If Ktm signs chase

10/27/2026 12:57pm

With the current line up at KTM ,including the brothers . Chase has very little leverage over KTM.

It's not as bad as you think. I would assume KTM wants to field at least 2 450s for SX..

2
10/27/2026 12:58pm
If KTM signs Chase…. There will be IMMENSE pressure to podium A1. (To match, or better what Prado did) There will be IMMENSE pressure To win more than two...

If KTM signs Chase…. 

There will be IMMENSE pressure to podium A1. 
(To match, or better what Prado did) 

There will be IMMENSE pressure To win more than two SX mains in ‘27. 
(To show he’s better than he was on Kawi) 

There will be IMMENSE pressure to win an outdoor overall. 
(To match or better what Prado did) 

Will Chase perform with this pressure on his shoulders? 

What if he doesn’t podium A1? What do the fans think? 

 

GrapeApe wrote:
Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to...

Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to put too much pressure on Chase at round 1.

 

Now let’s get this straight early on, Chase snapped his ACL on 20th June, he’s due back at A1 on 9th January- that’s 29 weeks to heal...

Now let’s get this straight early on, 

Chase snapped his ACL on 20th June, he’s due back at A1 on 9th January- that’s 29 weeks to heal and train. 

In 2025, Jett snapped his ACL on 2nd February, he then went 1-1 at Fox raceway 16 weeks later on May 24th. 

Granted, we don’t know that both injuries were the same, we only have “snapped ACL” to go on, so we can only assume both injuries were the same or similar. 

Chase has no excuses regarding this injury going in to 2027. 

Dayum, 1-1 after snapping an ACL 16 weeks prior is bananas. 

8
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GrapeApe
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10/27/2026 1:02pm
If KTM signs Chase…. There will be IMMENSE pressure to podium A1. (To match, or better what Prado did) There will be IMMENSE pressure To win more than two...

If KTM signs Chase…. 

There will be IMMENSE pressure to podium A1. 
(To match, or better what Prado did) 

There will be IMMENSE pressure To win more than two SX mains in ‘27. 
(To show he’s better than he was on Kawi) 

There will be IMMENSE pressure to win an outdoor overall. 
(To match or better what Prado did) 

Will Chase perform with this pressure on his shoulders? 

What if he doesn’t podium A1? What do the fans think? 

 

GrapeApe wrote:
Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to...

Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to put too much pressure on Chase at round 1.

 

Now let’s get this straight early on, Chase snapped his ACL on 20th June, he’s due back at A1 on 9th January- that’s 29 weeks to heal...

Now let’s get this straight early on, 

Chase snapped his ACL on 20th June, he’s due back at A1 on 9th January- that’s 29 weeks to heal and train. 

In 2025, Jett snapped his ACL on 2nd February, he then went 1-1 at Fox raceway 16 weeks later on May 24th. 

Granted, we don’t know that both injuries were the same, we only have “snapped ACL” to go on, so we can only assume both injuries were the same or similar. 

Chase has no excuses regarding this injury going in to 2027. 

You weren't comparing Chase to Jett, you were comparing him to Prado. 

Chase is not Jett.

 

1
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GrapeApe
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10/27/2026 1:06pm
GrapeApe wrote:
Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to...

Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to put too much pressure on Chase at round 1.

 

Now let’s get this straight early on, Chase snapped his ACL on 20th June, he’s due back at A1 on 9th January- that’s 29 weeks to heal...

Now let’s get this straight early on, 

Chase snapped his ACL on 20th June, he’s due back at A1 on 9th January- that’s 29 weeks to heal and train. 

In 2025, Jett snapped his ACL on 2nd February, he then went 1-1 at Fox raceway 16 weeks later on May 24th. 

Granted, we don’t know that both injuries were the same, we only have “snapped ACL” to go on, so we can only assume both injuries were the same or similar. 

Chase has no excuses regarding this injury going in to 2027. 

Dayum, 1-1 after snapping an ACL 16 weeks prior is bananas. 

He's superhuman. He obviously has good doctors, trainers and therapists, but I would assume Pat Mahomes does as well, and it took him 7 months to be fully cleared to play.

4
2

The Shop

10/27/2026 1:09pm
GrapeApe wrote:
Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to...

Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to put too much pressure on Chase at round 1.

 

Now let’s get this straight early on, Chase snapped his ACL on 20th June, he’s due back at A1 on 9th January- that’s 29 weeks to heal...

Now let’s get this straight early on, 

Chase snapped his ACL on 20th June, he’s due back at A1 on 9th January- that’s 29 weeks to heal and train. 

In 2025, Jett snapped his ACL on 2nd February, he then went 1-1 at Fox raceway 16 weeks later on May 24th. 

Granted, we don’t know that both injuries were the same, we only have “snapped ACL” to go on, so we can only assume both injuries were the same or similar. 

Chase has no excuses regarding this injury going in to 2027. 

GrapeApe wrote:

You weren't comparing Chase to Jett, you were comparing him to Prado. 

Chase is not Jett.

 

I was comparing a fully fit Chase to a fully fit Prado. 

You said Chase wouldn’t be ready due to his ACL injury. 

I provided an example of why the ACL injury shouldn’t be of the slightest concern come A1. 

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MXRalph
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10/27/2026 1:16pm

“Chase has no options!”

”Speed?? We can work with speed…” 
 

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Falcon
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10/27/2026 1:24pm

All these "IF ______ signs Chase" threads are reminding me of the children's book, If You Give a Pig a Pancake.

You know,

"If you give Chase a KTM, he'll want a special shock to go with it. You'll give him a trick, works WP device with KYB internals and a cooling system. 
He'll probably notice the forks are unbalanced. So he'll want to fix that.
He'll ask you for different settings. 
When you give him the settings, he'll probably ask for a faster engine. You'll have to find your special Pankl parts..." 

😁

2
1
GPrider
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10/27/2026 1:27pm
Now let’s get this straight early on, Chase snapped his ACL on 20th June, he’s due back at A1 on 9th January- that’s 29 weeks to heal...

Now let’s get this straight early on, 

Chase snapped his ACL on 20th June, he’s due back at A1 on 9th January- that’s 29 weeks to heal and train. 

In 2025, Jett snapped his ACL on 2nd February, he then went 1-1 at Fox raceway 16 weeks later on May 24th. 

Granted, we don’t know that both injuries were the same, we only have “snapped ACL” to go on, so we can only assume both injuries were the same or similar. 

Chase has no excuses regarding this injury going in to 2027. 

this is insane! Jett truley is a badass!

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aees
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10/27/2026 2:32pm

With the current line up at KTM ,including the brothers . Chase has very little leverage over KTM.

Leverage is maybe the wrong word.

But for sure KTM wants to have insurance to have at least one rider on the track for the full season. But they won't pay anywhere near full asking price.

I can also imagine some of the deciding factors is related to whether Chase would be allowed to run KYB suspension.

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KurtJ99
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10/27/2026 2:49pm

Chase is a SX champion and recent runner up with 2 wins this year. KTM doesn't have that; they have upside in Prado / Coenen. It seems very obvious to me that they want a recent winner / prior champion in their stable - like they had with Eli. Granted Eli and Chase working norms and needs are very different but the pedigree still matters. For Chase's side - go back to the last place he was successful and make any deal he can. 

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crmx105
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10/27/2026 3:24pm

Ian Harrison mentioned on more than one occasion how much of a pleasure it was to work with Eli Tomac because he knew what he wanted and took accountability and didn't blame the bike. In my humble opinion that comment was more than just about ET3. Would they want to deal with that again?

15
yardsailor
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10/27/2026 5:28pm
KurtJ99 wrote:
Chase is a SX champion and recent runner up with 2 wins this year. KTM doesn't have that; they have upside in Prado / Coenen. It...

Chase is a SX champion and recent runner up with 2 wins this year. KTM doesn't have that; they have upside in Prado / Coenen. It seems very obvious to me that they want a recent winner / prior champion in their stable - like they had with Eli. Granted Eli and Chase working norms and needs are very different but the pedigree still matters. For Chase's side - go back to the last place he was successful and make any deal he can. 

Chase did not feel comfortable on the KTM or Im sure he would have stayed.  

I have no answer.  

Reminds of some people love the Honeymoon phase of new relationships.  Then they get bored and ramble on to the next.  



 

XC706
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10/27/2026 6:50pm
crmx105 wrote:
Ian Harrison mentioned on more than one occasion how much of a pleasure it was to work with Eli Tomac because he knew what he wanted...

Ian Harrison mentioned on more than one occasion how much of a pleasure it was to work with Eli Tomac because he knew what he wanted and took accountability and didn't blame the bike. In my humble opinion that comment was more than just about ET3. Would they want to deal with that again?

Roger has also mentioned the same thing several times - most recently in a Swap moto interview. I think there is zero chance Roger and Ian want to jump back into the Chase/Keir shit show. Win a race then throw all the settings in the dumpster and start searching for something different.

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Not hillbilly
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10/27/2026 7:24pm
GrapeApe wrote:
Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to...

Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to put too much pressure on Chase at round 1.

 

Get real. No team is going to take a gamble on him without having sky high expectations. They might give him a pass on A1, but...

Get real. No team is going to take a gamble on him without having sky high expectations. They might give him a pass on A1, but not the entire season.

GrapeApe wrote:

I didn't say they'd give him a pass on the entire season, did I?

 

No, you didn’t. My bad 🤷

yak651
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10/27/2026 7:38pm
MOTO13 wrote:
KTM doesn't need Sexton...or want him. He'd have to ride for BO and no salary and...he wouldn't be the #1 guy there. He wouldn't get anything...

KTM doesn't need Sexton...or want him. He'd have to ride for BO and no salary and...he wouldn't be the #1 guy there. He wouldn't get anything he wanted by a long stretch. I don't see KTM under any scenario wanting Chase. His biggest hope to some degree is signing with Suzuki or holding out until someone gets injured. The guy has literally zero leverage right now...like NONE. 

None except he’s a proven race winner (even on a bike he hated), past champion and only one of the fastest guys around. But other than that, he has no leverage 

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dog_lover_136
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10/27/2026 7:45pm
GrapeApe wrote:
Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to...

Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to put too much pressure on Chase at round 1.

 

Best thing i’ve seen on vital today. 😂

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davistld01
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10/28/2026 7:23am
GrapeApe wrote:
There's a way to go about it without pulling your pants down and embarrassing yourself in front of the entire industry. Chase got out relatively quietly...

There's a way to go about it without pulling your pants down and embarrassing yourself in front of the entire industry. Chase got out relatively quietly and even gave Kawi a public thank you on the way out the door. 

Heck the apology is a good sign of maturity for Chase, since I don’t think he did that with any team he’s bailed on previously.

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Press516
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10/28/2026 7:31am
GrapeApe wrote:
There's a way to go about it without pulling your pants down and embarrassing yourself in front of the entire industry. Chase got out relatively quietly...

There's a way to go about it without pulling your pants down and embarrassing yourself in front of the entire industry. Chase got out relatively quietly and even gave Kawi a public thank you on the way out the door. 

davistld01 wrote:

Heck the apology is a good sign of maturity for Chase, since I don’t think he did that with any team he’s bailed on previously.

“Bailed on” is such an inaccurate description of his previous contracts which he went full term on.  He just was public about his desire to go a different direction at the end of his deal.  We say we want the riders to be more transparent and then damn them when they are..,

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mxracer816
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10/28/2026 7:32am
GrapeApe wrote:
There's a way to go about it without pulling your pants down and embarrassing yourself in front of the entire industry. Chase got out relatively quietly...

There's a way to go about it without pulling your pants down and embarrassing yourself in front of the entire industry. Chase got out relatively quietly and even gave Kawi a public thank you on the way out the door. 

davistld01 wrote:

Heck the apology is a good sign of maturity for Chase, since I don’t think he did that with any team he’s bailed on previously.

Do we think Chase apologized willingly or because he is in a bind and needs a ride? 

3
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10/28/2026 7:54am

With the current line up at KTM ,including the brothers . Chase has very little leverage over KTM.

aees wrote:
Leverage is maybe the wrong word.But for sure KTM wants to have insurance to have at least one rider on the track for the full season...

Leverage is maybe the wrong word.

But for sure KTM wants to have insurance to have at least one rider on the track for the full season. But they won't pay anywhere near full asking price.

I can also imagine some of the deciding factors is related to whether Chase would be allowed to run KYB suspension.

Cooper Webb is openly running KYB suspension on his full-factory supported Husqvarna.  No reason Chase couldn't do the same thing if he can assemble a team.  A lot of work and negotiations occuring now, I am certain!

Folks seem to forget Ian is supervising both KTM and Husky efforts and how Chase isn't able to expect a high salary at this point, only results based financial bonuses.  That makes him a 'bargan' for any team at this point.  Just as Prado was last year for KTM.

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wreckitrandy
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10/28/2026 8:25am
If KTM signs Chase…. There will be IMMENSE pressure to podium A1. (To match, or better what Prado did) There will be IMMENSE pressure To win more than two...

If KTM signs Chase…. 

There will be IMMENSE pressure to podium A1. 
(To match, or better what Prado did) 

There will be IMMENSE pressure To win more than two SX mains in ‘27. 
(To show he’s better than he was on Kawi) 

There will be IMMENSE pressure to win an outdoor overall. 
(To match or better what Prado did) 

Will Chase perform with this pressure on his shoulders? 

What if he doesn’t podium A1? What do the fans think? 

 

GrapeApe wrote:
Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to...

Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself. I don't think any team is going to put too much pressure on Chase at round 1.

 

davistld01 wrote:

"Chase is coming back from ACL surgery, Prado was just coming back from making an ass of himself." 🤣

Funniest line I've seen all day! Thanks, Ape. 

I suppose one might view it that way. I submit though, that Chase is coming back after proving Prado to be the correct ass in the situation. 

1
aees
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10/28/2026 8:45am

With the current line up at KTM ,including the brothers . Chase has very little leverage over KTM.

aees wrote:
Leverage is maybe the wrong word.But for sure KTM wants to have insurance to have at least one rider on the track for the full season...

Leverage is maybe the wrong word.

But for sure KTM wants to have insurance to have at least one rider on the track for the full season. But they won't pay anywhere near full asking price.

I can also imagine some of the deciding factors is related to whether Chase would be allowed to run KYB suspension.

Cooper Webb is openly running KYB suspension on his full-factory supported Husqvarna.  No reason Chase couldn't do the same thing if he can assemble a team...

Cooper Webb is openly running KYB suspension on his full-factory supported Husqvarna.  No reason Chase couldn't do the same thing if he can assemble a team.  A lot of work and negotiations occuring now, I am certain!

Folks seem to forget Ian is supervising both KTM and Husky efforts and how Chase isn't able to expect a high salary at this point, only results based financial bonuses.  That makes him a 'bargan' for any team at this point.  Just as Prado was last year for KTM.

Let's hope they are flexible. The husky team and KTM official factory team is quiet different. I can see Husky team allowing it since it's not a in-house factory team compared to KTM.

Also with a new bike, running dual suspension vendors trying to find a base would probably but a constraint on team resources.

2
KurtJ99
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10/28/2026 12:31pm
crmx105 wrote:
Ian Harrison mentioned on more than one occasion how much of a pleasure it was to work with Eli Tomac because he knew what he wanted...

Ian Harrison mentioned on more than one occasion how much of a pleasure it was to work with Eli Tomac because he knew what he wanted and took accountability and didn't blame the bike. In my humble opinion that comment was more than just about ET3. Would they want to deal with that again?

Yeah, perhaps that is a slap at Chase, but it may be just that for ANY rider (Chase/Prado, whoever) Eli was just a cut above. I don't think Ian would go out of his way to indirectly complain about another rider. Seems like a straight shooter. 

4
wreckitrandy
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10/28/2026 2:43pm
crmx105 wrote:
Ian Harrison mentioned on more than one occasion how much of a pleasure it was to work with Eli Tomac because he knew what he wanted...

Ian Harrison mentioned on more than one occasion how much of a pleasure it was to work with Eli Tomac because he knew what he wanted and took accountability and didn't blame the bike. In my humble opinion that comment was more than just about ET3. Would they want to deal with that again?

KurtJ99 wrote:
Yeah, perhaps that is a slap at Chase, but it may be just that for ANY rider (Chase/Prado, whoever) Eli was just a cut above. I...

Yeah, perhaps that is a slap at Chase, but it may be just that for ANY rider (Chase/Prado, whoever) Eli was just a cut above. I don't think Ian would go out of his way to indirectly complain about another rider. Seems like a straight shooter. 

Roger is the straight shooter. 

1

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