Tomac to Yamaha?

mattyhamz2 5/7/2021 7:47pm
5/7/2021 7:47pm
Bnagazina wrote:
That is actually a product marketing concept for Kawasaki’s newest sponsor Nvidia. It shows how cool their new graphics chip can run only requiring oil and...
That is actually a product marketing concept for Kawasaki’s newest sponsor Nvidia. It shows how cool their new graphics chip can run only requiring oil and liquid cooling powdered by a 450cc engine!! Besides both run the team green label in their industries.

Seriously, this seems to be a further change as a result of energy drink money than motorcycle brand money. Seems like the key might have been the Monster contract, then select you flavor of Mx bike that we sponsor. How long is Monsters sponsorship contract with Kawasaki? Wonder how that relationship is?
twotwosix wrote:
Tomac is leaving Factory Kawi not because of the bike, but the team. That team hasn't had Eli happy for a couple years now...
yz133rider wrote:
Think about how many dnfs that team has given him. Weird brake issues, engine let go leading red bud, double dnf in the mud, and more...
Think about how many dnfs that team has given him.

Weird brake issues, engine let go leading red bud, double dnf in the mud, and more I’m sure I’m forgetting.
I’m curious to see how outdoors goes. Will they do like other teams have done before and pull the bike back little by little so they don’t have the number 1 plate go to a different bike for next year? Do we see weird DNF’s? Or do they all stay professional and do all they can to get one more championship together?
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Alex814
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Alex814 5/7/2021 7:51pm
5/7/2021 7:51pm
Wow, I didn't think he would leave Kawi. Hopefully the change revitalizes him and he's a championship contender again. Will he take it easy for the nationals this year to stay healthy going into the offseason?
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Johnny Ringo
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Johnny Ringo 5/7/2021 8:03pm
5/7/2021 8:03pm
twotwosix wrote:
Tomac is leaving Factory Kawi not because of the bike, but the team. That team hasn't had Eli happy for a couple years now...
yz133rider wrote:
Think about how many dnfs that team has given him. Weird brake issues, engine let go leading red bud, double dnf in the mud, and more...
Think about how many dnfs that team has given him.

Weird brake issues, engine let go leading red bud, double dnf in the mud, and more I’m sure I’m forgetting.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
I’m curious to see how outdoors goes. Will they do like other teams have done before and pull the bike back little by little so they...
I’m curious to see how outdoors goes. Will they do like other teams have done before and pull the bike back little by little so they don’t have the number 1 plate go to a different bike for next year? Do we see weird DNF’s? Or do they all stay professional and do all they can to get one more championship together?
What teams have done that? I can’t remember any? Jmart and Star maybe but I don’t think they did that on purpose?
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Johnny Ringo
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Johnny Ringo 5/7/2021 8:11pm
5/7/2021 8:11pm
If I’m tomac this summer I try to win every moto possible. Make Kawi stroke those bonus checks every week.
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kpiper
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kpiper 5/7/2021 8:40pm
5/7/2021 8:40pm
PTshox wrote:
"Mutually deciding not to pursue a contract extension" Really? I don’t buy this above. This is some PR spin on the whole situation. I suspect Kawi...
"Mutually deciding not to pursue a contract extension"

Really? I don’t buy this above. This is some PR spin on the whole situation. I suspect Kawi was caught flat footed when he signed with someone else as the two were talking.

What actually happened… I have no clue. But I did take note of Eli’s attitude when he was at the podium in Salt Lake to get the 3rd place metal they gave out to him for the series. Go back and watch it. He had this irked attitude about him. More so then normal. And he didn’t say anything. His body language to me said “3rd place… this is bullshit…. Whatever”. I got the vibe that he was pissed… not done racing… irked. If he was done racing and burnt he would have been more like shrugging his shoulder as in “it is what it is…”. But that’s not the attitude I saw. It was more of a "yea... not cool.. not happy". If you're burnt you're happy it's over!

Maybe what was behind that was frustration with getting stuff he wanted. Didn’t villo complain about how tough it was at kawi to get changes made? I believe when he went to the GP’s there were some issues about getting certain things he liked/had on his US bike that he couldn’t get for the GP’s. When a company fights internally…. And the best ideas don’t win, that’s a bad situation. Villo also said something to the effect that he would have been around longer racing if he made a change earlier. I took that to mean leaving kawi for a different culture.
I think Eli was frustrated with not winning the SLC race(s) and getting a bad result. Not the 3rd overall for the series.

The way he rode the qualifier race (pulling away from Roczen) it looked like he should win the night. Instead, he did very poorly.

I also think he saw that Adam was the 'favorite son' at Kawi or would be this year since Eli didn't win the Nationals last season or SX this year.
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dayzed
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dayzed 5/7/2021 8:42pm
5/7/2021 8:42pm
KYFHO699 wrote:
I wonder if Tomac will keep Brian Kranz as his mechanic.
Brian is staying at Kawasaki to work in house. Source: PulpMX
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PTshox
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PTshox 5/7/2021 9:31pm
5/7/2021 9:31pm
I think there is something else going on. My opinion is factory Kawi is run from above and they don't listen to the riders. The team manager is a puppet... Dan F? He's there because he's follows orders from above. He's not a guy that was a racer. He's not a rider and follows team orders to keep the $ flowing. You don't learn racing in school. You do it in the field. If you're corp and you want to win... hire people that win at the street level.

So lets see what happens. Eli is around smart people. His dad knows the game and is connect to various folks that know the moto industry and each mfg's behavior. If the move was made there were lots of internal calls made. He is well guided. )
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Tenacious P
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Tenacious P 5/8/2021 12:13am
5/8/2021 12:13am
Maybe we can finally get this pig to turn... ‘16 450 owner here
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gregyou
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gregyou 5/8/2021 2:01am
5/8/2021 2:01am
Can’t wait to see the 22 yzf450
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Derpin' DJ
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Derpin' DJ 5/8/2021 2:13am
5/8/2021 2:13am
So weird to see a press release several months before the contract expires
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WCRider
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WCRider 5/8/2021 4:14am
5/8/2021 4:14am
He will be better at least through the whoops on the Yamaha in my opinion.
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mx 219
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mx 219 5/8/2021 4:23am
5/8/2021 4:23am
yz133rider wrote:
Think about how many dnfs that team has given him. Weird brake issues, engine let go leading red bud, double dnf in the mud, and more...
Think about how many dnfs that team has given him.

Weird brake issues, engine let go leading red bud, double dnf in the mud, and more I’m sure I’m forgetting.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
I’m curious to see how outdoors goes. Will they do like other teams have done before and pull the bike back little by little so they...
I’m curious to see how outdoors goes. Will they do like other teams have done before and pull the bike back little by little so they don’t have the number 1 plate go to a different bike for next year? Do we see weird DNF’s? Or do they all stay professional and do all they can to get one more championship together?
Johnny Ringo wrote:
What teams have done that? I can’t remember any? Jmart and Star maybe but I don’t think they did that on purpose?
Was a little ironic how many bike issues AMart and Jmart had that year. I saw one for each of them at High Point that yr. Not good when your guys are running top 3 and bike lets go
cwel11
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cwel11 5/8/2021 4:30am
5/8/2021 4:30am
Derpin' DJ wrote:
So weird to see a press release several months before the contract expires
Same thought here
suzrider982
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suzrider982 5/8/2021 4:51am
5/8/2021 4:51am
Derpin' DJ wrote:
So weird to see a press release several months before the contract expires
cwel11 wrote:
Same thought here
Do we see him get hurt after the first rd and sit out till next year?
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Bidirella
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Bidirella 5/8/2021 5:04am
5/8/2021 5:04am
suzrider982 wrote:
Do we see him get hurt after the first rd and sit out till next year?
Depends how the results are. If he is in the hunt for the title(wich is most likely) I don’t see him pull out with a fake reason/injury
quadzrulebro 5/8/2021 5:20am
5/8/2021 5:20am
suzrider982 wrote:
Do we see him get hurt after the first rd and sit out till next year?
Bidirella wrote:
Depends how the results are. If he is in the hunt for the title(wich is most likely) I don’t see him pull out with a fake...
Depends how the results are. If he is in the hunt for the title(wich is most likely) I don’t see him pull out with a fake reason/injury
If he’s smart, he worked a pay accelerator into the deal so his pay gets bumped if he brings a number 1 plate with him to Yamaha. I don’t see him laying it up outdoors this year. Especially since based on the reverse engined YZ450’s track record to this point, this is likely to be his final championship opportunity. I could be wrong there, but history says I’m not.
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Timo
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Timo 5/8/2021 5:51am
5/8/2021 5:51am
suzrider982 wrote:
Do we see him get hurt after the first rd and sit out till next year?
Bidirella wrote:
Depends how the results are. If he is in the hunt for the title(wich is most likely) I don’t see him pull out with a fake...
Depends how the results are. If he is in the hunt for the title(wich is most likely) I don’t see him pull out with a fake reason/injury
quadzrulebro wrote:
If he’s smart, he worked a pay accelerator into the deal so his pay gets bumped if he brings a number 1 plate with him to...
If he’s smart, he worked a pay accelerator into the deal so his pay gets bumped if he brings a number 1 plate with him to Yamaha. I don’t see him laying it up outdoors this year. Especially since based on the reverse engined YZ450’s track record to this point, this is likely to be his final championship opportunity. I could be wrong there, but history says I’m not.
Backwards engine has won a world championship?
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Bultaco
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Bultaco 5/8/2021 6:26am
5/8/2021 6:26am
People rarely quit their job...they quit their boss.
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predel323
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predel323 5/8/2021 6:27am
5/8/2021 6:27am
Roman Febvre won the world championship in 2015 on the reverse cylinder Yamaha
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DonM
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DonM 5/8/2021 6:43am
5/8/2021 6:43am
Reading between the lines it’s a one year deal with an option for more….
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Zycki11 5/8/2021 6:54am
5/8/2021 6:54am
Derpin' DJ wrote:
So weird to see a press release several months before the contract expires
cwel11 wrote:
Same thought here
suzrider982 wrote:
Do we see him get hurt after the first rd and sit out till next year?
When you have a small window to make a living, you don’t fold up when millions are on the line for the title.
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tek14
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tek14 5/8/2021 7:20am
5/8/2021 7:20am
WCRider wrote:
He will be better at least through the whoops on the Yamaha in my opinion.
Roger wont allow long set of whoops as long as Webb is on their team.
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280driver
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280driver 5/8/2021 7:32am
5/8/2021 7:32am
Bnagazina wrote:
That is actually a product marketing concept for Kawasaki’s newest sponsor Nvidia. It shows how cool their new graphics chip can run only requiring oil and...
That is actually a product marketing concept for Kawasaki’s newest sponsor Nvidia. It shows how cool their new graphics chip can run only requiring oil and liquid cooling powdered by a 450cc engine!! Besides both run the team green label in their industries.

Seriously, this seems to be a further change as a result of energy drink money than motorcycle brand money. Seems like the key might have been the Monster contract, then select you flavor of Mx bike that we sponsor. How long is Monsters sponsorship contract with Kawasaki? Wonder how that relationship is?
twotwosix wrote:
Tomac is leaving Factory Kawi not because of the bike, but the team. That team hasn't had Eli happy for a couple years now...
yz133rider wrote:
Think about how many dnfs that team has given him. Weird brake issues, engine let go leading red bud, double dnf in the mud, and more...
Think about how many dnfs that team has given him.

Weird brake issues, engine let go leading red bud, double dnf in the mud, and more I’m sure I’m forgetting.
How many DNFs that team gave him? That’s a reach! The brake issue was from a rock. The engine issues where from him pushing the engine and clutch to extremes in an effort to make up for mistakes he made. There is nothing wrong with that Kawi team.
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suzrider982
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suzrider982 5/8/2021 8:01am
5/8/2021 8:01am
cwel11 wrote:
Same thought here
suzrider982 wrote:
Do we see him get hurt after the first rd and sit out till next year?
Zycki11 wrote:
When you have a small window to make a living, you don’t fold up when millions are on the line for the title.
Oh no? Okay ask Shane, Kenny, Webb last year in outdoors and more. If talking a season off to guarantee a few more years and coming into sx in 2022 with a dialed yz 450 you just may
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brocster
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brocster 5/8/2021 8:01am
5/8/2021 8:01am
PTshox wrote:
"Mutually deciding not to pursue a contract extension" Really? I don’t buy this above. This is some PR spin on the whole situation. I suspect Kawi...
"Mutually deciding not to pursue a contract extension"

Really? I don’t buy this above. This is some PR spin on the whole situation. I suspect Kawi was caught flat footed when he signed with someone else as the two were talking.

What actually happened… I have no clue. But I did take note of Eli’s attitude when he was at the podium in Salt Lake to get the 3rd place metal they gave out to him for the series. Go back and watch it. He had this irked attitude about him. More so then normal. And he didn’t say anything. His body language to me said “3rd place… this is bullshit…. Whatever”. I got the vibe that he was pissed… not done racing… irked. If he was done racing and burnt he would have been more like shrugging his shoulder as in “it is what it is…”. But that’s not the attitude I saw. It was more of a "yea... not cool.. not happy". If you're burnt you're happy it's over!

Maybe what was behind that was frustration with getting stuff he wanted. Didn’t villo complain about how tough it was at kawi to get changes made? I believe when he went to the GP’s there were some issues about getting certain things he liked/had on his US bike that he couldn’t get for the GP’s. When a company fights internally…. And the best ideas don’t win, that’s a bad situation. Villo also said something to the effect that he would have been around longer racing if he made a change earlier. I took that to mean leaving kawi for a different culture.
kpiper wrote:
I think Eli was frustrated with not winning the SLC race(s) and getting a bad result. Not the 3rd overall for the series. The way he...
I think Eli was frustrated with not winning the SLC race(s) and getting a bad result. Not the 3rd overall for the series.

The way he rode the qualifier race (pulling away from Roczen) it looked like he should win the night. Instead, he did very poorly.

I also think he saw that Adam was the 'favorite son' at Kawi or would be this year since Eli didn't win the Nationals last season or SX this year.
I too believe that the team dynamic has switched at Kawi with having Adam as a rider with outstandible (ha) PR skills vs Tomac the man of few words. Only problem is, is that AC has spent more time PR’ing than racing. That comes from an AC fan, but the facts are the facts, the dude can’t stay out the dirt or the ER. Here’s hoping for a better outdoor season.
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quadzrulebro 5/8/2021 8:22am
5/8/2021 8:22am
Bidirella wrote:
Depends how the results are. If he is in the hunt for the title(wich is most likely) I don’t see him pull out with a fake...
Depends how the results are. If he is in the hunt for the title(wich is most likely) I don’t see him pull out with a fake reason/injury
quadzrulebro wrote:
If he’s smart, he worked a pay accelerator into the deal so his pay gets bumped if he brings a number 1 plate with him to...
If he’s smart, he worked a pay accelerator into the deal so his pay gets bumped if he brings a number 1 plate with him to Yamaha. I don’t see him laying it up outdoors this year. Especially since based on the reverse engined YZ450’s track record to this point, this is likely to be his final championship opportunity. I could be wrong there, but history says I’m not.
Timo wrote:
Backwards engine has won a world championship?
Correct. MXGP’s rule book allows teams to build true works bikes that allow them to modify anything they need to make the rider comfortable. We have a production rule here in the AMA.
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davis224
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davis224 5/8/2021 8:35am
5/8/2021 8:35am
quadzrulebro wrote:
If he’s smart, he worked a pay accelerator into the deal so his pay gets bumped if he brings a number 1 plate with him to...
If he’s smart, he worked a pay accelerator into the deal so his pay gets bumped if he brings a number 1 plate with him to Yamaha. I don’t see him laying it up outdoors this year. Especially since based on the reverse engined YZ450’s track record to this point, this is likely to be his final championship opportunity. I could be wrong there, but history says I’m not.
Timo wrote:
Backwards engine has won a world championship?
quadzrulebro wrote:
Correct. MXGP’s rule book allows teams to build true works bikes that allow them to modify anything they need to make the rider comfortable. We have...
Correct. MXGP’s rule book allows teams to build true works bikes that allow them to modify anything they need to make the rider comfortable. We have a production rule here in the AMA.
What would they change that Yamaha wouldn't implement onto the stock bike if they found out it works? It still had the reverse cylinder, if they spec'd a whole new frame for him and it was a winning combo, why not use it from there on out? With Star's success along with GP and Aussie teams, it seems like it was just the US Factory team that was struggling.
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TbonesPop 5/8/2021 9:00am
5/8/2021 9:00am
Timo wrote:
Backwards engine has won a world championship?
quadzrulebro wrote:
Correct. MXGP’s rule book allows teams to build true works bikes that allow them to modify anything they need to make the rider comfortable. We have...
Correct. MXGP’s rule book allows teams to build true works bikes that allow them to modify anything they need to make the rider comfortable. We have a production rule here in the AMA.
davis224 wrote:
What would they change that Yamaha wouldn't implement onto the stock bike if they found out it works? It still had the reverse cylinder, if they...
What would they change that Yamaha wouldn't implement onto the stock bike if they found out it works? It still had the reverse cylinder, if they spec'd a whole new frame for him and it was a winning combo, why not use it from there on out? With Star's success along with GP and Aussie teams, it seems like it was just the US Factory team that was struggling.
From 2018 forward, using the YZ bike as an excuse is just that, an excuse. Prior to that, there were some legitimate issues, but 2018 and going forward Yamaha has the platform for a winner if the right team and rider uses it.

And I agree with your statement. What would they change in the GPs that couldn't be eventually put on the bike in the US? Its just an excuse at this point. It ain't the bike.
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skeef
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skeef 5/8/2021 9:09am
5/8/2021 9:09am
Tomac needs a vengeance.

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tickleme20
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tickleme20 5/8/2021 9:19am
5/8/2021 9:19am
twotwosix wrote:
Tomac is leaving Factory Kawi not because of the bike, but the team. That team hasn't had Eli happy for a couple years now...
yz133rider wrote:
Think about how many dnfs that team has given him. Weird brake issues, engine let go leading red bud, double dnf in the mud, and more...
Think about how many dnfs that team has given him.

Weird brake issues, engine let go leading red bud, double dnf in the mud, and more I’m sure I’m forgetting.
280driver wrote:
How many DNFs that team gave him? That’s a reach! The brake issue was from a rock. The engine issues where from him pushing the engine...
How many DNFs that team gave him? That’s a reach! The brake issue was from a rock. The engine issues where from him pushing the engine and clutch to extremes in an effort to make up for mistakes he made. There is nothing wrong with that Kawi team.
Ask Joey Savagty about that. I've never seen a rider so sabotaged by freak mechanicals as he was during his Kawi 450 stint, especially outdoors. It was ridiculous.
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