wrote:
Yeah it’s impressive what a 4 time world champion can do when he actually tries…Or did he put in his best effort when he rode around...

Yeah it’s impressive what a 4 time world champion can do when he actually tries…


Or did he put in his best effort when he rode around at dilla last year blocking roost with his hand or at Budds creek trying his best to not qualify?.


Chase complained about the Honda that Jett dominated on, complained about the KTM that Prado was world champ on and complains about the Kawi that Febre was world champ on.

It’s funny how lesser riders can put in good results on that bike but a SX and MX champ and a 4 time world champion can’t.. 

It's almost like people could feel more comfortable with one thing vs. another.

It’s almost like people want to believe that the Kawasaki was as bad as Chase and Prado portrayed it to be even tough privateers put in better results on those bike than seasoned champs…

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8/15/2026 4:02pm Edited Date/Time 8/15/2026 4:03pm

Chase got that 'tism.  Set the downvote record here and now.  

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matze
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8/15/2026 4:27pm Edited Date/Time 8/15/2026 4:31pm

We’re still discussing this? Man, if you have to convince yourself that the bike is great based on every little straw you can grasp at, without their premier rider showing what you’re claiming for almost two years now, you might be in the wrong. Also, it’s obviously about the Factory Kawi team, which is responsible for setting the bike up to the riders liking. Also, aint no Marchbanks or Fineis are on the elites level so u cant compare that in the first place

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Spoonguy
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8/15/2026 4:51pm

The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two seconds a lap. Chase is pissed about that result, he wants to beat the winners, huge difference.

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mb60
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8/15/2026 4:54pm
Spoonguy wrote:
The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two...

The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two seconds a lap. Chase is pissed about that result, he wants to beat the winners, huge difference.

Deegan finished over 30 behind Jett the 2nd moto. He must be happy as shit 

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8/15/2026 5:08pm
zeke458 wrote:
Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who...

Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who has ridden one knows it’s a great bike. 

Say his name at least it’s , IMG 5938Mark.  A rider that showed up to race. Didn’t he hardly do any sx if any & was done racing & got a job. Then started racing again .  

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BossWool2800
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8/15/2026 5:12pm Edited Date/Time 8/15/2026 5:12pm

The Kawi’s a good bike. Heck, I’d take it in a heartbeat. 

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8/15/2026 5:26pm Edited Date/Time 8/15/2026 5:29pm
Tumic wrote:
Yeah it’s impressive what a 4 time world champion can do when he actually tries…Or did he put in his best effort when he rode around...

Yeah it’s impressive what a 4 time world champion can do when he actually tries…


Or did he put in his best effort when he rode around at dilla last year blocking roost with his hand or at Budds creek trying his best to not qualify?.


Chase complained about the Honda that Jett dominated on, complained about the KTM that Prado was world champ on and complains about the Kawi that Febre was world champ on.

It’s funny how lesser riders can put in good results on that bike but a SX and MX champ and a 4 time world champion can’t.. 

Chase complains wherever he goes - that's true. The difference is that unlike on the Kawi (bar a handful of SX races) he was STILL fast as heck while he was busy complaining... 

Absolutely Jorge gave up but he reached that point a damn sight faster than necessary due to the 'old guard' intransigent Kawasaki. More than a minute back at Pala (where he absolutely was trying given it was the first race) in 2025 to finishing on the podium right away this year... 

Even his arguably subpar riding and results compared to 2024 have been devastating for team Kawaski's reputation. He's also clearly been gagged as part of his early contract termination given that he hasn't said anything on the matter since. In short: I don't think the Kawi is the best bike, but regardless, the situation (stateside) has been made exponentially worse than necessary.

Febvre is irrelevant because the team, rules and resulting motorcycle aren't the same.

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zeke458
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Youngstown, OH, USA
8/15/2026 5:30pm
zeke458 wrote:
Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who...

Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who has ridden one knows it’s a great bike. 

aees wrote:

They are in fifth, over a minute behind leaders.. it's like Local pro and national pro difference.

At one point they were 4/5/6 with a privateer leading the factory bikes. Not bad. That’s a great bike, everyone is saying it now. More kaws in the top 10 than any other brand. With a privateer and a Tondel. Idk 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

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zeke458
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8/15/2026 5:34pm

The Kaw 450 is making guys like Fineis and Tondel shine. Imagine what it could do for you!!!! Kawasaki “Let The Good Times Roll” 

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CPR
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8/15/2026 7:19pm

Yeah it definitely wasn’t the bike…..because Fineis isn’t on the factory bike.

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3strokemx
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8/15/2026 7:28pm Edited Date/Time 8/15/2026 7:29pm

Fineis did better on his Honda, and that was his first race back

Screen Shot 2026-08-15 at 10.27.15 PM

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BossWool2800
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8/15/2026 8:10pm
3strokemx wrote:
Fineis did better on his Honda, and that was his first race back

Fineis did better on his Honda, and that was his first race back

Screen Shot 2026-08-15 at 10.27.15 PM

Maybe he got a deal on the Kawi. And he got 5th in one moto, right? 

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8/15/2026 10:56pm
Spoonguy wrote:
The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two...

The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two seconds a lap. Chase is pissed about that result, he wants to beat the winners, huge difference.

On that basis, why doesn’t Deegan go home too? 

If that’s all the Kawi/Sexton combo can currently achieve, so be it. Suck it up but stay out there pushing on. 

Chase’s attitude towards the bike sucked this year. 
Not everything in life is always perfect, sometimes you just gotta grit your teeth and get on with the cards you have been dealt. 

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Tumic
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Sundsvall, SE
8/15/2026 11:57pm
Tumic wrote:
Yeah it’s impressive what a 4 time world champion can do when he actually tries…Or did he put in his best effort when he rode around...

Yeah it’s impressive what a 4 time world champion can do when he actually tries…


Or did he put in his best effort when he rode around at dilla last year blocking roost with his hand or at Budds creek trying his best to not qualify?.


Chase complained about the Honda that Jett dominated on, complained about the KTM that Prado was world champ on and complains about the Kawi that Febre was world champ on.

It’s funny how lesser riders can put in good results on that bike but a SX and MX champ and a 4 time world champion can’t.. 

Chase complains wherever he goes - that's true. The difference is that unlike on the Kawi (bar a handful of SX races) he was STILL fast...

Chase complains wherever he goes - that's true. The difference is that unlike on the Kawi (bar a handful of SX races) he was STILL fast as heck while he was busy complaining... 

Absolutely Jorge gave up but he reached that point a damn sight faster than necessary due to the 'old guard' intransigent Kawasaki. More than a minute back at Pala (where he absolutely was trying given it was the first race) in 2025 to finishing on the podium right away this year... 

Even his arguably subpar riding and results compared to 2024 have been devastating for team Kawaski's reputation. He's also clearly been gagged as part of his early contract termination given that he hasn't said anything on the matter since. In short: I don't think the Kawi is the best bike, but regardless, the situation (stateside) has been made exponentially worse than necessary.

Febvre is irrelevant because the team, rules and resulting motorcycle aren't the same.

Febvre is not irrelevant since he was on the same frame as Prado. If he had been on a one off works frame I would never have mentioned him.

US Kawi poured their heart out trying to fix the bike for Prado but I’m convinced that he had a mental block about the whole situation really early and had made up his mind that it was never going to work.

I think that him getting beat by Jett and Hunter in is own mind was 100% the bike, and in interviews he often said that he could win on the right bike. Fast forward 12 months later he has gotten a real reality check that even on his beloved KTM he is not on their level. 

Had he been in that mental state on the Kawasaki that he is not on pair with the two best riders in the world right now, I belive that the work on the bike could have gotten a lot better than what it did.

Prado was in a worse mental place last season than what the bike was considering his actions on the track.

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Spoonguy
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8/16/2026 4:56am
Spoonguy wrote:
The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two...

The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two seconds a lap. Chase is pissed about that result, he wants to beat the winners, huge difference.

On that basis, why doesn’t Deegan go home too? If that’s all the Kawi/Sexton combo can currently achieve, so be it. Suck it up but stay out...

On that basis, why doesn’t Deegan go home too? 

If that’s all the Kawi/Sexton combo can currently achieve, so be it. Suck it up but stay out there pushing on. 

Chase’s attitude towards the bike sucked this year. 
Not everything in life is always perfect, sometimes you just gotta grit your teeth and get on with the cards you have been dealt. 

The Deegan obsession is strong in this one. At no point whatsoever in my post did I mention Deegan. At no point did I mention anybody going home. Marchbanks and Fineis are not previous multi-time 450 champs, Chase is. Chase and everyone around him expect him to compete for wins because his past results and championships dictate he can win, Marchbanks and Fineis's results do not show previous wins in the 450 class, so nobody expects this from them, and top tens are pretty good for them. Past history creates expectations for current results. Say like when Great Britain is getting the shit kicked out of itself and the USA saves it every time; past history creates expectations.

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vdrsnk04
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USA
8/16/2026 6:17am
Spoonguy wrote:
The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two...

The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two seconds a lap. Chase is pissed about that result, he wants to beat the winners, huge difference.

This and when you ride the same bike that much faster to be ahead by 30+ seconds I’m guessing the bike is getting pushed much closer or beyond its limit. It is two totally different applications. 

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kawasa84
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8/16/2026 7:13am
3strokemx wrote:
Fineis did better on his Honda, and that was his first race back

Fineis did better on his Honda, and that was his first race back

Screen Shot 2026-08-15 at 10.27.15 PM

Fineis had 2 moto's without being taken out on the Honda.

He had a 21st in the first moto at Unadilla because he was taken out in the first corner. Then he raced up to 21'st spot to still score a point. Then when he wasn't taken out, he scored a 5th place finish.

At Redbud on the Honda he had to more uneventful moto's and was Not taken out. So the little details matter. 

He did better on the Kawi. He never got a 5th place finish on a Honda.

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8/16/2026 8:12am
Spoonguy wrote:
The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two...

The difference is riders like Marchbanks and Fineis are happy as shit to finish 30 seconds behind the winner of a moto or be within two seconds a lap. Chase is pissed about that result, he wants to beat the winners, huge difference.

On that basis, why doesn’t Deegan go home too? If that’s all the Kawi/Sexton combo can currently achieve, so be it. Suck it up but stay out...

On that basis, why doesn’t Deegan go home too? 

If that’s all the Kawi/Sexton combo can currently achieve, so be it. Suck it up but stay out there pushing on. 

Chase’s attitude towards the bike sucked this year. 
Not everything in life is always perfect, sometimes you just gotta grit your teeth and get on with the cards you have been dealt. 

Spoonguy wrote:
The Deegan obsession is strong in this one. At no point whatsoever in my post did I mention Deegan. At no point did I mention anybody...

The Deegan obsession is strong in this one. At no point whatsoever in my post did I mention Deegan. At no point did I mention anybody going home. Marchbanks and Fineis are not previous multi-time 450 champs, Chase is. Chase and everyone around him expect him to compete for wins because his past results and championships dictate he can win, Marchbanks and Fineis's results do not show previous wins in the 450 class, so nobody expects this from them, and top tens are pretty good for them. Past history creates expectations for current results. Say like when Great Britain is getting the shit kicked out of itself and the USA saves it every time; past history creates expectations.

So does the fact that Eli isn’t capable of a top 5 finish at the moment mean that his team doesn’t know what they’re doing?  Eli has plenty of wins in 450 motocross, so if he’s a minute back now, does that mean his team is clueless?  Racers’ careers and confidence ebb and flow.  Maybe Chase isn’t capable of running the Lawrences’ pace outdoors at the moment (apparently no one else is, either).  He’d be better off working to improve his bike/situation instead of looking for an escape.  The only rider capable of beating a Lawrence brother currently is a Lawrence brother.

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Perky
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Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Fantasy
8/16/2026 8:19am
aees wrote:

They are in fifth, over a minute behind leaders.. it's like Local pro and national pro difference.

Zach Osbourne finished 22nd in Moto 1. I get they’re a minute behind the leaders, but far, far, far away from Local Pros.

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Perky
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Fantasy
8/16/2026 8:22am
kawasa84 wrote:
Fineis had 2 moto's without being taken out on the Honda.He had a 21st in the first moto at Unadilla because he was taken out in...

Fineis had 2 moto's without being taken out on the Honda.

He had a 21st in the first moto at Unadilla because he was taken out in the first corner. Then he raced up to 21'st spot to still score a point. Then when he wasn't taken out, he scored a 5th place finish.

At Redbud on the Honda he had to more uneventful moto's and was Not taken out. So the little details matter. 

He did better on the Kawi. He never got a 5th place finish on a Honda.

Someone should ask the guy but it probably has a lot more to do with having the team supply and service the bike than him doing it himself or with friends in family. That’s a slight physical relief but much larger mental relief that would make up that difference.

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8/16/2026 8:44am
zeke458 wrote:
Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who...

Fineis just has the best Kaw 450???? Come on… That bike is good. Always has been. It’s not the bike. We all knew it. Everyone who has ridden one knows it’s a great bike. 

CL83203 0.jpg?VersionId=rsAD4mIZYS6fs2Ntdg9iNV48f
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3strokemx
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8/16/2026 2:38pm
3strokemx wrote:
Fineis did better on his Honda, and that was his first race back

Fineis did better on his Honda, and that was his first race back

Screen Shot 2026-08-15 at 10.27.15 PM

kawasa84 wrote:
Fineis had 2 moto's without being taken out on the Honda.He had a 21st in the first moto at Unadilla because he was taken out in...

Fineis had 2 moto's without being taken out on the Honda.

He had a 21st in the first moto at Unadilla because he was taken out in the first corner. Then he raced up to 21'st spot to still score a point. Then when he wasn't taken out, he scored a 5th place finish.

At Redbud on the Honda he had to more uneventful moto's and was Not taken out. So the little details matter. 

He did better on the Kawi. He never got a 5th place finish on a Honda.

So the Honda is more agile and he can avoid incidents with it?

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Zoom
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Cypress, TX, USA
8/16/2026 3:24pm

Sexton can ride the bike when he wants to. A lot of people forgot that he beat, Hunter, Jett, Eli in Beast Mode, Kenny and the rest straight up at A2. Plus a second in Detroit and won the last round of SX. 

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8/16/2026 3:41pm

Why doesn't someone tally the bike brands amongst the people who pretty.much choose/pay for their own bike.  My guess in 450s is either green or orange. 

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