Eli out at Yamaha?

SoCalMX70
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4/18/2025 1:49pm
Matty B reported talks between Eli and Yamaha aren't going well. Seems he's not in the budget with them signing Webb and Deegan. It's in Matt's...

Matty B reported talks between Eli and Yamaha aren't going well. Seems he's not in the budget with them signing Webb and Deegan. It's in Matt's latest YouTube vid. Mathes was tweeting similar things. I guess Star doesn't have a bottomless pit of money. Where could Eli end up? 

Who is Matty B?  I listen to a ton of moto podcasts, but I’ve never heard of that.

He got two birds stoned once.

7
BigBoreFan58
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4/18/2025 2:21pm
mtbkris2 wrote:

KTM would be the nail in the coffin for his career imo. I just don’t see the ktm suiting the bull dog riding style 

Not a chance in hell he finishes his career on any of the ktm group bikes. I will give $1 to the legal defense go fund...

Not a chance in hell he finishes his career on any of the ktm group bikes. I will give $1 to the legal defense go fund me for Karmelo “Blade” Anthony if I’m proven wrong. 

I'd say crack is whack, but we all know Edmond meth is the top shelf stuff. Hand made by Jesus himself. 

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4/18/2025 2:22pm

Also worth noting, if Ducati has more power than all the others, we know Tomac always wants more power, so he may fall in love with it 😁

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2

The Shop

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4/18/2025 2:30pm
I was trying to put some thought of how age and progression comes into play and why they would potentially keep Justin or Webb in this...

I was trying to put some thought of how age and progression comes into play and why they would potentially keep Justin or Webb in this scenario (Webb may have another year on his contract, I honestly do not know, I am just thinking out loud).  Anyway, I didn't realize Justin is 27, and Webb is 29.  Justin is not as young as I thought, I know he is only in his 2nd year on the 450, and is looking better (SX), but not sure how much higher he will climb.  And I didn't realize Webb was 29, he is about 1 year away from the time career factory riders start to ask how many more years they want to do this (I know, Chisolm is an anomaly).  Anyway, with how Eli has been riding, and willing to keep going at this point, it is hard not to consider what you are saying here, you have a 100% championship level rider willing, and his teammates aren't that much younger, but not quite on the same level of ability to bring home a championship.  Maybe a re-shuffle to keep their #1 guy is warranted.

ando wrote:
Another consideration…We are about to enter 2025 MX and the last time Eli completed a full series was 2022 MX.  In that time he’s won a...

Another consideration…

We are about to enter 2025 MX and the last time Eli completed a full series was 2022 MX.  In that time he’s won a single supercross event and a handful of podiums across all formats.  Obviously he’s far from totally done but his results in the last three years have been poor by his standards.

Can't just let you not get called out for this. He's won 9 supercross races since then and podiumed an additional 13 times outside of that. 

Even if you leave out 2023, which I assume you did, he has still won 2 races and landed on the podium 9 times. And yes, he's racked up those numbers without completing those championships. Moran.

 

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ando
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4/18/2025 4:02pm
I was trying to put some thought of how age and progression comes into play and why they would potentially keep Justin or Webb in this...

I was trying to put some thought of how age and progression comes into play and why they would potentially keep Justin or Webb in this scenario (Webb may have another year on his contract, I honestly do not know, I am just thinking out loud).  Anyway, I didn't realize Justin is 27, and Webb is 29.  Justin is not as young as I thought, I know he is only in his 2nd year on the 450, and is looking better (SX), but not sure how much higher he will climb.  And I didn't realize Webb was 29, he is about 1 year away from the time career factory riders start to ask how many more years they want to do this (I know, Chisolm is an anomaly).  Anyway, with how Eli has been riding, and willing to keep going at this point, it is hard not to consider what you are saying here, you have a 100% championship level rider willing, and his teammates aren't that much younger, but not quite on the same level of ability to bring home a championship.  Maybe a re-shuffle to keep their #1 guy is warranted.

ando wrote:
Another consideration…We are about to enter 2025 MX and the last time Eli completed a full series was 2022 MX.  In that time he’s won a...

Another consideration…

We are about to enter 2025 MX and the last time Eli completed a full series was 2022 MX.  In that time he’s won a single supercross event and a handful of podiums across all formats.  Obviously he’s far from totally done but his results in the last three years have been poor by his standards.

USA wrote:
Can't just let you not get called out for this. He's won 9 supercross races since then and podiumed an additional 13 times outside of that. Even...

Can't just let you not get called out for this. He's won 9 supercross races since then and podiumed an additional 13 times outside of that. 

Even if you leave out 2023, which I assume you did, he has still won 2 races and landed on the podium 9 times. And yes, he's racked up those numbers without completing those championships. Moran.

 

Sorry I omitted 2023 SX.  I meant to say since the end of 2023 SX.  

Nonetheless they aren’t good numbers if he’s trying to land one more big contract.  

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USA
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4/18/2025 4:10pm
ando wrote:
Another consideration…We are about to enter 2025 MX and the last time Eli completed a full series was 2022 MX.  In that time he’s won a...

Another consideration…

We are about to enter 2025 MX and the last time Eli completed a full series was 2022 MX.  In that time he’s won a single supercross event and a handful of podiums across all formats.  Obviously he’s far from totally done but his results in the last three years have been poor by his standards.

USA wrote:
Can't just let you not get called out for this. He's won 9 supercross races since then and podiumed an additional 13 times outside of that. Even...

Can't just let you not get called out for this. He's won 9 supercross races since then and podiumed an additional 13 times outside of that. 

Even if you leave out 2023, which I assume you did, he has still won 2 races and landed on the podium 9 times. And yes, he's racked up those numbers without completing those championships. Moran.

 

ando wrote:
Sorry I omitted 2023 SX.  I meant to say since the end of 2023 SX.  Nonetheless they aren’t good numbers if he’s trying to land one...

Sorry I omitted 2023 SX.  I meant to say since the end of 2023 SX.  

Nonetheless they aren’t good numbers if he’s trying to land one more big contract.  

Yeah and Jett only won a single race in his SX title defense, terrible numbers there as well

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ando
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4/18/2025 4:38pm
USA wrote:
Can't just let you not get called out for this. He's won 9 supercross races since then and podiumed an additional 13 times outside of that. Even...

Can't just let you not get called out for this. He's won 9 supercross races since then and podiumed an additional 13 times outside of that. 

Even if you leave out 2023, which I assume you did, he has still won 2 races and landed on the podium 9 times. And yes, he's racked up those numbers without completing those championships. Moran.

 

ando wrote:
Sorry I omitted 2023 SX.  I meant to say since the end of 2023 SX.  Nonetheless they aren’t good numbers if he’s trying to land one...

Sorry I omitted 2023 SX.  I meant to say since the end of 2023 SX.  

Nonetheless they aren’t good numbers if he’s trying to land one more big contract.  

USA wrote:

Yeah and Jett only won a single race in his SX title defense, terrible numbers there as well

In that same period that Eli hasn’t finished a series Jett has won three titles and two SMX titles.

Also Jett’s not at the back end of his career looking for a new contract.

 

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-MAVERICK-
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4/18/2025 4:48pm
USA wrote:

Yeah and Jett only won a single race in his SX title defense, terrible numbers there as well

Could be worse.. 😄

17450201083036589265647257507292.jpg?VersionId=APWeEeHcgXcS4TwSxckEcTg6HAHYsZk
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4/18/2025 4:57pm
ando wrote:
Sorry I omitted 2023 SX.  I meant to say since the end of 2023 SX.  Nonetheless they aren’t good numbers if he’s trying to land one...

Sorry I omitted 2023 SX.  I meant to say since the end of 2023 SX.  

Nonetheless they aren’t good numbers if he’s trying to land one more big contract.  

USA wrote:

Yeah and Jett only won a single race in his SX title defense, terrible numbers there as well

ando wrote:
In that same period that Eli hasn’t finished a series Jett has won three titles and two SMX titles.Also Jett’s not at the back end of...

In that same period that Eli hasn’t finished a series Jett has won three titles and two SMX titles.

Also Jett’s not at the back end of his career looking for a new contract.

 

Lol the point is look how dumb that argument is. 

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Press516
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4/18/2025 5:11pm Edited Date/Time 4/18/2025 5:11pm

What has me thinking now…. What does this do for his MXoN effort??  I can see all kinds of conflicts and complexities.  He and Sexton might both be off the table due to Monster/Red Bull contract conflicts and potential bike changes.

DAMN!!

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ando
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4/18/2025 5:13pm
USA wrote:

Lol the point is look how dumb that argument is. 

So you think that multiple injuries, no completed seasons in two years has no bearing on his ability to get a new contract?

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4/18/2025 5:45pm
72bu wrote:
I don’t see a problem with ET, saying he’ll retire and then keep racing. He should be a welcome addition to any team. He’s a fierce...


I don’t see a problem with ET, saying he’ll retire and then keep racing. He should be a welcome addition to any team. He’s a fierce competitor, a proven champ and will make a great spokesman for a manufacturer when he does retire.

Dungey was retired  for years and KTM found an opening for him to race.

ando wrote:

The problem is finding a team that will pay what he thinks he’s worth.

TeamGreen wrote:
My guesstimate to why he could possibly leave Star early…most of which others have pointed out…and as someone that’s quite sure there’s “still a lot of...

My guesstimate to why he could possibly leave Star early…most of which others have pointed out…and as someone that’s quite sure there’s “still a lot of value in Eli”: 

1. He’s going to cost a lot of money to retain thru-out the Nat’s (salary, bonuses & potentially championship bonus) So, he’s expensive to retain for a team that may not be…supposedly is NOT be keeping him next season. This is an opportunity to get out of further expenditures on Eli…and…

2. If he goes to another team/bike, it would be wise to get started at the new team as soon as possible. No matter if it’s KTM, Ducati or Suzuki…it’s an all new bike to Eli that’s likely gonna need A LOT of time to get dialed in to “Beast Mode”. 

3. I am not judging…but, he just missed a good portion of, yet…another…Supercross season that cost Star, Yamaha, Monster a helluva lot of money. If I’m not mistaken, that’s 2 different 1 year contracts…surely very expensive contracts…so, I could see the sponsors being ready to move on. I can see this as simply a “corporate finance” decision.

4. Wherever he goes, they've got to be considering -all- the terms of the contract and associated costs. Is it a “1 year” thing and maybe an option for another? Is it SX only? Are they willing to offer the kind of money that Eli’s become accustomed to? Who’s his team-mate gonna be? Does he care?

5. I’m sure plenty of folks are gonna bring up his age. OK, fine…but…it’s like this…

Outside of all these damn injuries that are frustrating the shit out of us…certainly including Eli…well, aside from all that…

Is it just me or hasn’t he become faster…and…smarter…and…

Dangerously Content?

So, I’m guessing he’s still gettin’ some solid offers & I can’t see how the hell Troy and company aren’t scraping together every last dime to try to get him. Yup, I’m expecting Ducati to go for it. And, as I touched on earlier…I could even see the likes of Suzuki trying to bring him back to the fold…almost 20 years later…the word is they actually have a new bike for 2026…(hey, it could happen). Does KTM have the coin to get Eli? Do they have the bike? Hell, who’s to say he couldn’t end up on the Rockstar team? 

IMG 0630 1.jpeg?VersionId=1dvsAxLZL

Some interesting history. Suzuki. Rockstar. TLD. 

Hasn't he become faster? As in faster than ever? No, 32yr old Eli isn't faster than ever. Does he still have the speed to win titles? Yes. If he can produce it consistently. He went 5-1-7-4 before his injury. All anyone remembers is his win though

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Hcallz5
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4/18/2025 6:40pm

Ducati would be sick but hopefully he would only do it if he believed the bike would be competitive. Don't really wanna see my boy Eli ride around in 10th struggling on a brand new platform. 

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uncledaddy69
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4/18/2025 7:00pm

Yamaha/Star is absolutely fumbling the bag by not working something out with Eli. He is 100% beating Webb and Cooper at the vast majority of races until he retires. 

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4/18/2025 7:03pm

I would fire the entire team before I got rid of Eli

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TKLEVEN
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4/18/2025 8:14pm

Yamahas entire situation is cooked. Webb’s likely gonna win a SX championship, thats gonna run their pockets deep.

 Justin Cooper if i can remember is riding for chump change, and how hes been riding he deserves a heavy raise. 

Not even to mention Deegan likely coming to 450s for MX 2026. 

The situation of Eli being so uncertain about retirement or continuing to race kind of put them in this predicament 😭

 

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Nutellalord
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4/18/2025 8:45pm

I know its trivial, BUT I'd love to see Tomac in a Red Bull lid where he ends up!

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parkman
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4/18/2025 9:09pm Edited Date/Time 4/18/2025 9:10pm
ando wrote:

The problem is finding a team that will pay what he thinks he’s worth.

TeamGreen wrote:
My guesstimate to why he could possibly leave Star early…most of which others have pointed out…and as someone that’s quite sure there’s “still a lot of...

My guesstimate to why he could possibly leave Star early…most of which others have pointed out…and as someone that’s quite sure there’s “still a lot of value in Eli”: 

1. He’s going to cost a lot of money to retain thru-out the Nat’s (salary, bonuses & potentially championship bonus) So, he’s expensive to retain for a team that may not be…supposedly is NOT be keeping him next season. This is an opportunity to get out of further expenditures on Eli…and…

2. If he goes to another team/bike, it would be wise to get started at the new team as soon as possible. No matter if it’s KTM, Ducati or Suzuki…it’s an all new bike to Eli that’s likely gonna need A LOT of time to get dialed in to “Beast Mode”. 

3. I am not judging…but, he just missed a good portion of, yet…another…Supercross season that cost Star, Yamaha, Monster a helluva lot of money. If I’m not mistaken, that’s 2 different 1 year contracts…surely very expensive contracts…so, I could see the sponsors being ready to move on. I can see this as simply a “corporate finance” decision.

4. Wherever he goes, they've got to be considering -all- the terms of the contract and associated costs. Is it a “1 year” thing and maybe an option for another? Is it SX only? Are they willing to offer the kind of money that Eli’s become accustomed to? Who’s his team-mate gonna be? Does he care?

5. I’m sure plenty of folks are gonna bring up his age. OK, fine…but…it’s like this…

Outside of all these damn injuries that are frustrating the shit out of us…certainly including Eli…well, aside from all that…

Is it just me or hasn’t he become faster…and…smarter…and…

Dangerously Content?

So, I’m guessing he’s still gettin’ some solid offers & I can’t see how the hell Troy and company aren’t scraping together every last dime to try to get him. Yup, I’m expecting Ducati to go for it. And, as I touched on earlier…I could even see the likes of Suzuki trying to bring him back to the fold…almost 20 years later…the word is they actually have a new bike for 2026…(hey, it could happen). Does KTM have the coin to get Eli? Do they have the bike? Hell, who’s to say he couldn’t end up on the Rockstar team? 

IMG 0630 1.jpeg?VersionId=1dvsAxLZL

Some interesting history. Suzuki. Rockstar. TLD. 

Hasn't he become faster? As in faster than ever? No, 32yr old Eli isn't faster than ever. Does he still have the speed to win titles...

Hasn't he become faster? As in faster than ever? No, 32yr old Eli isn't faster than ever. Does he still have the speed to win titles? Yes. If he can produce it consistently. He went 5-1-7-4 before his injury. All anyone remembers is his win though

When was he faster? Pre-shoulder injury in 2015 MX? It wasn't just his win in San Diego, they remember his speed. The results didn't show the full story, tip over, starts etc., but more often than not, he was the fastest guy on the track and you could visibly see it. To validate that claim, in 3 out of 4 races, he had the fastest lap and he had more passes than any other rider. Did anyone actually pass him in a race all year? If I recall correctly, I actually am not sure anyone did. To me, he looked 100% like the Beast mode of old. 

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4/18/2025 9:26pm
TKLEVEN wrote:
Yamahas entire situation is cooked. Webb’s likely gonna win a SX championship, thats gonna run their pockets deep. Justin Cooper if i can remember is riding for...

Yamahas entire situation is cooked. Webb’s likely gonna win a SX championship, thats gonna run their pockets deep.

 Justin Cooper if i can remember is riding for chump change, and how hes been riding he deserves a heavy raise. 

Not even to mention Deegan likely coming to 450s for MX 2026. 

The situation of Eli being so uncertain about retirement or continuing to race kind of put them in this predicament 😭

 

They probably got insurance to cover championship bonuses.

 

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inflammable
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4/18/2025 9:39pm

What's the vibe going to be like with Webb and Deegan on Yamaha and dueling in the 450 class? Separate trucks on opposite sides of the pits? 

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mx 219
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4/19/2025 4:02am
What's the vibe going to be like with Webb and Deegan on Yamaha and dueling in the 450 class? Separate trucks on opposite sides of the...

What's the vibe going to be like with Webb and Deegan on Yamaha and dueling in the 450 class? Separate trucks on opposite sides of the pits? 

When egos collide...

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motomike137
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4/19/2025 4:13am
Press516 wrote:
What has me thinking now…. What does this do for his MXoN effort??  I can see all kinds of conflicts and complexities.  He and Sexton might...

What has me thinking now…. What does this do for his MXoN effort??  I can see all kinds of conflicts and complexities.  He and Sexton might both be off the table due to Monster/Red Bull contract conflicts and potential bike changes.

DAMN!!

With it being at Ironman I expect these guys to find a way.

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motomike137
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4/19/2025 4:18am
TKLEVEN wrote:
Yamahas entire situation is cooked. Webb’s likely gonna win a SX championship, thats gonna run their pockets deep. Justin Cooper if i can remember is riding for...

Yamahas entire situation is cooked. Webb’s likely gonna win a SX championship, thats gonna run their pockets deep.

 Justin Cooper if i can remember is riding for chump change, and how hes been riding he deserves a heavy raise. 

Not even to mention Deegan likely coming to 450s for MX 2026. 

The situation of Eli being so uncertain about retirement or continuing to race kind of put them in this predicament 😭

 

Does Justin Cooper already have a new contract? I can't remember. I'd be willing to let him go if I had a firm commitment from Eli for 26. No disrespect but he would be my odd man out if I were calling the shots.

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KurtJ99
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4/19/2025 5:01am
Does Justin Cooper already have a new contract? I can't remember. I'd be willing to let him go if I had a firm commitment from Eli...

Does Justin Cooper already have a new contract? I can't remember. I'd be willing to let him go if I had a firm commitment from Eli for 26. No disrespect but he would be my odd man out if I were calling the shots.

It's not about JCoop, it's about Deegan coming up and Webb getting his contract renewed IMO. Anyways, even if they could fit in JCoop, it would be for peanuts and not be good enough for Tomac if he were take his place.

I think this is the year for JCoop to get on another brand just to see if the grass is greener anywhere else. Too crowded at Star just with Webb and Deegan and may not be any offer anyways. 

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APLMAN99
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4/19/2025 6:34am

I wish that we could see Tomac race the GPs in ‘26 and ‘27, personally. Win or lose, it’d be awesome to see him on those tracks with a real title race to shoot for!  

I don’t know how old his kids are, but it could be one of the most memorable things of their lives, looking back on the couple of years that they lived in Europe. 

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uncledaddy69
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4/19/2025 6:50am
TKLEVEN wrote:
Yamahas entire situation is cooked. Webb’s likely gonna win a SX championship, thats gonna run their pockets deep. Justin Cooper if i can remember is riding for...

Yamahas entire situation is cooked. Webb’s likely gonna win a SX championship, thats gonna run their pockets deep.

 Justin Cooper if i can remember is riding for chump change, and how hes been riding he deserves a heavy raise. 

Not even to mention Deegan likely coming to 450s for MX 2026. 

The situation of Eli being so uncertain about retirement or continuing to race kind of put them in this predicament 😭

 

The way that whole team is run, 250 and 450, bothers me. 

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4/19/2025 7:05am
APLMAN99 wrote:
I wish that we could see Tomac race the GPs in ‘26 and ‘27, personally. Win or lose, it’d be awesome to see him on those...

I wish that we could see Tomac race the GPs in ‘26 and ‘27, personally. Win or lose, it’d be awesome to see him on those tracks with a real title race to shoot for!  

I don’t know how old his kids are, but it could be one of the most memorable things of their lives, looking back on the couple of years that they lived in Europe. 

That was be awesome to see Eli give it a go. Also, I'd look forward to another hilarious vid of Hitler going off.

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motomike137
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4/19/2025 7:29am
KurtJ99 wrote:
It's not about JCoop, it's about Deegan coming up and Webb getting his contract renewed IMO. Anyways, even if they could fit in JCoop, it would...

It's not about JCoop, it's about Deegan coming up and Webb getting his contract renewed IMO. Anyways, even if they could fit in JCoop, it would be for peanuts and not be good enough for Tomac if he were take his place.

I think this is the year for JCoop to get on another brand just to see if the grass is greener anywhere else. Too crowded at Star just with Webb and Deegan and may not be any offer anyways. 

Not resigning a guy who is going to demand a decent contract this time around does factor imho. Hell I'd also be contemplating whether to keep Webb for that matter. Give Eli a smoking deal for 26, coddle Deegan and keep your hooks in Davies!

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crmx105
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4/19/2025 7:35am
I was trying to put some thought of how age and progression comes into play and why they would potentially keep Justin or Webb in this...

I was trying to put some thought of how age and progression comes into play and why they would potentially keep Justin or Webb in this scenario (Webb may have another year on his contract, I honestly do not know, I am just thinking out loud).  Anyway, I didn't realize Justin is 27, and Webb is 29.  Justin is not as young as I thought, I know he is only in his 2nd year on the 450, and is looking better (SX), but not sure how much higher he will climb.  And I didn't realize Webb was 29, he is about 1 year away from the time career factory riders start to ask how many more years they want to do this (I know, Chisolm is an anomaly).  Anyway, with how Eli has been riding, and willing to keep going at this point, it is hard not to consider what you are saying here, you have a 100% championship level rider willing, and his teammates aren't that much younger, but not quite on the same level of ability to bring home a championship.  Maybe a re-shuffle to keep their #1 guy is warranted.

ando wrote:
Another consideration…We are about to enter 2025 MX and the last time Eli completed a full series was 2022 MX.  In that time he’s won a...

Another consideration…

We are about to enter 2025 MX and the last time Eli completed a full series was 2022 MX.  In that time he’s won a single supercross event and a handful of podiums across all formats.  Obviously he’s far from totally done but his results in the last three years have been poor by his standards.

Injuries and that is the only reason!

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