We probably saw Eli's last race of his career.

I’m heartbroken! Had a horrible death in the family so didn’t watch the race live. Just watched and all I can say is that I’m more gutted than I thought humanly possible this morning. The one thing I was looking forward to the last 2 days was the race and now I wish I had forgotten motocross existed.  

He was only a set of SG12s away from another championship

Only time will tell, ET3 is a world class athlete and still relatively young by professional stick and ball standards. Kobe Bryant returned from this same injury in 6 months. If Eli chooses to race in 2024 it is very conceivable he could be on the line for A1 since motocrossers do not use their legs for quick stop and start movements

I'm gutted for Eli. I was very impressed how calmly he handled this situation.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1856278-timeline-of-kobe-bryants-return-from-devastating-achilles-injury

Yes. They confirmed it on the broadcast at the Alpinestars Medical Trailer. 

That was my thought too

The irony in that story is that when Lewis asked him about "Supercross drills", Eli said "Forcing to riding on toes". I think he was maybe too much on toes ^^

Who? 

With the sort of mindset you have to have to win as much as he has, maybe the time off will rejuvenate his desire to compete again? RC got the motivation back when he was out of SX in 04 (but he was way younger of course). I just don´t think a person with his strong will, can let a career end like this. He´s been dominant, and looked to win the nats to with his pre-injury form.

I really hope to see him back, absolutely gutted!

First thing I thought too. Srs.

that is pretty cool

Major bummer. A split second after I saw it, it was mentally. Feel bad for eli- crap sx title- double crap no epic mx battles and rides. 😞 

Hoping for the best recovery. 💪 #3

We really did just witness the impossible. Never dreamed ot would end like this. Maybe he should have just mailed it in, he's just not the type I guess. 

i put my money on him..... he'll be back at the gate 💪🙏

This seems like a father time type injury, which most likely will play into his decision going forward. I mean, everyone rides on the balls of their feet and no ones timing is ever perfect and I don't remember any Achilles injuries ever happening....

Also, no asterisk for Chase he should be proud.

Have they stated whether the achilles was completely torn into? If it’s still partially intact perhaps the healing time wouldn’t be so drastic?

He seemed to be leaning heavily on retiring after SX but opted in for outdoors and SMX. Will he announce retirement or is this going to be an "unfinished business" motivation to come back?  It's not a decision to make when anyone feels like shit and he looked to be really hurting pretty bad last night.

Doing some Google searches I saw that a partial tear heals faster but would be more susceptible to reinjury. A surgical repair heals stronger but takes longer and as was mentioned, Kobe came back to play again. Eli being an Olympic level athlete would have a way shorter recovery than most of us. Who knows? Maybe he will decide after he starts treatment.

Gutted for him when he had it almost locked up. Tough sport to say the least. Generally. 4-6 month time table from these and the stretching and rebuilding of the leg takes time to rebuild. 

Personally can not foresee  him coming back from this. But if he does, he will come back hungry 

With all the injuries last week I wasn't even looking forward to watching the race last night.  Now I kinda wish I didnt.   But congrats to chase, kenny and adam.  Awesome racers.  And here's my wish for the rest of of the field to heal up 100%

Just coming around to this news, it's a terrible turn for what I thought was going to be the best year ever for Tomac, capping with an overseas win at MXdN.  

Damn.  This is big, for Eli, Yamaha, and the sport.    

Look at the bright side.  At least he was able to grab #2 on the all time SX wins list.  He's on Mt Rushmore for sure.

I know this isn't the point, but as far as records go, I don't think he would have missed any by riding another season.  Still, sucks.  

Does anyone have a link to a good clear vid of when the injury occurred ? There’s 80 billion social media guys talking but no good vid of the moment it happened . 

Hiw devastating an achilles is to an athlete very much depends on the sport. In basketball, tennis, football(especially skill positions) it's obviously a lot more impactful than say MX/SX where riders obviously don't rely on having to quickly change directions.
 

So i don't think it would be that big of a deal for most riders or a question of whether he could make a full recover. It's really just a question if a rider that was already in the fence about retirement wants to go through the grind of rehabbing the injury then having to grind to get back in shape again once the injury is finally healed. 

If the doctors give him a timeline that would allow him to be ready by A1 then i think there's an outside shot he gives it another go. If not, i can't see him coming back if there isn't a realistic path to a SX title in 24'. 
 

As a die hard ET3 fan it's sickening to even think about. Especially given all he had to do to be all but assured of winning his 3rd SX was to finish the race 

Exactly... Went from oh shit he's not going to win his hometown race to fuck he's not going to win SX title, to shit this is going to cost him outdoor season to FUCK, I very well may have just witnessed my favorite rider of all time line up on the gate.  
 

Absolutely devastating...

If you race, you've had this happen where you come down out of position or back on the peg a little and hyper the ankle, it's a bitch when it does.   

The more I think about it the more it sucks, it couldn't have been written any worse.

Generally speaking yes but given Eli was already contemplating retirement even before the injury occurred i don't think it's overly drastic at all.

These are screen-grabs from eli’s own IG. I realize the technique through these sorts of obstacles is “balls of your feet”. But was he excessive causing deterioration leading to last nights injury? Seems like the body just isnt meant to bend like a few of those.

To me it seems like tiger woods’ back situation. Nobody torqued it harder than tiger for years. Fast forward 20 years, his back issues before his car wreck really played into the approach of his game.. 

Either way, i hope to see eli back on top! 

How does this compare to other top riders? Eli probably has done what he did last night 1000 times without this happening.