Eli Tomac

971_Fan
Posts
1176
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4/11/2024
Location
Los Angeles , CA US

What a great day for him. 32 years old and still out there racing with the best, even after a series of injuries when a lot would have called it a day. He says MXoN is still on the table but dependent on his finishes. Really hope he rides for Team USA and podiums these last three races.

 

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5
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7/19/2025 9:13pm

He’s our second best guy as of today. He looked way better than last week. Seems like they have the bike headed in the right direction because it looked like it handled better. 

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OwenJakes
Posts
1642
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6/30/2023
Location
sebree, KY US
7/19/2025 9:41pm

Can you guys talk about him without mentioning his age anymore? When did this become a thing? 

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13
971_Fan
Posts
1176
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Los Angeles , CA US
7/19/2025 10:13pm
OwenJakes wrote:

Can you guys talk about him without mentioning his age anymore? When did this become a thing? 

When he aged.

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12
7/19/2025 11:05pm

You guys are constantly using age as his Achilles heel despite pros in other sports going into their late 30s/40s. Let the team figure that bike out for outdoors and let’s see how many of you use it as a crutch

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10

The Shop

Herr Lich
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2568
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Location
Sydney, NSW AU
7/19/2025 11:13pm
OwenJakes wrote:

Can you guys talk about him without mentioning his age anymore? When did this become a thing? 

Since the beginning of time. In sports age impacts on performance. 

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7
7/19/2025 11:32pm

Stop with the age stuff. Jeremy Martin is the same age as Eli and he won a moto and got two holeshots at millville in 250’s after only a week on the bike. Tony Cairoli is damn near 40 and got too 10’s when he didn't have bike problems. Eli won a moto at both hangtown and high point this year. Its all bike setup right now, not old age.

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13
7/19/2025 11:34pm

I am sick of hearing about his age too. In today’s sports world, he’s not that old. 

11
6
Tumic
Posts
2775
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11/27/2012
Location
Sundsvall SE
7/19/2025 11:49pm

Well it works both ways. We got to hear the whole SX how old Davies was to…

6
2
gerg
Posts
1482
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10/29/2014
Location
AU
7/20/2025 12:53am
OwenJakes wrote:

Can you guys talk about him without mentioning his age anymore? When did this become a thing? 

971_Fan wrote:

When he aged.

I wish I was 32 🤣

35
1
cwel11
Posts
2552
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Location
Orangeville, PA US
7/20/2025 3:33am

I’m not understanding the bike setting problems. The tracks are the mostly same every year, the bike is unchanged, why do these guys seem to constantly fight their bikes? It makes zero sense. You hear so often, I went back to my old settings. I understand a bike can be improved and these guys are looking for an edge, but how about wash it off, rebuild it, and put in in the hauler for next Saturday 🤦🏼‍♂️

5
3
7/20/2025 4:09am
You guys are constantly using age as his Achilles heel despite pros in other sports going into their late 30s/40s. Let the team figure that bike...

You guys are constantly using age as his Achilles heel despite pros in other sports going into their late 30s/40s. Let the team figure that bike out for outdoors and let’s see how many of you use it as a crutch

Name off all the top riders who competed for titles and won races in their late 30's, early 40's. MX isnt other sports. 

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1
7/20/2025 4:18am
cwel11 wrote:
I’m not understanding the bike setting problems. The tracks are the mostly same every year, the bike is unchanged, why do these guys seem to constantly...

I’m not understanding the bike setting problems. The tracks are the mostly same every year, the bike is unchanged, why do these guys seem to constantly fight their bikes? It makes zero sense. You hear so often, I went back to my old settings. I understand a bike can be improved and these guys are looking for an edge, but how about wash it off, rebuild it, and put in in the hauler for next Saturday 🤦🏼‍♂️

This is Eli's first time at most of these tracks on the current Yamaha chassis, right? He did Budds, Ironman, and the MXdN. 3 mx races on that chassis before this outdoor season started. No clue if that has anything to do with him searching for settings and struggling but I'm just saying. And who has been out there on a 450 for Star while Eli was hurt? JCoop is all I can think of. Eli and Justin ride nothing alike so I doubt his data and settings wotk for Eli. 

 

4
yardsailor
Posts
410
Joined
1/3/2024
Location
Nerstrand, MN US
7/20/2025 4:49am

Eli is young, Cairoli went to school with my grandpa and still can ride a top 10 on a new bike without much of a baseline. 
When Eil believes he can still win, believe him. He doesnt use the age card. 

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1
7/20/2025 4:58am
You guys are constantly using age as his Achilles heel despite pros in other sports going into their late 30s/40s. Let the team figure that bike...

You guys are constantly using age as his Achilles heel despite pros in other sports going into their late 30s/40s. Let the team figure that bike out for outdoors and let’s see how many of you use it as a crutch

Father time is undefeated ,it absolutely makes a difference in motocross at the elite level.

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3
plowboy
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14032
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Location
Norwich, KS US
7/20/2025 5:02am

I'm not as good as I once was but.....😉

It's not the racing that gets 'em...its the grind.

1
1
7/20/2025 5:17am

In what other sports do the top guys retire at 26 and 27? If age doesn't matter, why is Eli only the 3rd oldest rider to win a moto, and the oldest rider to hold the red plate/lead the championship? Regardless of training, age is undefeated and will always have an influence on performance. 

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1
aees
Posts
2634
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8/20/2015
Location
US
7/20/2025 5:29am Edited Date/Time 7/20/2025 5:40am
You guys are constantly using age as his Achilles heel despite pros in other sports going into their late 30s/40s. Let the team figure that bike...

You guys are constantly using age as his Achilles heel despite pros in other sports going into their late 30s/40s. Let the team figure that bike out for outdoors and let’s see how many of you use it as a crutch

Exactly. When he finds his new baseline setting that will allow him to go faster, that age is not a big concern.

Sounded like he has a new base so curious to see if it can improve.

I will say he has a handicap in that the new setups seem to be based on ride height from MX14 as he has explained before. He is not holeshoting to motivate that tire everywhere. Cant have been a dream yesterday on that track.

1
resetjet
Posts
2533
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3/16/2012
Location
Tampa, FL US
7/20/2025 5:47am

Its a dangerous sport.  Unlike golf and tennis when you have a family and gain intelligence its gets harder and harder to ride at or over the line.  

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7/20/2025 5:51am

Age is a factor in this sport. 

No one over the age of 30 has ever won a SX title.

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7/20/2025 5:58am
In what other sports do the top guys retire at 26 and 27? If age doesn't matter, why is Eli only the 3rd oldest rider to...

In what other sports do the top guys retire at 26 and 27? If age doesn't matter, why is Eli only the 3rd oldest rider to win a moto, and the oldest rider to hold the red plate/lead the championship? Regardless of training, age is undefeated and will always have an influence on performance. 

Right. Its not like we're just giving our opinions here. We have the stats and stats dont lie. Now that being said, I think the training methods are constantly evolving. These guys don't need to be ground into dust so they burn out at 27yrs old. Periodization. There are new recovery protocols that RC didn't have when he ushered in this hardcore training era. I believe thats why we are seeing so many guys near 30 or older still at the top of their game. I dont think Eli is far off his very best at almost 33yrs old and thats amazing. 

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250 cross
Posts
274
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Location
Belding, MI US
7/20/2025 6:29am

The older you get the more risk vs. reward enters your thinking.

6
MXRalph
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352
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11/13/2022
Location
Fresno, CA US
7/20/2025 6:32am

ThIrTy-TwO!

yardsailor
Posts
410
Joined
1/3/2024
Location
Nerstrand, MN US
7/20/2025 6:35am
resetjet wrote:
Its a dangerous sport.  Unlike golf and tennis when you have a family and gain intelligence its gets harder and harder to ride at or over...

Its a dangerous sport.  Unlike golf and tennis when you have a family and gain intelligence its gets harder and harder to ride at or over the line.  

Tru.  The absolute limit in mx is the fear of getting hurt through crashing. Imagine if people didnt have any fear. 
 

kijen
Posts
1210
Joined
10/1/2010
Location
Jacksonville, FL US
7/20/2025 6:39am Edited Date/Time 7/20/2025 6:44am
971_Fan wrote:
What a great day for him. 32 years old and still out there racing with the best, even after a series of injuries when a lot...

What a great day for him. 32 years old and still out there racing with the best, even after a series of injuries when a lot would have called it a day. He says MXoN is still on the table but dependent on his finishes. Really hope he rides for Team USA and podiums these last three races.

 

I say he is ONLY 32, look at AC 222, very competitive. If the male mind matures at 26, Id say, from 26 thru mid 30s is the prime for athletes, injury dependant.

For the early retirement thing. Burn out and enough money to retire play a bigger role then being competitive. Dungey sort of showed that a few years ago. 

Just my opinion, no stats to back it up. Lol

1
brocster
Posts
4459
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6/9/2009
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA US
7/20/2025 6:42am
cwel11 wrote:
I’m not understanding the bike setting problems. The tracks are the mostly same every year, the bike is unchanged, why do these guys seem to constantly...

I’m not understanding the bike setting problems. The tracks are the mostly same every year, the bike is unchanged, why do these guys seem to constantly fight their bikes? It makes zero sense. You hear so often, I went back to my old settings. I understand a bike can be improved and these guys are looking for an edge, but how about wash it off, rebuild it, and put in in the hauler for next Saturday 🤦🏼‍♂️

This^^^^ or how about try “the new settings” in free practice and maybe first timed qualifier and if not better use “your old settings” then rinse and repeat for next week.  Not falling back to something you know works hurts my brain. 

7/20/2025 6:53am Edited Date/Time 7/20/2025 6:55am
Right. Its not like we're just giving our opinions here. We have the stats and stats dont lie. Now that being said, I think the training...

Right. Its not like we're just giving our opinions here. We have the stats and stats dont lie. Now that being said, I think the training methods are constantly evolving. These guys don't need to be ground into dust so they burn out at 27yrs old. Periodization. There are new recovery protocols that RC didn't have when he ushered in this hardcore training era. I believe thats why we are seeing so many guys near 30 or older still at the top of their game. I dont think Eli is far off his very best at almost 33yrs old and thats amazing. 

Agreed. I heard Tom Brady say that he was in better shape in his 40's than he was in his 30s, so we know it's possible to stay at the top as we get older. I would think in moto, reaction time/reflexes will show age before fitness.  

2
1
JF953
Posts
73
Joined
7/7/2020
Location
South Lake Tahoe, CA US
7/20/2025 6:53am
You guys are constantly using age as his Achilles heel despite pros in other sports going into their late 30s/40s. Let the team figure that bike...

You guys are constantly using age as his Achilles heel despite pros in other sports going into their late 30s/40s. Let the team figure that bike out for outdoors and let’s see how many of you use it as a crutch

Well lets be real....this isn't other sports! This is the gnarliest sport on the planet and age plays a major roll!

8
1
motomike137
Posts
8180
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4/22/2010
Location
Fenton, MI US
7/20/2025 8:17am

That was the Eli we expect and enjoy watching. He was having a good time and it showed.

2
yardsailor
Posts
410
Joined
1/3/2024
Location
Nerstrand, MN US
7/20/2025 8:24am
Right. Its not like we're just giving our opinions here. We have the stats and stats dont lie. Now that being said, I think the training...

Right. Its not like we're just giving our opinions here. We have the stats and stats dont lie. Now that being said, I think the training methods are constantly evolving. These guys don't need to be ground into dust so they burn out at 27yrs old. Periodization. There are new recovery protocols that RC didn't have when he ushered in this hardcore training era. I believe thats why we are seeing so many guys near 30 or older still at the top of their game. I dont think Eli is far off his very best at almost 33yrs old and thats amazing. 

Agreed. I heard Tom Brady say that he was in better shape in his 40's than he was in his 30s, so we know it's possible...

Agreed. I heard Tom Brady say that he was in better shape in his 40's than he was in his 30s, so we know it's possible to stay at the top as we get older. I would think in moto, reaction time/reflexes will show age before fitness.  

I realized that my eyes were the first to go as far as my riding skills.  Going through the woods in later age, I was reacting instead of pro-acting.  

I suppose I could try a set of Pro-Vue prescription goggles.  

2
Alex814
Posts
1190
Joined
12/18/2014
Location
IL US
7/20/2025 8:33am

Zach Osborne won the title at 31 in 2020.

1

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