Slaw
Recency bias is a real thing. It’s not some far off conspiracy a podcast host is screaming about. When cool things happen, in the moment, we get stoked. And then we—loudly, typically—proclaim THIS IS THE BEST EVER. The best race. The best beer. The best gear. And on and on and on.
I wanted to preference you with that, because THIS SEASON IS GREAT!!!!
Is it the best ever? Probably not. Could it be? Maybe. Imagine if we go into a three rider winner-take-all scenario in Salt Lake City??? Minus it not being in Vegas, that’s A+++. Sorry, winner-take-all in SLC doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Hand up, a few weeks ago I—like everyone else I might add—proclaimed this a two rider championship. I apologize. To Kenny. His wife. His distant family. To HEP Suzuki. To Kenny’s dogs—you name it, I have righted my wrongs.
With that out of the way, here are three things I think I think about this title with five rounds to go…
I Think I Think Kenny Is Now the Favorite
Look, man, being in the “prediction game” is a tough sled. You can’t just throw out flaming Cheetos all year and not have it bit you in the ass—literally and figuratively—from time to time. And Kenny bit me hard.
Not anymore.
After the last two weeks, how could you NOT have him as the favorite. If he wins this week and either Hunter or Eli finish second, he is TWO points back with four to go. Truly anyones game right now and Ken is en fuego entering Nashville.
I Think I Think I’m Worried About Eli
I, like most out there, have no idea what is going on. Eli’s camp is tight-lipped, so I wouldn’t expect we will know anything about the last two rounds until after the season—if ever. But this is NOT Eli Tomac. If it’s not an injury, then Eli can figure this out and get rid of these questions this weekend with a good performance. If not, these questions will continue to persist. Whatever it is, Nashville is going to be huge.
I Think I Think Hunter Needs a Win In Nashville
Hunter has been great all season. Controlling everything around him. Detroit was a blip but then to learn he was dealing with a wrist injury has me concerned. Here is what he said post-St. Louis (bold mine):
“It was wild how the bumps were, how kicky the jumps were, and how deep the ruts were. I had to ride more governed. A lot of it was just due to the strength loss in my wrist; it would give out on some of the stuff where normally I could kind of muscle up and continue on and make the next rhythm. Nothing’s broken—it’s just really sore and swollen in the joint, but it was good enough to do what I could do today. I’ve got a great team behind me, and we’re in a great spot.”
Slaw is not a doctor, but that is not what anyone wants to hear right now. Hunter needs to slow down Kenny’s momentum… and fast.
Photos: octopi.media
