https://racerxonline.com/2024/08/24/team-usa-eli-tomac-takes-himself-out-of-consideration
"Racer X has learned that Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac has pulled himself out of consideration for Team USA at the 2024 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations. Tomac, who just returned from a thumb injury that kept him out for most of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship this summer, had asked for a chance to prove himself at these last two rounds before the team was chosen.
Eli finished a solid third overall today but informed the AMA afterwards that he felt that Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger, who was second overall to his teammate Chase Sexton, had earned the position on Team USA over the summer. As for the team’s 250 class (or MX2) position, newly-crowned AMA 250 Pro Motocross Champion Haiden Deegan is the obvious choice, but he has yet to commit one way or the other. We will have more details as they become available."
It was the right thing to do. AP earned the spot and as of “now”is faster than Tomac. Will he still ne faster by the time the MXoN happens? We will never know. Class act by Tomac.
I need answers as to why, he said it’s ultimately up the the AMA to decide or something like that. I don’t see why he took himself out of the running. He is going really good so far. Shame that we won’t have a winning team anymore this year.
Classy move.
What I read basically when i read the news is that, we will no longer have a shot at winning nations and why is there no answer as to why he dropped out.
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I see no reason to take this at anything less than face value.
He knows his past results and potential will make him a top choice but is at a stage in his career that he can acknowledge just how well AP is riding and can take a step back and voice his opinion, which is that AP has had a consistently awesome season and it would mean a lot to AP to go and race for his country.
It cant be said that Aaron hasnt earned his respect this year
AP earned it.
Does that mean Deegs doesn't go? Not sure if it was just a rumor that he was only interested to go if Eli goes.
Always been a huge fan of Eli, but he ran 4 motos the last two weeks. AP beat him all 4 motos. If He truly wanted to go this was the stand up thing to do and that’s rare these days. I feel like Chase, AP and Deegan would be a heckuva team. Who knows, maybe ET gets another shot next year now.
I’ll bet he was less than comfortable with the prospect that he could be chosen just to get Deegan on board.
AP hasn't exactly been a clutch performer in three previous MXoN appearances. And I have heard all the previous reasons, bad suspension setup, poor tire choice, and such. Perhaps we need a new manager so when we go overseas it is not such a cluster fuck. And do we really need to send the entire supporting cast of the movie Ben Hur as well? Isn't that a distraction?
Do you NEED them? Do you?
He said why. You just don’t like the answer and are choosing to be blind.
If there is any shame here, it’s all coming from you.
Wow terrible take 🤦♂️
The guy that finished 2nd in the Premier class is such a downgrade that it takes away any chance of winning. Sounds a bit extreme huh?
What he's done is recognize a fellow racer, who is currently, and for this years Outdoors, proven himself to be the 2nd best US 450 rider, who thus deserves to represent his country.
He also, ends this current foo faw raw about who is to go on one of the 450 spots.
There's still another 3 races where anything could happen.
And, if whoever is selected for the 2 450 spots, is injured in these next 3 events, and unable to race, and, If ET is performing well, and above other potential substitutes (I assume he's doing the SMX 'thing') well, he might just step into a Team spot.
He's the sort of bloke, I feel, that would dip into his own pocket, to represent His Country, even if his Team / Employers wouldn't.
Come on man. Each rider needs a goggle guy. Gear guy. Hair guy. Underwear guy. Masseus . Etc
You're drunk. Team USA will always be one of the favourites - they will always have a large pool to pick from, all on factory rides!
AP is a solid pick and earned a shot at MXDN redemption. Shitty if that means Deegan won't go because of it, but Hymas or Hampshire are solid choices too.
You didn’t watch last year did you?
I did, that's why I said redemption. I was there in 22 as well watching Eli get his redemption for shitting the bed in 18.
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Are we sure Deegan won’t go if Eli’s not on the team? I thought the whole thing was that they didn’t want to go if it wasn’t a winning team? Sexton, AP and Deegan doesn’t feel like a “B” team to me.
A question to the people who are shitting on AP’s previous DN performances, do you feel that he has been the same rider this summer as previous years?.
He is riding the best he ever has right now, yesterday he knew that he rode for a spot on the team and maned up and delivered the best ride of the year.
Has Tomac done better in the past?- Yes, but he has also been a head case in races through out of his career too.
It’s really classy of Tomac to do this and he might feel that he is close to his max right now? He did not look bad yesterday and remove Sexton and AP people here would have praised Tomac and talked about beast mode..
This is not about talking up AP, it’s about not throwing shit on him. The guy who went when others pulled out last year and now had the best season so far. He is not a bad option for you guys.
AND if Haiden won’t go without Tomac, if there is anything true to that, well that’s on him…
I fully understand fans wanting Tomac there. Even i was leaning towards him after yyesterday. Can you even argue AP earned it though? Don't bring up his past pperformance. He was the 2nd best US 450 rider, period. His starts are great and he's riding better than ever. I would think all Deegz would care about would be that he's gonna have Sexton on the team. He's the one ggiving them the best chance to win. Not Eli
AP is best choice and you don't have to take my word on it, you can take tomac's. Last year was a cluster the entire way and I don't think 14-16 on a 250 6 years ago is disqualifying. Tomac hasn't beaten AP outdoors in two years and AP beat him plenty in supercross this year as well. All the tomac lovers just assuming he'd be clearly better in a month is pure speculation without much recent evidence to support it.
APs MxDN scores, 16-14-5-18. We all have a reason to be nervous with AP going. Hopefully he rides to his potential and does not get crushed by the weight of the MxDN like he has in 75 percent of the motos. With Tomac this quickly on pace it’s a no brainer to send him. 3 of the 4 motos he’s been very close to AP at his best ever and this is after going well over a year without racing motocross on a new bike.
Time for AP to treat MxDN like it’s any other race.
I don’t think anyone was being all that harsh on AP. The results are what they are and the reality is he hasn’t performed all that well at the event in the past. Tomac himself has received a ton of shit for his performances at the race but he has never done as poorly as some of AP’s rides. You’re right though that Aaron is riding great and I don’t think he will be a liability for the US this time around.
It's a shame if Dangerboy doesn't make the trip... When was the last time Team USA sent both national champions and the next best US rider in the series..?
I like this move by Eli (beyond the obvious classiness). We can all now throw our full support behind AP and not wonder what if.
Let’s go USA!!!
2014 probably? Maybe 2018? I don’t remember how good Bam was in 18
Eli didn't shit the bed. If our 250 champion was able to just put it inside the top 10 in one moto, we would have been tied for second with 39 points.
Two other things.
Experience counts even if results weren't great. Everything learned still helps AP going forward.
And I have to wonder how much of this announcement is Eli saying please leave my name out of the upcoming deegan drama. Puts the pressure on deegan to just make a decision already.
AP's overall finish last year, was 4.09, AP's overall finish this year, was 3.09. For the sake of bench racing, adding 1 position to every race Jett was not in, his overall finish drops to 4.45. I expect the same showing at MxOn as in the past.
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