Eli out at Yamaha?

crf250pilot
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Manning, OR US
5/20/2025 8:26am

So, Tomac goes beast mode and wins the outdoors, and has Ducati carrying the red number one plate for its inaugural season outdoors..

If this happens, Ducati needs to put the big fat #1 on their production bikes like Yamaha used to.

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OwenJakes
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5/20/2025 9:16am
150ripper wrote:
Big brain time: Eli found the KTM to be so awful that he's trying to take Chase's spot at Kawi in order to force Chase to...

Big brain time: Eli found the KTM to be so awful that he's trying to take Chase's spot at Kawi in order to force Chase to stick with KTM 😲

 

Alright I'm done schizo-posting. 

The people want more, don’t stop😂

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Preston412
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5/20/2025 9:47am

This may be me saying I can see well in the dark but no mention of the possibility of Eli to Triumph. It has no energy drink relationship in the states, the 450 has been developed by RC and other MX/SX champions, the suspension is KYB and would be a good fit with Malcom. 

I don't know if Eli was happy with the KTM after testing but did or is still testing the Ducati this week. Barcia is me first choice for Ducati since he is a TLD rider already. 

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davistld01
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5/20/2025 11:46am Edited Date/Time 5/20/2025 11:48am
Preston412 wrote:
This may be me saying I can see well in the dark but no mention of the possibility of Eli to Triumph. It has no energy...

This may be me saying I can see well in the dark but no mention of the possibility of Eli to Triumph. It has no energy drink relationship in the states, the 450 has been developed by RC and other MX/SX champions, the suspension is KYB and would be a good fit with Malcom. 

I don't know if Eli was happy with the KTM after testing but did or is still testing the Ducati this week. Barcia is me first choice for Ducati since he is a TLD rider already. 

I think Eli is testing every OEM team bike he has a potential for riding in 2026, so for him to be testing both the KTM & Ducati machines makes sense. I'll bet he's tested the Kawasaki too. Unfortunately for Barcia...with what his results have been recently, I'm not sure his relationship with TLD could get him the hook-up on the full factory Ducati team for 2026. 

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The Shop

davis224
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5/20/2025 4:33pm
Preston412 wrote:
This may be me saying I can see well in the dark but no mention of the possibility of Eli to Triumph. It has no energy...

This may be me saying I can see well in the dark but no mention of the possibility of Eli to Triumph. It has no energy drink relationship in the states, the 450 has been developed by RC and other MX/SX champions, the suspension is KYB and would be a good fit with Malcom. 

I don't know if Eli was happy with the KTM after testing but did or is still testing the Ducati this week. Barcia is me first choice for Ducati since he is a TLD rider already. 

It was talked about weeks ago but allegedly Triumph is on record as saying "we aren't ready for a guy like Eli yet", which kinda shut it down.

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chasetwo79
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5/20/2025 6:31pm
Preston412 wrote:
This may be me saying I can see well in the dark but no mention of the possibility of Eli to Triumph. It has no energy...

This may be me saying I can see well in the dark but no mention of the possibility of Eli to Triumph. It has no energy drink relationship in the states, the 450 has been developed by RC and other MX/SX champions, the suspension is KYB and would be a good fit with Malcom. 

I don't know if Eli was happy with the KTM after testing but did or is still testing the Ducati this week. Barcia is me first choice for Ducati since he is a TLD rider already. 

Rumor is Mookie is bringing Rockstar with him. He will be the premier rider on that team in year 1. 

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uncledaddy69
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5/20/2025 6:47pm

He’s racing enduro.


Source:

IMG 8168 2

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motomike137
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5/20/2025 7:03pm
joshd wrote:
So Tomac and Sexton are the only two who can run with Jett on a good day and they want to ship Tomac off and keep...

So Tomac and Sexton are the only two who can run with Jett on a good day and they want to ship Tomac off and keep Justin Cooper and CC who have exactly 0 450 wins between them. 

Make it make sense.  

FI2T wrote:
This entire deal makes no sense. Justin Cooper leveled up for sure but keeping him over Tomac or to not go after Sexton? Is trimming the...

This entire deal makes no sense. Justin Cooper leveled up for sure but keeping him over Tomac or to not go after Sexton? Is trimming the 250 roster not an option? I'd love to see Sexton on a Star 450, the bike looks dialed. Tomac was ripping before both of his fluke injuries, it would be a shame to see him go. 

Yamaha pays the 450 team, star pays the 250 team.

So Star fixed what Yamaha couldn't get right and now Yamaha knee caps them and lets the baddest most popular American racer walk. Dumb!

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OwenJakes
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5/20/2025 7:35pm
He’s racing enduro.Source:

He’s racing enduro.


Source:

IMG 8168 2

The “& I’m gay” part made me lol. 
5 stars, very nice. 

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soggy
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5/20/2025 9:28pm
FI2T wrote:
This entire deal makes no sense. Justin Cooper leveled up for sure but keeping him over Tomac or to not go after Sexton? Is trimming the...

This entire deal makes no sense. Justin Cooper leveled up for sure but keeping him over Tomac or to not go after Sexton? Is trimming the 250 roster not an option? I'd love to see Sexton on a Star 450, the bike looks dialed. Tomac was ripping before both of his fluke injuries, it would be a shame to see him go. 

Yamaha pays the 450 team, star pays the 250 team.

So Star fixed what Yamaha couldn't get right and now Yamaha knee caps them and lets the baddest most popular American racer walk. Dumb!

??????

motomike137
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5/21/2025 11:05am

Yamaha pays the 450 team, star pays the 250 team.

So Star fixed what Yamaha couldn't get right and now Yamaha knee caps them and lets the baddest most popular American racer walk. Dumb!

soggy wrote:

??????

My point is that evidently Yamaha has the final say in giving Eli a contract. Maybe that's not it but I don't understand how in the hell they are letting him walk away. 

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MOTO13
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5/21/2025 2:36pm

Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find the money to keep Eli. Yamaha could find the funds in 10 seconds if they wanted to. Eli indicated he was close to calling it a career a couple years ago and plans were made to satisfy this and still keep Yamaha a powerhouse. Deegan is now their star rider of the future, like it or not. Eli is/was riding great and I think he can win another championship or two if he doesn't get hurt...he's that good still. I think Yamaha will regret letting Eli go. But, I understand the decision. 

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5/21/2025 3:01pm

Someone needed to get a drone out at Cortez the past couple weeks til now 24/7...

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Money
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5/21/2025 3:13pm

Let’s see after salt lake ktm was there then this week Ducati was there. Years ago rumblings was that yamaha was there testing with him before they brought the factory team back with Webb n reed.

I think we going to see him on orange maybe its already signed 

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OneZeroFive
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5/21/2025 3:15pm
MOTO13 wrote:
Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find...

Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find the money to keep Eli. Yamaha could find the funds in 10 seconds if they wanted to. Eli indicated he was close to calling it a career a couple years ago and plans were made to satisfy this and still keep Yamaha a powerhouse. Deegan is now their star rider of the future, like it or not. Eli is/was riding great and I think he can win another championship or two if he doesn't get hurt...he's that good still. I think Yamaha will regret letting Eli go. But, I understand the decision. 

I don't think he's necessarily the company's long term future from a racing and results standpoint, but they'll need a brand ambassador here and he'd be a great candidate to help sling bikes to future Ducatista. Cash in a few years of racing and then ride it out a few more on the PR-side.

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5/21/2025 8:41pm
MOTO13 wrote:
Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find...

Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find the money to keep Eli. Yamaha could find the funds in 10 seconds if they wanted to. Eli indicated he was close to calling it a career a couple years ago and plans were made to satisfy this and still keep Yamaha a powerhouse. Deegan is now their star rider of the future, like it or not. Eli is/was riding great and I think he can win another championship or two if he doesn't get hurt...he's that good still. I think Yamaha will regret letting Eli go. But, I understand the decision. 

I don't think he's necessarily the company's long term future from a racing and results standpoint, but they'll need a brand ambassador here and he'd be...

I don't think he's necessarily the company's long term future from a racing and results standpoint, but they'll need a brand ambassador here and he'd be a great candidate to help sling bikes to future Ducatista. Cash in a few years of racing and then ride it out a few more on the PR-side.

I don’t see Eli being very public once he’s done racing, at least not for a while. 

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kelso.184
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5/21/2025 9:07pm

Eli to Suzuki with Ken


Gets to keep all his personal sponsors like Ken to cover the loss of salary 

Gets to do all of the SMX/ alternate races he wants

Gets to do what he wants with the bike 

Win win! 

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Herr Lich
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5/21/2025 10:49pm

So Star fixed what Yamaha couldn't get right and now Yamaha knee caps them and lets the baddest most popular American racer walk. Dumb!

soggy wrote:

??????

My point is that evidently Yamaha has the final say in giving Eli a contract. Maybe that's not it but I don't understand how in the...

My point is that evidently Yamaha has the final say in giving Eli a contract. Maybe that's not it but I don't understand how in the hell they are letting him walk away. 

For the reasons Mohead279 said. 

2
Herr Lich
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5/21/2025 10:50pm
MOTO13 wrote:
Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find...

Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find the money to keep Eli. Yamaha could find the funds in 10 seconds if they wanted to. Eli indicated he was close to calling it a career a couple years ago and plans were made to satisfy this and still keep Yamaha a powerhouse. Deegan is now their star rider of the future, like it or not. Eli is/was riding great and I think he can win another championship or two if he doesn't get hurt...he's that good still. I think Yamaha will regret letting Eli go. But, I understand the decision. 

I don't think he's necessarily the company's long term future from a racing and results standpoint, but they'll need a brand ambassador here and he'd be...

I don't think he's necessarily the company's long term future from a racing and results standpoint, but they'll need a brand ambassador here and he'd be a great candidate to help sling bikes to future Ducatista. Cash in a few years of racing and then ride it out a few more on the PR-side.

Um, Eli is hardly known for his media friendly PR-shtick. 

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tek14
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5/22/2025 12:10am

Someone needed to get a drone out at Cortez the past couple weeks til now 24/7...

Where is that guy who was flying around Stewarts compound when James was missing?

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ando
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5/22/2025 2:04am
MOTO13 wrote:
Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find...

Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find the money to keep Eli. Yamaha could find the funds in 10 seconds if they wanted to. Eli indicated he was close to calling it a career a couple years ago and plans were made to satisfy this and still keep Yamaha a powerhouse. Deegan is now their star rider of the future, like it or not. Eli is/was riding great and I think he can win another championship or two if he doesn't get hurt...he's that good still. I think Yamaha will regret letting Eli go. But, I understand the decision. 

I don't think he's necessarily the company's long term future from a racing and results standpoint, but they'll need a brand ambassador here and he'd be...

I don't think he's necessarily the company's long term future from a racing and results standpoint, but they'll need a brand ambassador here and he'd be a great candidate to help sling bikes to future Ducatista. Cash in a few years of racing and then ride it out a few more on the PR-side.

Villopoto is Yamaha’s brand ambassador in the US.

5
Money
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5/22/2025 2:18am

Eli is signed 

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Muzzle
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5/22/2025 2:28am
Money wrote:

Eli is signed 

How do you know this and with whom?

7
5/22/2025 2:28am
Money wrote:

Eli is signed 

With?

Source?

10
TAUTOG
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5/22/2025 4:58am
Money wrote:

Eli is signed 

you are so money you dont even know it

Where can I get friends with this kind of info?

5
GrapeApe
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5/22/2025 5:50am
Money wrote:

Eli is signed 

Dan541 wrote:

With?

Source?

Sexton is signed.

(I'll be back in October when it's announced to tell you I told you so)

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5/22/2025 6:03am
Money wrote:

Eli is signed 

Eli is signed...... up for this weekend's pro national

Eli is signed..... up to bring the snacks for his kid's soccer team practice next week

Eli is signed......to a new Netflix special on race day cooking

Eli is signed..... to be the new spokesperson for homes.com

20
OneZeroFive
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5/22/2025 6:22am
MOTO13 wrote:
Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find...

Eli...like almost every other great/iconic racer, at some point, is not the company's future, just their past. I think it is beyond stupid to not find the money to keep Eli. Yamaha could find the funds in 10 seconds if they wanted to. Eli indicated he was close to calling it a career a couple years ago and plans were made to satisfy this and still keep Yamaha a powerhouse. Deegan is now their star rider of the future, like it or not. Eli is/was riding great and I think he can win another championship or two if he doesn't get hurt...he's that good still. I think Yamaha will regret letting Eli go. But, I understand the decision. 

I don't think he's necessarily the company's long term future from a racing and results standpoint, but they'll need a brand ambassador here and he'd be...

I don't think he's necessarily the company's long term future from a racing and results standpoint, but they'll need a brand ambassador here and he'd be a great candidate to help sling bikes to future Ducatista. Cash in a few years of racing and then ride it out a few more on the PR-side.

ando wrote:

Villopoto is Yamaha’s brand ambassador in the US.

Ducati needs one.

2
OwenJakes
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sebree, KY US
5/22/2025 6:43am

He said “I am racing in 2026” so to me that sounds like… he’s racing a motorcycle next year. 

14
Money
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5/22/2025 11:33am

Eli is signed to a team for 26. Ink is dry 

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