What does it take to become a champion, and more importantly, what does it take to perform like one consistently? In this episode of the Ricky & Robb Podcast, Ricky Johnson and Coach Robb Beams kick things off with an inside look at the upcoming Baja 1000, where nearly 1,000 miles of unpredictable terrain, overnight racing, and constantly changing conditions will test even the most experienced competitors. Ricky shares how preparation, strategic thinking, and breaking an overwhelming challenge into smaller, manageable goals can make the difference between success and failure. But the conversation quickly shifts to one of the most debated questions in professional motocross: Is Chase Sexton truly capable of becoming a consistently dominant champion, or is something preventing him from reaching his full potential?

With Sexton's undeniable talent, physical fitness, and impressive victories, why does he struggle to deliver the same level of performance week after week? Ricky and Robb examine the difference between having championship-winning speed and possessing the mental discipline necessary to execute when everything is on the line. Drawing on Ricky's championship-winning experiences, Greg Hill's BMX legacy, and the legendary Ironman battles between Dave Scott and Mark Allen, they explore the importance of self-belief, emotional control, and surrounding yourself with the right people. The discussion also raises some uncomfortable questions about Sexton's relationship with his team, family influences, motorcycle setup decisions, and whether constantly searching for the perfect bike is actually preventing him from developing the consistency required to beat riders like Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence, and Haiden Deegan.

The conversation goes even deeper as Ricky explains why the stopwatch doesn't lie, but emotions can, revealing how suspension adjustments, rider feedback, telemetry, and confidence can dramatically influence performance. From Sexton's uncertain future and potential manufacturer changes to Jorge Prado's resurgence and the distractions that accompany success, Ricky and Robb challenge conventional thinking about what separates talented racers from repeat champions. Is the motorcycle really the problem, or is the solution found in a rider's ability to trust the process, adapt to imperfect conditions, and eliminate unnecessary distractions? Whether you're a professional racer, aspiring champion, or passionate motocross fan, this episode offers a fascinating perspective on the psychology of winning, the pursuit of consistency, and why being the fastest rider doesn't automatically make you the best racer.

00:00 Introduction
00:18 Baja 1000: Racing Through the Night
07:00 The Mental Strategy Behind Endurance Racing
12:38 Chase Sexton: Championship Talent or Untapped Potential?
15:28 Three Essential Ingredients of a Champion
20:25 Why Great Racers Perform When It Matters Most
23:04 Family, Coaches, and the People Behind a Champion
28:27 Is Chase Sexton Overthinking His Motorcycle Setup?
37:03 The Stopwatch Doesn't Lie: Data vs. Emotion
40:36 Sexton's Next Move: Suzuki, Yamaha, or Something Else?
46:01 What Separates Champions From Everyone Else?

Coach Robb's Resources (articles, videos, etc.) about health, wellness and performance:
► https://www.coachrobb.com/
► Resources such as the 2-Week Food Challenge, Sweat Rate Calculator, and Body Measurement Spreadsheet, click here: https://coachrobb.activehosted.com/f/25


Coach Robb's Exclusive Exercise and Recovery Products (designed by Coach Robb):
► Energy Fuel (Intensity and Duration Specific Sports Drink):
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/energy-fuel-products/

Coach Robb's Suggested Vitamins & Minerals:
► Nutritional Frontiers Supplements (Developed and Recommended Supplements of Coach Robb)
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/nutritional-bundles/

Coach Robb's Snacks, Smoothies and Meal Resources:
Coach Robb's Healthy Meals, Smoothies and Snack Recipe Books available in print and digital formats on Coach Robb Store and Amazon.
► Healthy Meals ► Smoothie Recipes ► Snack Recipes

Coach Robb's Educational Bundles:
► Nutrition for Weight Loss Educational Bundle
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/product/weight-loss-educational-bundle/
► Nutrition for Performance Educational Bundle
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/product/fueling-performance-educational-bundle/

The 2026 Motocross of Nations delivered everything that makes international motocross special: brutal track conditions, incredible fans, aggressive racing and a championship that remained undecided deep into the final moto. Belgium’s return to the top was more than simply another MXoN victory. Lucas and Sacha Coenen battled through adversity, while Liam Everts delivered on the biggest stage of his career, including an incredible performance in his first race on a 450. Add the history of the Everts family, the intensity of European motocross and a track that created multiple racing lines instead of first-turn carnage, and this became one of those races motocross fans will remember for a long time.

Then came Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado. Their battle offered a fascinating look at MXGP racing, racecraft, corner speed, controlled aggression and just how different European motocross can be from racing in America. Prado appears to have rediscovered the confidence and intensity that made him a World Champion, while Herlings once again showed why he remains one of the fastest motocross racers on the planet. With Prado carrying this momentum into the 2027 Supercross season and Herlings openly praising the Honda, the conversation quickly becomes much bigger than one weekend in France. What happens when riders with this level of speed, confidence and racecraft collide with Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence and the deepest field in American motocross?

But perhaps the biggest conversation coming out of the Motocross of Nations has nothing to do with who won. Team USA’s fifth-place finish raises bigger questions about American rider development, preparation and the role of the AMA compared with European motorcycle federations. Should America develop young motocross racers through a structured system similar to Olympic sports? Should riders and teams receive financial support to represent their country? And where does Haiden Deegan fit into all of this? Love him or hate him, Deegan and his family are bringing enormous attention to motocross through YouTube, social media, racing and marketing. The question may no longer be whether motocross needs personalities like Haiden Deegan. The real question is whether the sport understands how valuable they could be to its future.

Timestamps & Topics of Conversation:
00:00 Introduction
01:45 Why European Motocross Tracks Create Better Racing
07:51 Belgium Wins MXoN: The Incredible Everts Family Story
17:55 Herlings vs. Prado: Did Prado Just Change the 2027 Supercross Conversation?
39:29 Team USA: Why Fifth Place Doesn't Tell the Full Story
45:53 Is America Falling Behind? The AMA vs. European Federations
59:30 Deegan Effect

Coach Robb's Resources (articles, videos, etc.) about health, wellness and performance:
► https://www.coachrobb.com/
► Resources such as the 2-Week Food Challenge, Sweat Rate Calculator, and Body Measurement Spreadsheet, click here: https://coachrobb.activehosted.com/f/25


Coach Robb's Exclusive Exercise and Recovery Products (designed by Coach Robb):
► Energy Fuel (Intensity and Duration Specific Sports Drink):
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/energy-fuel-products/

Coach Robb's Suggested Vitamins & Minerals:
► Nutritional Frontiers Supplements (Developed and Recommended Supplements of Coach Robb)
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/nutritional-bundles/

Coach Robb's Snacks, Smoothies and Meal Resources:
Coach Robb's Healthy Meals, Smoothies and Snack Recipe Books available in print and digital formats on Coach Robb Store and Amazon.
► Healthy Meals ► Smoothie Recipes ► Snack Recipes

Coach Robb's Educational Bundles:
► Nutrition for Weight Loss Educational Bundle
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/product/weight-loss-educational-bundle/
► Nutrition for Performance Educational Bundle
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/product/fueling-performance-educational-bundle/

The SMX Championship finale delivered exactly what motocross fans have been waiting for, and Haiden Deegan and Jorge Prado put on a show that went far beyond the final results. Deegan's rapid progression on the 450 continues to turn heads, but Prado showed exactly why he is a multi-time MXGP World Champion. Ricky and Robb break down their incredible pace, Prado's ability to control the race from the front, Deegan's relentless aggression, and why learning when to back the intensity down may be the next evolution in his racecraft. With Anaheim 1 and the 2027 Supercross season already looming, the bigger question is becoming impossible to ignore: just how dangerous will Deegan be once he combines that raw speed with experience?

Then there is Jorge Prado. A year ago, his transition to American Supercross looked like it might never work. Now he has an SMX Championship, and the path he took to get there may be more impressive than the trophy itself. From two MX2 World Championships to MXGP titles, a difficult first season in America, and countless hours developing the KTM into exactly what he needed, Prado's story is a reminder that even world champions have to adapt. Ricky and Robb dig into what changed, why Prado and Deegan may be setting up one of the sport's most fascinating rivalries, and how Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence and the rest of the 450 field could make the upcoming Supercross season absolutely stacked.

The conversation then turns international as the Motocross of Nations takes center stage. Ricky and Robb break down Team USA with Cooper Webb, Julien Beaumer and Levi Kitchen, the strength of France, Spain and Belgium, and why MXoN can be won by the rider fighting for seventh just as easily as the rider fighting for first. But the episode closes with something much bigger than results. Should Eli Tomac make one final appearance and allow motocross fans from around the world to give one of America's greatest champions the farewell he deserves? Ricky makes an emotional case for Tomac to be part of MXoN, even if it is simply as an honorary captain. One final lap. One international crowd. One opportunity for the motocross world to say thank you to Eli Tomac.

00:00 Introduction
05:12 Deegan vs. Prado
11:30 You Can Teach Control - Not Aggression
25:05 Deegan Isn't Being Paid on Potential
29:14 Jorge Prado: Difficult to SMX Champion
35:32 MXDN: Breaking Down Team USA
45:39 Eli Tomac: One Final Goodbye

Coach Robb's Resources (articles, videos, etc.) about health, wellness and performance:
► https://www.coachrobb.com/
► Resources such as the 2-Week Food Challenge, Sweat Rate Calculator, and Body Measurement Spreadsheet, click here: https://coachrobb.activehosted.com/f/25


Coach Robb's Exclusive Exercise and Recovery Products (designed by Coach Robb):
► Energy Fuel (Intensity and Duration Specific Sports Drink):
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/energy-fuel-products/

Coach Robb's Suggested Vitamins & Minerals:
► Nutritional Frontiers Supplements (Developed and Recommended Supplements of Coach Robb)
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/nutritional-bundles/

Coach Robb's Snacks, Smoothies and Meal Resources:
Coach Robb's Healthy Meals, Smoothies and Snack Recipe Books available in print and digital formats on Coach Robb Store and Amazon.
► Healthy Meals ► Smoothie Recipes ► Snack Recipes

Coach Robb's Educational Bundles:
► Nutrition for Weight Loss Educational Bundle
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/product/weight-loss-educational-bundle/
► Nutrition for Performance Educational Bundle
https://www.coachrobbstore.com/product/fueling-performance-educational-bundle/