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I'm saying that Jett would make ANY bike look REALLY good!
Honestly at this point...I wouldn't be surprised if Eli pulled the plug after this year. He is not a 6-10th place guy and he has no motivation to race if that's just the way it is.
Lot's of speculation, but I dont think his age is the problem. Something else going on. I dont think its the bike either. He was ripping the early rounds.
Just guessing but its got to be discouraging giving it your all and cant catch Jett in the early rounds. He was still giving it his all and then when the bike blew up he was mentally done. Championship gone. Only thing he could be riding for is to try and add to his win total at this point.
I bet he comes in fired up next year on the pumpkin. But I also wouldnt be surprised if he retired after this year either. Who knows, were all just guessing. I'd love to see him beat Jett at least a time or two before he retires though.
In the two pictures of him in pit bits he doesn’t seem to be hiding any injuries, no bandages or anything like that. I think it’s just bike set up was off and didn’t allow him to do what he wanted to and he was feeling every single bump in every corner.
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To everyone asking if Eli should rethink coming back and maybe calling it quits, its easy to be reactionary watching Jett rule outdoors. He's not the same unbeatable alien in sx. And I think getting one more sx title to make up for '23 is really want Eli wants. I do think Jett will be the man to beat in sx, obviously. But its not at all the same thing we're currently watching this summer.
Somebody copy this tread so all the guys saying ET3 is over the hill can eat crow.
Skill and ability do not disappear over night or in one week. Whatever funk Tomac is wrestling with right now will pass
He's done well at Washougal over the course of his career. Let's revisit this after the weekend.
2010: 7-9 for 7th o/a (250)
2011: 16-15 for 17th o/a (250)
2012: 2-3 for 2nd o/a (250)
2013: 1-1 for 1st o/a (250)
2014: 2-2 for 2nd o/a (450)
2016: 2-1 for 1st o/a (450)
2017: 2-2 for 2nd o/a (450)
2018: 1-1 for 1st o/a (450)
2019: 1-1 for 1st o/a (450)
2021: 2-2 for 2nd o/a (450)
2022: 1-2 for 2nd o/a (450)
Old age must have got him in 2011 as well 😂
I am seeing the same thing. He just doesn't look confident on that Yamaha anymore. Just watching how his bikes reacts vs the Hondas is night and day. He didn't just fall off from earlier this year... give me a damn break. Father time? Come on bro... he was the only racer to beat Jett in a moto until Hunta! Can he have an injury? Maybe... Mid/late season fatigue issue (ala Plessinger?) maybe. Star Yamaha needs to figure their shit out. I know the 450's are actually Factory Yamaha supported, so their in may lie the true issue...
Add that he beat Jett without Jett falling also. People say that Jett was still recovering from injury but forget that Eli was injured a week after Jett and was also mending from injury. I think that he is sick or hurt, prior to Southwick, battle with cattle. I had to throw that in😂
Weege
https://racerxonline.com/2025/07/16/tomac-theories
I haven't read much of the thread but I'm in the boat of him just not pushing it or not caring anymore now that he's out of the championship. He's riding at a good pace to push when he needs to and try and get through the remainder of the season without injury. Him jumping to a new team later this year the last thing he needs is to be sidelined from another injury. Get gate drops, get starts in, get laps in come back out in SMX or next year ready to roll.
I am confident that Eli still has it in him on a given day when the stars line up but what we saw at Millville was not something I thought I would ever see out of him. As others have said he probably is really focusing on the bike change and SX 26. Still though that had to hurt his pride a little last Saturday.
I don't think the motivation slip is only understood by the greats. There are many who don't want to admit even a guy like Eli will have a day or days like this at this point in his career because they think of him as Superman on two wheels. Unfortunately, father time has a bag of kryptonite he opens on even the greats.
AC and Brayton
https://youtu.be/YEfkoM8_62I?si=34lAXPdMI6VkS80X
I’m sure more will come at end of season if it’s injury or other related issues. Im just glad he’s out there. I remember windham saying he could go faster but just not worth it at his stage in life. Not saying that’s tomac but can completely understand if so.
I was thinking about this. If these guys normally run say an average of a 2 min. lap time on an outdoor track. If they are off by 1% due to injury, motivation or frustration you name it. That can slow them down 1.2 seconds a lap. That’s only 1% off! Imagine things are really piling up and you go to 3% off your A game. You are looking at 4 seconds a lap almost. Shit can slide down hill fast for these guys at the very tip top.
Tomac looking pretty despondent in this interview.. Hoping he still enjoys being out there. One thing I always respect about him, he never ever gives any excuses or blames anything or anyone else. https://youtu.be/XGfgs1S6zp8?si=sIXdZSTx7RUdx3oO
Pit Row
You can tell by his smirks that he has something to say, but dude never gives a reason for anyone to think he's making excuses
I saw some smirks, I wouldn't say he's lost all confidence, but he obviously doesn't have as much as he used to, like at fox raceway or habgtown or highpoint when he won motos.
He was also back on the bike before Jett. Tomac said he had more mx testing and prep he can ever remember having being that he was usually riding sx right up until the start of mx. Almost 33yr old Eli isnt beating a 21yr old wunderkind
Solid ET3 interview with Lewis. Also worth watching the Prado interview as well. Seems like they're both quite uncomfortable on their bikes, and in a similar position. https://youtu.be/SvkYu50udxI?si=JR9pc4sYbaJhycCZ
Only watched Eli’s interview. Sounds like it’s bike setup, not lack of motivation. What stand up dude, he said he won’t race Des Nations unless he’s podium guy. Could only wish more racers had his commitment.
Thinking about his family has to be in the back of his mind after all these moto related tragedies lately.
Looks like his bow game is on point still.
That's cool! I'm hoping that Eli finds some mojo this weekend at what may be his best track.
Exactly, that's what people don't seem to get. If they fuck up a click or two that can be half a second or a second a lap. That window is so small when everyone is at their game.
If Jett wasn't here. Tomac would be fine most likely and no need to elevate or hit better settings but Jett is pushing everyone to have everything pretty perfect.
Not even Jett could win with shock setting being off as he explained last week. But Jett can probably be half of that off and still win.
bumping this thread
“Father time is defeated”
Opinions from the 🤡’s that said Father Time has beat him?
Post a reply to: Eli Tomac Drop-Off