Eli is nuts

davis224
Posts
7344
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Cornland, IL US
Fantasy
1/19/2025 5:32am

I was surprised they pushed the stat of him being a 3x San Diego winner and not the stat of him winning at least once a year for 11 years in a row

5
bens 152
Posts
518
Joined
4/30/2021
Location
NZ
1/19/2025 6:09am

So impressive, that track couldn’t be ridden any faster than that imo. Two of the best going for it, so cool to see this early in the season. 

I liked the last 2 or 3 laps, Jett quit taking some of the insides and railed the berms like Eli was doing. I think he realises no,  this is the real Eli he’s been wanting to face and beat. 

5
Johnny Ringo
Posts
7891
Joined
1/11/2016
Location
Tombstone, AZ US
1/19/2025 6:19am
davis224 wrote:
I was surprised they pushed the stat of him being a 3x San Diego winner and not the stat of him winning at least once a...

I was surprised they pushed the stat of him being a 3x San Diego winner and not the stat of him winning at least once a year for 11 years in a row

They mentioned both quite a few times

5

The Shop

davis224
Posts
7344
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Cornland, IL US
Fantasy
1/19/2025 6:21am
davis224 wrote:
I was surprised they pushed the stat of him being a 3x San Diego winner and not the stat of him winning at least once a...

I was surprised they pushed the stat of him being a 3x San Diego winner and not the stat of him winning at least once a year for 11 years in a row

They mentioned both quite a few times

Maybe I was more tired than I thought 🤷‍♂️

Johnny Ringo
Posts
7891
Joined
1/11/2016
Location
Tombstone, AZ US
1/19/2025 6:23am
davis224 wrote:
I was surprised they pushed the stat of him being a 3x San Diego winner and not the stat of him winning at least once a...

I was surprised they pushed the stat of him being a 3x San Diego winner and not the stat of him winning at least once a year for 11 years in a row

They mentioned both quite a few times

davis224 wrote:

Maybe I was more tired than I thought 🤷‍♂️

There was hell of a race on! Can’t blame you for missing something Leigh said once or twice

2
1/19/2025 6:30am

Looking at the big picture. Didn't Tomac have the red plate last year also at this time? AAAAAANNNNNDDDDDD we all know how that season panned out.

aeffertz wrote:
Tomac did not have the red plate after Rd. 2 last year. In fact, I'm not sure if he ever had the red plate last year...

Tomac did not have the red plate after Rd. 2 last year. In fact, I'm not sure if he ever had the red plate last year in SX...

That's right, it was 2023. Last year he had a ROOKIE wax him. Now that's "Beast Mode".

How can you flex when Jett got beat straight up by an "old man?" You watch the race or you watching '24 sx highlights still?

7
resetjet
Posts
2536
Joined
3/16/2012
Location
Tampa, FL US
1/19/2025 6:41am

To me that wasn’t beast mode,  although there were flashes of it.  That was a lazer focused fit and hungry eli with something to prove.  

In beast mode he is loose,  all over the place and smashing obstacles.  Wait for daytona.

7
Flatliner
Posts
4066
Joined
11/3/2009
Location
CA
1/19/2025 6:54am

That was as impressive a ride as anyone could have.  You cant go though those 180 corners any faster... all rear wheel and throttle.

10
1/19/2025 7:05am

Jett was faster mid race and just settled in. Tomac didn't gap him at all. I wouldn't call that "beast mode".

goodfellas-hilarious-laugh.jpg?VersionId=FX4q63p0Y5Ylq26uwGAD2eg3kRN
18
1
1/19/2025 7:10am

Eli debuted Hangtown 2010. To still be riding at this level is insane. Is he the longevity king of the sport at this point? 

12
1
crmx105
Posts
615
Joined
5/7/2016
Location
Dunnellon, FL US
1/19/2025 7:14am

Tomac fan or not we were all lucky to witness that race! 

13
motomike137
Posts
8180
Joined
4/22/2010
Location
Fenton, MI US
1/19/2025 7:31am
Crush wrote:
Eli's bike looks great. He can do whatever he needs to and it's still obviously very stiff. Jett looks like he's looking for edges all the...

Eli's bike looks great. He can do whatever he needs to and it's still obviously very stiff. Jett looks like he's looking for edges all the time, but better than last week so imagine it will improve some more. Should be a great season between them.

I agree. Looks like they made some progress on the bike and Jett focused hard and showed his amazing skill.

crowe660
Posts
2264
Joined
8/15/2020
Location
US
1/19/2025 7:34am

Tomac’s carry through and burst/accel out of corners is crazy. He was gaining bike lengths on the switchbacks across the start straight every lap. You can tell he told the tuner “I don’t care, I just want all the power”.  He’s one of the only riders I can remember seeing that rides a 450 like a 250. He almost always goes outside absolutely pegged.  Thats going to be a huge advantage when he’s coming through the pack of start cross. 

Goddamn that YZ looks unbelievable everywhere 

8
captmoto
Posts
5800
Joined
4/22/2009
Location
Rancho Cucamonga, CA US
1/19/2025 8:41am
Crush wrote:
Eli's bike looks great. He can do whatever he needs to and it's still obviously very stiff. Jett looks like he's looking for edges all the...

Eli's bike looks great. He can do whatever he needs to and it's still obviously very stiff. Jett looks like he's looking for edges all the time, but better than last week so imagine it will improve some more. Should be a great season between them.

I think Jett will learn from chasing Tomac last night. . Don't discount Sexton just yet either. If they all stay healthy this could be the best season ever.

6
1/19/2025 8:43am
Crush wrote:
Eli's bike looks great. He can do whatever he needs to and it's still obviously very stiff. Jett looks like he's looking for edges all the...

Eli's bike looks great. He can do whatever he needs to and it's still obviously very stiff. Jett looks like he's looking for edges all the time, but better than last week so imagine it will improve some more. Should be a great season between them.

captmoto wrote:
I think Jett will learn from chasing Tomac last night. . Don't discount Sexton just yet either. If they all stay healthy this could be the...

I think Jett will learn from chasing Tomac last night. . Don't discount Sexton just yet either. If they all stay healthy this could be the best season ever.

Can we please get the three of them to all get a start at the front? 

8
Cook441
Posts
1689
Joined
5/30/2009
Location
Tacoma, WA US
Fantasy
1/19/2025 9:03am

I think you saw Eli use wisdom last night which is one of many tools in that belt. He pulled out beast mode on these guys to get to the front then rode comfortably flawless out front on a gnarly track...when some things stopped working he made changes and I'm not sure Jetts dealt with the likes of something like this. Not saying he won't figure it out but Eli rode that thing out beautifully coming from behind passing everyone in front of him. Incredible shit!

4
motomike137
Posts
8180
Joined
4/22/2010
Location
Fenton, MI US
1/19/2025 9:06am

We are looking at a Bubba, Goat, Chad season here.

7
NateDawg241
Posts
595
Joined
1/19/2024
Location
Duluth, GA US
1/19/2025 9:09am
jevyguy wrote:
One of the many reasons I have always been such a big Eli fan is due to his ability (on so many occasions) to destroy a...

One of the many reasons I have always been such a big Eli fan is due to his ability (on so many occasions) to destroy a corner. 

Herr Lich wrote:

Yes, it's a thing of beauty. 

cwel11 wrote:
I’m not sure there’s ever been a rider that punishes a berm like Eli. My kid and I were just laughing when he went outside in...

I’m not sure there’s ever been a rider that punishes a berm like Eli. My kid and I were just laughing when he went outside in the sand early in the race the last night. Gonna miss seeing that. 

He's up there for sure, but RC used to lay waste to berms all the time. He just didn't have the power of a modern 450. Watch him yard Windham every lap in these two 180s:

https://youtu.be/1n75tfOppR4?t=1624&si=hTvQgIqsQj_dxkyi

1
1
soggy
Posts
8423
Joined
12/3/2018
Location
UT US
1/19/2025 9:56am
Crush wrote:
Eli's bike looks great. He can do whatever he needs to and it's still obviously very stiff. Jett looks like he's looking for edges all the...

Eli's bike looks great. He can do whatever he needs to and it's still obviously very stiff. Jett looks like he's looking for edges all the time, but better than last week so imagine it will improve some more. Should be a great season between them.

captmoto wrote:
I think Jett will learn from chasing Tomac last night. . Don't discount Sexton just yet either. If they all stay healthy this could be the...

I think Jett will learn from chasing Tomac last night. . Don't discount Sexton just yet either. If they all stay healthy this could be the best season ever.

Can we please get the three of them to all get a start at the front? 

its round 2 man, it will happen.

1
1/19/2025 11:24am
Herr Lich wrote:

Yes, it's a thing of beauty. 

cwel11 wrote:
I’m not sure there’s ever been a rider that punishes a berm like Eli. My kid and I were just laughing when he went outside in...

I’m not sure there’s ever been a rider that punishes a berm like Eli. My kid and I were just laughing when he went outside in the sand early in the race the last night. Gonna miss seeing that. 

He's up there for sure, but RC used to lay waste to berms all the time. He just didn't have the power of a modern 450...

He's up there for sure, but RC used to lay waste to berms all the time. He just didn't have the power of a modern 450. Watch him yard Windham every lap in these two 180s:

https://youtu.be/1n75tfOppR4?t=1624&si=hTvQgIqsQj_dxkyi

RC gained 1.5s in the span of .5s

2
flow
Posts
151
Joined
7/27/2022
Location
Ontario, OR US
1/19/2025 12:31pm Edited Date/Time 1/19/2025 12:32pm
cwel11 wrote:
I’m not sure there’s ever been a rider that punishes a berm like Eli. My kid and I were just laughing when he went outside in...

I’m not sure there’s ever been a rider that punishes a berm like Eli. My kid and I were just laughing when he went outside in the sand early in the race the last night. Gonna miss seeing that. 

He's up there for sure, but RC used to lay waste to berms all the time. He just didn't have the power of a modern 450...

He's up there for sure, but RC used to lay waste to berms all the time. He just didn't have the power of a modern 450. Watch him yard Windham every lap in these two 180s:

https://youtu.be/1n75tfOppR4?t=1624&si=hTvQgIqsQj_dxkyi

RC gained 1.5s in the span of .5s

I guess its ruts not berms, but I remember being 13-14 and standing down by the S-turns the year that him and James had their big Washougal battle and just watching in awe at how goddamn hard they were greasing into those turns. Full field of 450's and you could literally feel it in your feet when they'd slam into the apex. I need to put some dollars away and go catch a race this summer to see Eli punish a track once before he retires. The clip of him nuking that outside on the backside of the track there is one of my favorite MX clips of all time. 
 

Washougal 2018 450 Moto 2 Extended Recap 0.gif?VersionId=LIJsmjG4 8lm3TathoIiNGm
6
zippytech
Posts
1481
Joined
9/8/2018
Location
Bethesda, OH US
1/19/2025 12:52pm

He was breathing fire last night.474103316 1124821029192632 4820094891620546260 n.jpg?VersionId=UjIn.Sdy

12
mx4
Posts
356
Joined
12/14/2018
Location
Tallahassee, FL US
1/19/2025 12:58pm
Meister wrote:

And the sand corner .wild.

Thumbs down if you eat corn on the cob long ways. 

Those 👎 = BETA 🤠

3
1/19/2025 1:28pm

That’s 53 wins. 

I’m a huge Tomac fan. Been on his bandwagon since he was a Suzuki amateur. I say all that to get the bias out of the way.

Does Tomac’s career prove that the 72 win threshold could be broken by the right guy? I know it’s felt absolutely unattainable for the past few decades. Does Tomac’s win total and career span prove anything? 

Lots of things would have to fall in place, but could someone actually eclipse the 72 win number and be the new king of SX? (Not trying to be a pot stirrer, just had the thought as a major Tomac fan).

Johnny Ringo
Posts
7891
Joined
1/11/2016
Location
Tombstone, AZ US
1/19/2025 1:34pm

That’s 53 wins. 

Jmicmoto13 wrote:
I’m a huge Tomac fan. Been on his bandwagon since he was a Suzuki amateur. I say all that to get the bias out of the...

I’m a huge Tomac fan. Been on his bandwagon since he was a Suzuki amateur. I say all that to get the bias out of the way.

Does Tomac’s career prove that the 72 win threshold could be broken by the right guy? I know it’s felt absolutely unattainable for the past few decades. Does Tomac’s win total and career span prove anything? 

Lots of things would have to fall in place, but could someone actually eclipse the 72 win number and be the new king of SX? (Not trying to be a pot stirrer, just had the thought as a major Tomac fan).

Never is a long time. Eventually someone will break it I am sure. I think if you give him back some of his down years (2014 rookie, 2016 shoulder rehab, 2021 just weird in general, 2023 Achilles rehab) he’s sitting mid 60s right now.


But the issue is you can do this with everyone. Give MC back the Suzuki year and he’s in the 80 win threshold probably. Give RC more than 7 years, or give James back 2008 it all looks different. If you race SX for long enough weird stuff happens. IMO. They also race more SXs now than they did back then. More wins available per year. 

8
1/19/2025 2:02pm

I think he riding better than he did in 23 right now

3
1/19/2025 2:11pm

That’s 53 wins. 

Jmicmoto13 wrote:
I’m a huge Tomac fan. Been on his bandwagon since he was a Suzuki amateur. I say all that to get the bias out of the...

I’m a huge Tomac fan. Been on his bandwagon since he was a Suzuki amateur. I say all that to get the bias out of the way.

Does Tomac’s career prove that the 72 win threshold could be broken by the right guy? I know it’s felt absolutely unattainable for the past few decades. Does Tomac’s win total and career span prove anything? 

Lots of things would have to fall in place, but could someone actually eclipse the 72 win number and be the new king of SX? (Not trying to be a pot stirrer, just had the thought as a major Tomac fan).

Everyone focuses on the 72 wins. Why do we gloss over the 7 titles? The ultimate goal is to win the title. 53 wins and "just" 2 titles for Eli. I wouldn't consider a rider the new King if they beat 72 wins but had less titles than MC. I might consider them the new King if they won more titles than MC but didn't break the record of 72 though. 

7
1/19/2025 2:12pm
mx_phreek wrote:

I think he riding better than he did in 23 right now

Probably. Chase was faster than him most of the time in '23. Eli was straight up the fastest dude last night

3

Post a reply to: Eli is nuts

The Latest