Panic Button for Chase/Kawi?

2/21/2026 7:26pm
Kyzer138 wrote:

Guys guys, it’s okay, Will said they “found something” again 

VHM wrote:
Found new parts to try? 😅

Found new parts to try? 😅

40512.png?VersionId=edSB.Rrybt9AchdPZprlMin980SuXB

Christ.

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2/21/2026 7:30pm

Turns out Prado wasn't wrong

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2/21/2026 7:41pm

IMO Chase forces Kawi to get their act together or he leaves early 

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2/21/2026 7:55pm

The forced positivity by Ricky during the broadcast is ridiculous. He’s not riding well, he’s nowhere near where he should be, call it like it is. This is not going well. 

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The Shop

mtbkris2
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2/21/2026 8:42pm

IMO Chase forces Kawi to get their act together or he leaves early 

I would think Kawasaki  beefed up their contract after the Prado situation

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2/21/2026 8:43pm
The forced positivity by Ricky during the broadcast is ridiculous. He’s not riding well, he’s nowhere near where he should be, call it like it is...

The forced positivity by Ricky during the broadcast is ridiculous. He’s not riding well, he’s nowhere near where he should be, call it like it is. This is not going well. 

Makes you speculate if this thing goes completely off the rails like JP. 

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1
2/21/2026 8:57pm

IMO Chase forces Kawi to get their act together or he leaves early 

mtbkris2 wrote:

I would think Kawasaki  beefed up their contract after the Prado situation

I expect the same. I should have added context to my original post. I have no doubt that Chase and Kawi will finish this year together and likely next year as well. This is not a Prado like situation where Chase will break the contract immediately. That being said, if they don’t collectively figure out a baseline bike setup that is competitive, I don’t see Chase staying for year three of his contract. I get the feeling this is a two year and done deal.

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JJO741
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2/21/2026 9:03pm

Well, can’t say anyone saw a healthy Chase just riding around outside the top 5. 

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prozach
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2/21/2026 9:06pm

Here are first turn images all from different 450 mains this year.  He isn't riding to his potential, but he can't be this bad on starts and expect to have much better results when the other top guys are up front almost every race off the start.  

10000196891000019688 01000019685 01000019686 01000019687 0
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Jettsonator
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2/21/2026 9:06pm

Sexton moves to Ducati in 27

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2/21/2026 9:14pm

Sexton moves to Ducati in 27

Ducati may be even or better that this point 💀

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ohh_454
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2/21/2026 9:28pm
prozach wrote:
Here are first turn images all from different 450 mains this year.  He isn't riding to his potential, but he can't be this bad on starts...

Here are first turn images all from different 450 mains this year.  He isn't riding to his potential, but he can't be this bad on starts and expect to have much better results when the other top guys are up front almost every race off the start.  

10000196891000019688 01000019685 01000019686 01000019687 0

Chase Larocco right there damn

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Gas Axe
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2/21/2026 9:33pm
The forced positivity by Ricky during the broadcast is ridiculous. He’s not riding well, he’s nowhere near where he should be, call it like it is...

The forced positivity by Ricky during the broadcast is ridiculous. He’s not riding well, he’s nowhere near where he should be, call it like it is. This is not going well. 

Ricky is a shill. Please bring James back who will call it as he sees it. Or is that the reason why he's not on the broadcast?

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Pop Shmoke
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2/21/2026 9:55pm

My dad was talking when will was saying what kawi found so I told him to rewind it and listen again so we could hear what it was they found. Was it the triple clamps, new forks, a new “setting”? So we rewound it and there was all that talking and no mention whatsoever of what it even was, just something. Meanwhile chase is on screen riding around in 7th. I dont hate will like most ppl on here do, but hole crap that tidbit was useless lol. Panic button. 

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deanwhite51
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2/21/2026 10:07pm

Sooo Ducati, MXGP’s or Hawaii next? 

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Timo
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2/21/2026 10:12pm
KurtJ99 wrote:
Mav- that Stew clip was a little confusing. Understood about when he's out front he can manage, but in traffic running on instinct it's not coming...

Mav- that Stew clip was a little confusing. Understood about when he's out front he can manage, but in traffic running on instinct it's not coming together. Didn't understand as much about knowing the problem and riding around it; perhaps he means he doesn't know what the problem is to ride around it. 

I absolutely love stew and love his insight, but at times he seems like he is talking for the sake of talking.Or maybe I just don’t...

I absolutely love stew and love his insight, but at times he seems like he is talking for the sake of talking.

Or maybe I just don’t get it.. 

I do think James sees things we can’t, Chase is just a very unique rider and definitely more picky than most when it comes to setup.

James saying Chase doesn't look ahead enough, Chase saying he looks plenty far ahead, then watching him plow into someone in a corner was pretty good. I don't think anyone really believed James until that incident. 

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chasetwo79
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2/21/2026 10:24pm
KurtJ99 wrote:
Mav- that Stew clip was a little confusing. Understood about when he's out front he can manage, but in traffic running on instinct it's not coming...

Mav- that Stew clip was a little confusing. Understood about when he's out front he can manage, but in traffic running on instinct it's not coming together. Didn't understand as much about knowing the problem and riding around it; perhaps he means he doesn't know what the problem is to ride around it. 

I absolutely love stew and love his insight, but at times he seems like he is talking for the sake of talking.Or maybe I just don’t...

I absolutely love stew and love his insight, but at times he seems like he is talking for the sake of talking.

Or maybe I just don’t get it.. 

I do think James sees things we can’t, Chase is just a very unique rider and definitely more picky than most when it comes to setup.

Timo wrote:
James saying Chase doesn't look ahead enough, Chase saying he looks plenty far ahead, then watching him plow into someone in a corner was pretty good...

James saying Chase doesn't look ahead enough, Chase saying he looks plenty far ahead, then watching him plow into someone in a corner was pretty good. I don't think anyone really believed James until that incident. 

It was literally James' job when he was training Chase. I'd say he's one of the most qualified to talk about what's going on with him. 

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Juck
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2/21/2026 11:43pm
prozach wrote:
Dude needs to learn how to start. Among other things... That has to be 4 races now that he has been the clear last place person going into...

Dude needs to learn how to start. 

Among other things...

 

That has to be 4 races now that he has been the clear last place person going into the first turn.  Like they aren't just bad, they are horrible.  

crusty_xx wrote:
Again tonight. Last by a bike length. How does this even happen. Marchbanks was 18-20 off the start. The other kawis are constantly out starting both...

Again tonight. Last by a bike length. How does this even happen. Marchbanks was 18-20 off the start. The other kawis are constantly out starting both of them off worse gates. I'm so confused 

I could be misremembering but didn't Tomac's starts get significantly better after he switched to Yamaha?

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Juck
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2/21/2026 11:49pm
KurtJ99 wrote:
Mav- that Stew clip was a little confusing. Understood about when he's out front he can manage, but in traffic running on instinct it's not coming...

Mav- that Stew clip was a little confusing. Understood about when he's out front he can manage, but in traffic running on instinct it's not coming together. Didn't understand as much about knowing the problem and riding around it; perhaps he means he doesn't know what the problem is to ride around it. 

I absolutely love stew and love his insight, but at times he seems like he is talking for the sake of talking.Or maybe I just don’t...

I absolutely love stew and love his insight, but at times he seems like he is talking for the sake of talking.

Or maybe I just don’t get it.. 

I do think James sees things we can’t, Chase is just a very unique rider and definitely more picky than most when it comes to setup.

Timo wrote:
James saying Chase doesn't look ahead enough, Chase saying he looks plenty far ahead, then watching him plow into someone in a corner was pretty good...

James saying Chase doesn't look ahead enough, Chase saying he looks plenty far ahead, then watching him plow into someone in a corner was pretty good. I don't think anyone really believed James until that incident. 

If you're talking about Harrison that was 100% Harrison's fault. Pulled out onto the track right in front of Chase without looking first.

Also Chase has mentioned that when his head is pointing down he's looking out ahead with his eyes, and the perception that he looks down is partially to do with the way he wears his helmet

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mca90guitar
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2/21/2026 11:56pm

Hopefully we see some of his old self this season. Been a non Factor since his win. 

28hall
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2/22/2026 12:14am
prozach wrote:
Here are first turn images all from different 450 mains this year.  He isn't riding to his potential, but he can't be this bad on starts...

Here are first turn images all from different 450 mains this year.  He isn't riding to his potential, but he can't be this bad on starts and expect to have much better results when the other top guys are up front almost every race off the start.  

10000196891000019688 01000019685 01000019686 01000019687 0

Can't have confidence in getting a start when you have no confidence in the bike. As a Sexton fan I can definitely acknowledge he has some inexplicable headcase moments but this one is pretty obvious. Honda and KTM both had the race team personnel to get him comfortable and fast most of the time, Kawasaki clearly do not. It's kind of embarrassing they would have to reach out to Kyle Chisholm to test when they literally have a full time test rider. Blind leading the blind. 

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Motofinne
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2/22/2026 12:39am Edited Date/Time 2/22/2026 1:06am

Chase Sexon on the Kawasaki is straight up the 6th or 7th best 450 rider at the moment. He is above Cooper in the standings but it's a matter of time when Cooper passes him in the standings. And things could be even worse, a healthy Prado would also most likely finish infront of him. Actually now when i think about it, even Savatgy is riding better at the moment.

This is a disaster. 

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Kelz87
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2/22/2026 12:50am
prozach wrote:
Dude needs to learn how to start. Among other things... That has to be 4 races now that he has been the clear last place person going into...

Dude needs to learn how to start. 

Among other things...

 

That has to be 4 races now that he has been the clear last place person going into the first turn.  Like they aren't just bad, they are horrible.  

crusty_xx wrote:
Again tonight. Last by a bike length. How does this even happen. Marchbanks was 18-20 off the start. The other kawis are constantly out starting both...

Again tonight. Last by a bike length. How does this even happen. Marchbanks was 18-20 off the start. The other kawis are constantly out starting both of them off worse gates. I'm so confused 

Juck wrote:

I could be misremembering but didn't Tomac's starts get significantly better after he switched to Yamaha?

If I remember right, he was a decent starter on Kawi but got worse when they went to the hydro clutch 

Juck
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2/22/2026 1:11am
Motofinne wrote:
Chase Sexon on the Kawasaki is straight up the 6th or 7th best 450 rider at the moment. He is above Cooper in the standings but...

Chase Sexon on the Kawasaki is straight up the 6th or 7th best 450 rider at the moment. He is above Cooper in the standings but it's a matter of time when Cooper passes him in the standings. And things could be even worse, a healthy Prado would also most likely finish infront of him. Actually now when i think about it, even Savatgy is riding better at the moment.

This is a disaster. 

six seven

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Juck
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2/22/2026 1:13am
crusty_xx wrote:
Again tonight. Last by a bike length. How does this even happen. Marchbanks was 18-20 off the start. The other kawis are constantly out starting both...

Again tonight. Last by a bike length. How does this even happen. Marchbanks was 18-20 off the start. The other kawis are constantly out starting both of them off worse gates. I'm so confused 

Juck wrote:

I could be misremembering but didn't Tomac's starts get significantly better after he switched to Yamaha?

Kelz87 wrote:

If I remember right, he was a decent starter on Kawi but got worse when they went to the hydro clutch 

2017 he was almost always coming through the pack to pass Dungey, and I don't think 2018 was much better

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2/22/2026 1:17am
Timo wrote:
James saying Chase doesn't look ahead enough, Chase saying he looks plenty far ahead, then watching him plow into someone in a corner was pretty good...

James saying Chase doesn't look ahead enough, Chase saying he looks plenty far ahead, then watching him plow into someone in a corner was pretty good. I don't think anyone really believed James until that incident. 

Idk why they wouldn’t believe James. He is very astute. Him and Bailey in the booth would be great. 

1
Moto Nomad
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2/22/2026 1:25am

He's five races in and everyone talking about him leaving the team already. He's in fifth place with one win and close to top 5 every week. That's not a panic button situation.

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Motofinne
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2/22/2026 1:35am Edited Date/Time 2/22/2026 1:35am
Moto Nomad wrote:
He's five races in and everyone talking about him leaving the team already. He's in fifth place with one win and close to top 5 every...

He's five races in and everyone talking about him leaving the team already. He's in fifth place with one win and close to top 5 every week. That's not a panic button situation.

7 races. What is your role at team Kawasaki? Welcome to Vital! 😅

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Juck
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2/22/2026 1:37am
Moto Nomad wrote:
He's five races in and everyone talking about him leaving the team already. He's in fifth place with one win and close to top 5 every...

He's five races in and everyone talking about him leaving the team already. He's in fifth place with one win and close to top 5 every week. That's not a panic button situation.

He's like 2 seconds a lap off his usual pace

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RG437
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2/22/2026 1:43am
Moto Nomad wrote:
He's five races in and everyone talking about him leaving the team already. He's in fifth place with one win and close to top 5 every...

He's five races in and everyone talking about him leaving the team already. He's in fifth place with one win and close to top 5 every week. That's not a panic button situation.

Do you think Sexton came into the season hoping to be ‘close to Top 5 every week’? He had 7 wins last year, now he has one podium in 7 races, setting the 9th or 10th fastest laps in the main events and isn’t even close to the podium, let alone the win. 

It’s the very definition of a panic button situation 

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