Is Team USA Making a Mistake? Eli racing the new 2023 Yamaha at MXoN (UPDATE: He’s not)

aeffertz
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aeffertz
Edited Date/Time 9/20/2022 6:07am
At the 34:00 mark of this video, they say that apparently Eli loves the new bike and Star has one built up for him to race at the MXoN. Why would they do that? Didn’t they learn their lesson in 2018? Hopefully it’s not true and he races the bike he just won two titles on this year…

https://youtu.be/mpRv-y0ffVc
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jaun
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jaun 9/15/2022 11:35am
9/15/2022 11:35am Edited Date/Time 9/15/2022 11:36am
Good news for team Australia
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NicNak
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NicNak 9/15/2022 11:47am
9/15/2022 11:47am
which model are ferrandis, renaux, & coldenhoff racing? how about Jago?
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mgifracing 9/15/2022 11:50am
9/15/2022 11:50am
aeffertz wrote:
At the 34:00 mark of this video, they say that apparently Eli loves the new bike and Star has one built up for him to race...
At the 34:00 mark of this video, they say that apparently Eli loves the new bike and Star has one built up for him to race at the MXoN. Why would they do that? Didn’t they learn their lesson in 2018? Hopefully it’s not true and he races the bike he just won two titles on this year…

https://youtu.be/mpRv-y0ffVc
Normally I would be concerned but if Eli is happy who cares. Let him go out and kick some ass.
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tek14
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tek14 9/15/2022 11:52am
9/15/2022 11:52am
NicNak wrote:
which model are ferrandis, renaux, & coldenhoff racing? how about Jago?
GP riders are on same bikes they used all season. That was also what Tomac said week ago.
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Dirty Points 9/15/2022 11:57am
9/15/2022 11:57am
If Tomac rides the new bike because he really wants it, great choice.

If Tomac rides the new bike because Yamaha really wants it, not great choice.
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karsmakers
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karsmakers 9/15/2022 12:28pm
9/15/2022 12:28pm
Eli said he liked the bike in 2018 also then didn't like it in the race. Stay with you know works. Let hin ride the 2023 at the Monster Cup not the fucking MXON. Learn from your mistakes bro
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Dirty Points 9/15/2022 12:56pm
9/15/2022 12:56pm
karsmakers wrote:
Eli said he liked the bike in 2018 also then didn't like it in the race. Stay with you know works. Let hin ride the 2023...
Eli said he liked the bike in 2018 also then didn't like it in the race. Stay with you know works. Let hin ride the 2023 at the Monster Cup not the fucking MXON. Learn from your mistakes bro
Of course he said he liked the new bike. It is his job to endorse it.
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willbilly
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willbilly 9/15/2022 1:01pm
9/15/2022 1:01pm
Yamaha and Tomac are more interested in testing the new bike than winning MXDN. Hope it’s not a repeat of 18.
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blockhead17 9/15/2022 1:02pm
9/15/2022 1:02pm
Just prey to god whatever bike he rides has a cable clutch
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Dirty Points 9/15/2022 1:05pm
9/15/2022 1:05pm Edited Date/Time 9/15/2022 5:20pm
willbilly wrote:
Yamaha and Tomac are more interested in testing the new bike than winning MXDN. Hope it’s not a repeat of 18.
I see Tomac as acknowledging he is in the legacy-cementing phase of his career. A win at Nations would be pretty big -- one of few career accolades that has eluded him.
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skeef
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skeef 9/15/2022 1:13pm
9/15/2022 1:13pm
Can he just bring both and race whichever he likes more in practice? lol
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hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 9/15/2022 1:18pm
9/15/2022 1:18pm Edited Date/Time 9/15/2022 1:43pm
Highly doubt he's racing the new bike. Who's their source? I'll believe it when I see it
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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 9/15/2022 1:21pm
9/15/2022 1:21pm
2022 SX Champion
2022 MX Champion

Ya know, I’m thinking he’s doin’ jus’ fine.
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philG
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philG 9/15/2022 1:29pm
9/15/2022 1:29pm
Seems like a great idea to me.
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MotoCosmo
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MotoCosmo 9/15/2022 1:29pm
9/15/2022 1:29pm
If he loses on the '23 it'll be a disaster. If he wins on the '23 he'll be a hero. Same as it ever was!
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Magoofan
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Magoofan 9/15/2022 1:30pm
9/15/2022 1:30pm
We should ask Webb what he thinks....

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Mit12
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Mit12 9/15/2022 3:04pm
9/15/2022 3:04pm
I believe 23 is not a new model year so the changes should be minor.
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davis224
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davis224 9/15/2022 3:07pm
9/15/2022 3:07pm
Mit12 wrote:
I believe 23 is not a new model year so the changes should be minor.
There was a big whole press release followed by a ride day video of Tomac riding it, it's an all new bike, besides I think the rear wheel and 1 other part maybe.
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Mit12
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Mit12 9/15/2022 3:08pm
9/15/2022 3:08pm
karsmakers wrote:
Eli said he liked the bike in 2018 also then didn't like it in the race. Stay with you know works. Let hin ride the 2023...
Eli said he liked the bike in 2018 also then didn't like it in the race. Stay with you know works. Let hin ride the 2023 at the Monster Cup not the fucking MXON. Learn from your mistakes bro
I am sorry but in 18 Tomac did not ride like he did during the nationals. He got bad starts and rode it home anyone that watched the race could clearly see he rode with zero intensity compared to his normal riding. Our guys will be fine if the ride with the intensity that they rode with at the last national.
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LouisianaMotocross 9/15/2022 3:09pm
9/15/2022 3:09pm
TeamGreen wrote:
2022 SX Champion
2022 MX Champion

Ya know, I’m thinking he’s doin’ jus’ fine.
Yet it took him time in both those series to figure out the settings for the new bike. This race is a race not a series so I don’t understand your point.
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Park Boys
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Park Boys 9/15/2022 3:16pm
9/15/2022 3:16pm
Terrible idea. Only thing he hasn’t won. Why take the chance? Unless your racing MX next year to get a jump start.
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Timo
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Timo 9/15/2022 3:36pm
9/15/2022 3:36pm
karsmakers wrote:
Eli said he liked the bike in 2018 also then didn't like it in the race. Stay with you know works. Let hin ride the 2023...
Eli said he liked the bike in 2018 also then didn't like it in the race. Stay with you know works. Let hin ride the 2023 at the Monster Cup not the fucking MXON. Learn from your mistakes bro
I think he liked it until the double dnf in 2020.
AH387
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AH387 9/15/2022 4:05pm
9/15/2022 4:05pm
I thought ML already asked him and he confirmed that he was not racing the '23 at MXON?
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quadzrulebro 9/15/2022 5:02pm
9/15/2022 5:02pm
TeamGreen wrote:
2022 SX Champion
2022 MX Champion

Ya know, I’m thinking he’s doin’ jus’ fine.
On his 2022 bike…
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booth112
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booth112 9/15/2022 5:28pm
9/15/2022 5:28pm
Does anyone recall RV2 hopping on the new kawi mid 2011 MX season? He was untouchable after that. Hoping it’ll be the same sort of deal. You have to think if he’s really loving it that much and everyone agrees then it’ll hopefully be the right choice
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KirkChandler
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KirkChandler 9/15/2022 5:42pm
9/15/2022 5:42pm
I really hope he rides the 22, the 23 could be a better bike, but the 22 is comfortable, he’s admitted himself that he misses the setup almost every year with a new bike and struggles to get comfortable at race pace.

In 2018, he rode the 2019 bike and DNFd the qualifying race, and then didn’t ride up to expectations the rest of the weekend.
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Press516
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Press516 9/15/2022 6:08pm
9/15/2022 6:08pm
KirkChandler wrote:
I really hope he rides the 22, the 23 could be a better bike, but the 22 is comfortable, he’s admitted himself that he misses the...
I really hope he rides the 22, the 23 could be a better bike, but the 22 is comfortable, he’s admitted himself that he misses the setup almost every year with a new bike and struggles to get comfortable at race pace.

In 2018, he rode the 2019 bike and DNFd the qualifying race, and then didn’t ride up to expectations the rest of the weekend.
And that DNF along with AP’s hard crash pretty much put the US behind from that point on…. Bad gate picks.
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aeffertz
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aeffertz 9/15/2022 6:08pm
9/15/2022 6:08pm
Dirty Points wrote:
If Tomac rides the new bike because he really wants it, great choice. If Tomac rides the new bike because Yamaha really wants it, not great...
If Tomac rides the new bike because he really wants it, great choice.

If Tomac rides the new bike because Yamaha really wants it, not great choice.
My worry if it’s true is that there is very limited testing time and there are mechanical issues on race day like in 2018. Who in their right mind would want to go into a race this big after a successful year with newly developed, hardly tested bike you’ve never raced on?

Can’t say he doesn’t feel comfortable on the 2022 when he just won two titles on it this year. Even if he likes the ‘23 more, it seems like way too much of a gamble considering he said the ‘22 is the best bikes he’s ridden. I just don’t see any positives to testing the new bike with little time at an event like this when it’s practically a unanimous opinion that Kawasaki doing just that in 2018 was a monumental mistake not only for Kawasaki themselves, but for the fans, team and Eli alike.

Why risk it? This could all be a nothing burger but definitely is a head scratcher if everyone involved is considering it.
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DonM
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DonM 9/15/2022 8:10pm
9/15/2022 8:10pm
Dirty Points wrote:
If Tomac rides the new bike because he really wants it, great choice. If Tomac rides the new bike because Yamaha really wants it, not great...
If Tomac rides the new bike because he really wants it, great choice.

If Tomac rides the new bike because Yamaha really wants it, not great choice.
aeffertz wrote:
My worry if it’s true is that there is very limited testing time and there are mechanical issues on race day like in 2018. Who in...
My worry if it’s true is that there is very limited testing time and there are mechanical issues on race day like in 2018. Who in their right mind would want to go into a race this big after a successful year with newly developed, hardly tested bike you’ve never raced on?

Can’t say he doesn’t feel comfortable on the 2022 when he just won two titles on it this year. Even if he likes the ‘23 more, it seems like way too much of a gamble considering he said the ‘22 is the best bikes he’s ridden. I just don’t see any positives to testing the new bike with little time at an event like this when it’s practically a unanimous opinion that Kawasaki doing just that in 2018 was a monumental mistake not only for Kawasaki themselves, but for the fans, team and Eli alike.

Why risk it? This could all be a nothing burger but definitely is a head scratcher if everyone involved is considering it.
Pretty sure Eli said he was racing the 22
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Chris_Buehler 9/15/2022 8:19pm
9/15/2022 8:19pm
TeamGreen wrote:
2022 SX Champion
2022 MX Champion

Ya know, I’m thinking he’s doin’ jus’ fine.
Not sure your point here.
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