Eli seemed to ride pretty smart overall on Saturday. He didn't push the issue with Hunter in that heat, event though he had speed on him. Him shaking his head after he washed the front had me laughing.
I'd be interested in this. I'm planning of heading down from Minnesota and haven't grabbed any tickets yet. I'd be looking for 2 or 4 seats if possible if you can point me in the right direction. Thanks
Impressions of A1: I think I’ve seen Tomac crash out of the lead unforced, alone, first lap twice at A1. First time he was still in the win it or bin it mode years ago that he eventually grew out of, and in doing that he hurt his shoulder. Man, these days if he leads on the start he wins but not in A1. What maturity and persistence and raw talent to get back to fifth, last pass on last lap, from 15th-17th, on a track where passing was very difficult. Chase looked really good. Very fast, and critically, a quick recovery from his one mistake, stalling the engine in a hairpin and almost giving the lead to Kickstart Kenny. After that he just turned up the wick and found some time and distance on Ken. He promises to be a serious contender all season. Kenny got a great start and was close all race. He didn’t really slow down in the second half. Expect more top 3/top 5 finishes from him this year. Glad to see it, he’s had a tough career. Jett qualified hot, had two crashes early, and instead of coming through the field like water through a screen door, he looked like he didn’t want to be there and ended up —12th I think, one behind Huntah. Not a great night for the Lawrences or Honda. Someone asked about Stank Dog. Not someone I pay any attention to, but I think I saw him casing it in the rhythm section then he rode right off the track, slowly. I think he was on a 4 stroke. Glad to see Jo Shimoda win the 250,glad to see Beaumer and Smith in there. It pains me to say it, but Deegan had a really good ride recovering from a first turn crash to finish fifth. Good season coming, Eli and Chase are 100% there, I’d never count Jett out even though his ride at A1 was not impressive at all, and Ken is looking strong.
Were Jett’s issues entirely due to his ‘25 updates to the Honda? Hard to think Honda made that many radical changes that weren’t fully developed by A1, especially on a bike that dominated last year.
Lots of off-season changes with different sponsors. I had heard of the change from Vortex to GET ECU's but not the others. From Racer X article: "From what we’ve heard, several new developments worked together to form a tricky off-season. First, a new bike, second, new suspension components from Showa, then a new ECU supplier (GET Data) and a new fuel (ETS). Couple those four things with a complicated off-season for the brothers, with trips to the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, Paris and Australia, plus some much-needed downtime in between, and you’ve got a recipe for showing up to Anaheim not quite ready. Reasons? Excuses? Either way, things need to go better, and quickly." https://racerxonline.com/2025/01/13...-ideal-but-the-only-way-to-go-from-here-is-up
Look up the Gypsy Tales interview with McGrath and check the part where he talks about why he switched to Suzuki in 1997. He didn't want to give up the bike he had dominated on for three years, but that didn't matter. The rest is history, and history always repeats itself.
Just watched it last week. Such a good interview for so many reasons. Of course I probably enjoyed it a little more since he's one of a few racers I'll fan boy over. Lol
Also along the McGrath/Honda lines, didn't Eli say that's why he ended up leaving Kawasaki, because they wouldn't change the bike to his liking?
Eli touches on this in the Gypsy interview but basically yes. Kawi would not let them experiment outside the operating window Japan provided and Eli also wanted to be on KYB and not Showa IIRC. Star told him he'd have free reign to do just about anything he wanted with the bike.
The MX media has also reinforced repeatedly that the brothers have had a really weird attitude lately. Lots of comments from the Lawrences that the American fans hate them and how nice it was to be in front of Australian fans again.
Well, Jet has said some pretty arrogant stuff on the podium. Like when he won his first race and said "let the big dog eat"....Hunter on the other hand has been much more reserved and humble on the podium. Sooooo if the fans don't like Jet well it's not because he is Auzzie. America has liked and respected plenty of Auzzie racers...
Agreed. I'm a big Hunter fan. I've never cared for Jett. Tremendous talent and I don't think he's a bad guy by any means, but I just don't care for his personality. He's probably the only top-10 guy I don't really care for. Everyone else I find likeable in some way or another.
That Eli interview just before A1 was incredible. He is the last of the "Old School" for sure. I could have listened to him for another three hours.
That Jett oofff! Oooff!! barky thing was irritating,but damn! He's an excited kid! Never held it against him.Had he continued to OOOfff..Then yea,a Tonya Harding to the knees would be in order. Hunter is the Malcolm Stewart of the family.He's not always in the hunt,but will probably have a longer career. My worthless 2 cents has Jett up front,"if" he can keep that red mist down. I love the guy! And nuttn for nuttn,but I will take a Lawrence rider over a shit eater Deegan all day. THAT! kids a punk,and not the good kind!
