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no just no 🙅🏾♂️ I ain’t buying tht shit for 1 min , I swear brotha cooksey reminds me of MMA Guru , anything they say thts going down is the complete opposite of whts actually going down
This tells me its a choice....no way he dropped off the pace that bad. This is Hunter's best lap 2nd Moto vs Eli's (not Jetts-)
I'm not for a second jumping on the Cooksey bus, but if you're gonna say his commentary is the complete opposite of what's "actually going down"...then you're implying that you know what's "actually going down".
So...tell us what's "actually going down".
I think it is a risk vs reward at this point. If he feels great on the bike he will give it a rip. If not he has nothing to gain the ship as sailed with #18. I think we could see him battle up front again this year if he feels good on the bike.
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if u think I got “insider” info on this Eli case then ima let u think tht I do , cause no where in my post did I say I have insider info , go thru the timeline post of ML & matthes & others reporting on this & then go look at cooksey’s reporting , quote my post back when u do & u let me kno which reporting source is on point with whts going on with Eli
You give yourself too much credit. I wasn't implying for a second that you were an "insider"...or thought you were at all, or that I believed you actually had a real clue as to what the real scenario with Tomac was/is. I don't either, but I just think it's hysterical how many around here correct other members when they themselves are clueless.
i was under the impression Sexton was on a 2+1 year deal. With this being the option year, he has the option to leave.
I like how the only possible explanation from some of you is that he’s old and washed up. Totally inconceivable that there is any other problem going on or even a carbon copy example of this in the past.. 🥴🤤
Not washed up but not possessing the fire in his gut anymore. I also think the bike looks really bad when he starts letting up. He has never gelled with this version of the bike outdoors like the previous version. When he originally jumped to Starr it was if that bike was tailor made for Eli to race outdoors. I really wonder at this point why he's going to continue after this year and what he thinks he's going to accomplish.
This baffles me. Seriously. This mindset of guys basically hitting the LazyBoy at 30+ is insaneeeeee. Hes 32 not 45. I just rolled 30 and I’m more fiery than I’ve ever been, exponentially. Stronger, smarter, my VO2 and body comp, recovery times… Idk what happens to some of you guys if you fell off at 30 but I’m ready to conquer and I imagine Eli even more so but with wisdom and experience in His corner. If he lines up with the intent to win next year, I’m betting on Him. Saying he’s lost the fire to be able to compete is ridiculous.
A lot of people on forums and social media are overweight, eat like crap, and never exercise. They feel like garbage in their mid 20s and assume elite level athletes share in that experience
I dont buy the Star offer was made then they went out “shopping” part.
Every top racer has a manager who's job is when it is new contract time the manager has already been shopping for offers all year.
I’m wondering if his contract bonus structure is part of it. #1 plates are a great payday, but he’s not likely to get that, maybe he’s just spinning laps until the SMX rounds start? Unless a race win is reachable, I’m sure he’d push for that.
Everything makes sense when you look at the dollars..
30 was easy, 50 was harder, 60 is no joke.. gotta work hard just to keep a little strength
I think some of the bikes were setup too stiff for the track. I noticed it on Jmarts in first moto and he commented on it after the win. I think many of the Star Yamaha's were too stiff.
Have you been racing professionally for 16 years beating your body up?
I've kept a very rigorous training schedule for about 15 straight years actually. Also included there has been a LOT of manual labor in HS and college. It doesnt really matter, eli is adapted to his program and pushing his boundaries, so am I, and so are others.
Are you insinuation that Eli is simply out of gas like a car? Because that's literally not how things work.
I fully anticipate feeling very different around 38-42. And... my goals will adapt as well when I get there! I will run and lift with some older men and they have kept a level head and kicked the ego and stayed injury free and VERY successful as athletes. Most importantly, still smiling and still logging miles (:
Pit Row
Cubicle life and corporate golden handcuffs happened to me... It's depressing to see my own drop off after 30.
I don't think Tomac (or any top pro who retires in their late 20's early 30's) is physically unable to compete...but I think they are over in mentally...the injuries (since they were children most of the time), the pressure to perform every race, the risks EVERY time they ride, plus the daily mental grind of staying in shape with very little off season (since they were children)...all of that takes its toll on the mind...and by the time they are 30 they've been doing it full time for 20+ years and they are done (you and I don't get that because we haven't lived it...you're own rigorous training schedule and manual labor is apples to oranges to being a professional athlete)...I think that, physically, sure they could all race well into their 30's and be very competitive...but its the mental side of it (Injuries, pressure, risk)...add that to a really thick wallet (for the top guys) and it'd be really easy to throw in the towel and enjoy the rest of their life...I get it.
i agree. I think they probably adapt and cope with the mental angle but that doesnt mean they want to.
I would totally understand walking away and resting after years of work and undeniable greatness.
Since Eli did test with star last week, I am hoping that the bike setup was off because millville wasn't normal rutty millville. I hope that his results improve when we head to more rutty tracks. I have hope for an overall, but that hope isn't much right now.
38 was the start of the shift for me. Recovery from strength workouts now (at 40) takes 2 days, sometimes longer. I'm weaker in some areas and it's tough to get it back without increasing volume and decreasing cardio workouts. It's been an interesting adjustment... I know if I went all in on resistance training I could be stronger than before, but that doesn't benefit me much. I'm just trying to find the right balance to maintain what I can.
I go to bed earlier because I simply get tired earlier, especially on busier days.
Cardio is still very manageable and easy to stay within my zones.
Drinking alcohol is pretty much a chore now. I've been a 1 beer a week guy for years now (with the rare increases at random social events, maybe every 6 months), but even that is not as enjoyable.
I will say that I've noticed that sleep matters to me now. That said, I have adjusted about 3 MAJOR other factors in my life which all relate to that as well so hard to tell. Honestly my biggest hang up is time. I just dont have 5 hours a day to train - straight up. I'll probably do 4 hrs cardio and lift this saturday if I cant ride but that's a rarity. When kids come I'm definitely getting a Concept II rower LOL
Father-time is beginning to show his face is all.
Pulp had a pretty good take, in particular Weege and JT. After his bike blew up at Red Bud and the championship too far out of reach (though you could say that before Red Bud), he is just not motivated. Same as on the last year of his Kawi contract when he had multiple mechanical DNFs, had some below average finishes in later rounds before doing better in the last few.
Obviously still capable and the only guy to take two motos out of Jett.
Eli went shopping? To who??? Honda, Kawi...no friggin way. Ducati or Beta not a chance. Suzuki??...laughable. Eli told Yamaha a couple years ago that he's basically signed his last contract so Yamaha put there future on Deagan, Davies, Cooper and somewhat Webb. Eli cut his own fkn throat with announcing his "retirement". He's had a change of heart and as it turns out KTM is his only real chance at this point to continue racing at a full factory level effort. So, to say he was possibly shopping and then Yamaha pulled the offer seems kind of hard to believe.
So you are saying the factory Honda is crap ? Please do not say making the stock bike look good as everyone know no one is out there racing a stock bike (pros wise)
Huge Tomac fan, I can’t help but think the issue is mental. It seems like his goal was to beat Jett and win a championship but while working on a new contract and planning to give it another try in 26 and pushing for value in the contract while he truly believed he can beat Jett. He gets the doors blown off by Jett. Now he is riding around deflated, questioning whether he really can follow through with his goals of winning again and the promises he was making during contract negotiations. Just my two cents and I know James touched on it. Just can’t help but think he is questioning his choices and wondering if it’s time to head home and spend time with his family instead of fighting for 3rd or something each weekend while trying to figure out a new bike.
Eli should spend the next couple years on the Kevin Windham plan. Race 80% of the races, skip the ones he wants to skip, grab podium spots when he can, train at 75-80%, hang with the race fans, enjoy the rest of his riding career without the pressure to win. Maybe pull a Martin and go out with a couple of holeshots and a moto win. And make some money along the way.
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