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When the fastest guy in the class is 10 years younger than you it makes a difference.
He said he was asked about MXoN before Millville and said yes, then his result was mediocre so he knew he had to step it up if he wanted to go which he did yesterday. They usually announce team USA after this break and it would make sense to announce it at Ironman so I would guess he’ll be on team USA, assuming him and Yamaha can work out the details. I can’t imagine he wants that to be his first race on the KTM.
Right. But when you name one guy youre not really proving your point. Got a bunch more examples? I'm not even saying you cant be a title contender around 30. Just when you look at the history of the sport it's a young mans game
For all you youngsters who don't know any better yet......there is a massive difference between being a single 21 year old kid and a 32 year old father of 3. You'll understand when you age or have your first kid.
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I think there is absolutely an element to the equation of Eli simply being older and just not having the "fuck it, send it" in him as much anymore.
Absolutely. He's got three little ones and a wife at home who depend on him for everything.
Some sports and some positions, but 30 is usually a pretty big milestone in MX/SX. I’d say it’s sort of like a running back in the NFL. 30 is considered pretty much a brick wall for even many of the greats, and while there are exceptions they are definitely talked about as being the exceptions.
For a sport like MX, the age issue is sort of skewed. He’s been racing at the Pro level for 15 or 16 years. That’s a huge toll on the body. For the average NFL player who turns pro around age 21, they don’t have that many pro seasons until age 36 or older. The vast majority of NFL players don’t last anywhere near that long.
15yrs is a long ass career of grinding professional mx/sx. That doesn't even take into account amateur racing. I dont care what kind of spin you want to give me about how the human body is still firing on all cylinders around the age of 30. Good point about NFL running backs. They last 10yrs and they're cooked. But wait they should still be tip top physically shouldnt they?
Because they are at a stall. Cant go faster on current setting for 35min. And they ain't going to completely change how they ride.
Tomac has explained this before, there isn't enough margin to sit still becase if one makes a slight progress for A1 or Pala, the rest is weeks behind and it might be to late.
Also, bike generations change every 3-4 year so you have to reset.
Riding in practise on the morning is close to a flat test track. Riding first and second moto completely different when track gets baked. You heard Chase, he is on a different setting between morning and afternoon at Club.
Yeah but the 250 class is weak AF dude..
Cairoli won it at 32. Osborne won it over 30, Stefan Everts won it over 30. Webb 29.5y old. Febvres is leading championship and is 33.
They can do it, of course the fewer it is still riding over 30 so possibility of a 30+ age to do it gets less. Just mathematics.
Age itself and their physical capability (cardio, reactions time, physical strength, recovery) is not stopping them.
That was my point. An athlete is not past his prime at 32 with today’s treatment, diets, training protocols.
The only caveat is that most of these guys have been at it for 20 plus year by the time they are 30.
I think unfortunately many go all out on training to early for little or no additional value. And if you do that, you won't get passed 30. That is true.
RC couldn't have continued the way he was training. Neither RV. Herlings said his program up until 2017-2018 was unsustainable so he changed it up. Still in ok condition given he always finishes strongest on the end of day two after 3 races in sand.
So if yi are running your afterburner from day 1 when it comes to training, that wont last for long. But the thing is, you don't need to be to win in MX, even less so SX. I think that is what you will see more and more. More ice cream, hot dogs, days off, balanced life. It's a bit in contrast to Aldons program that basically seem to have run its course.
Ball sports has 5-10 injuries per 1000h. SX has 150. Mx probably half that or less. So you can figure out yourself what's going to happend if you keep putting in 200-300h on the bike every year that I know some have done.
+ when did Tomac start? age 5. + Brady has not taking the hits these guys take, yes, I am sure football it tough but it's no comparison. They get a break after every 10 seconds. Yes there are freak of natures , like Toni Cairoli and many others, hell any one remember John Dowd? That's rare in this sport.
You guys know we're talking about exceptional humans right? Uber talented, chromosonally blessed, and born with a four leaf clover in each fist.
An MX career after 30 is rare enough but to still be at the pointy end is unicorn shit.
I'd say it was rare, now you have guys like Webb, RJ, Mookie, Barcia, J coop, Kenny amd Eli. 10 years from now this may be the norm and we look back at the 80's, 90's and 00's differently.
Pit Row
Fuck Father Time. He's an asshole! Tell him to line up in the 60+ Novice class, so I can show him who's boss
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I like how in every sport on earth time and experience is a good thing except moto. Moto apparently is like gas in a tank and it runs out.
Some of you guys are downright goofy. Just because you checked out at an overweight and sad 30 doesn’t mean everyone else does.
I think Eli does not have the physical strength/conditioning like Chase and Jett to go that pace for the whole moto. Also, the mindset of youth being willing to send it. All those things come into play much more at 32 than it does at 21 or 25.
Not every rider is taking hard hits as much as an NFL player. Someone like JS7 took some big hits. RB in NFL has the shortest career because no other position takes a bigger pounding. Those guys are getting hit 20-30 times a game by Linebackers and Defense line players. I'm not saying NFL is harder because I think moto can beat you to shit and you need to be in better shape, however some positions in the NFL take a beating. Tomac's biggest crash was probably blowing his arms out.
My point was there are other times and places to test settings other than race day. You are paid to win races, race something that you know works is all I’m saying.
Science. Science. Science.
Age and Performance
Motocross/Supercross Performance Data: Most AMA champions peak between 18–28; few remain top-tier after 32.
Case Studies: Ricky Carmichael retired at 27; Ryan Dungey at 27; Chad Reed and Antonio Cairoli extended careers but with reduced dominance.
Applied: Real-world rider trends confirm research: elite motocross success is concentrated in the 18–28 range, with sharp drop-offs after 30 despite outliers.
Physiological science shows inevitable declines in VO₂ max, muscle power, and reflex speed after 30.
Sports medicine confirms greater injury risk and slower recovery, compounding cumulative damage from years of crashes.
Psychology research indicates older riders use experience and strategy to compensate, but this can’t fully counter reduced raw speed and aggression.
Historical data validates these principles: peak performance is early, and sustained competitiveness past 32 is rare.
I think Eli has moved into being another example of the 'Weege Theory'. That is, older elite riders can win a moto, race, or overall here and there if everything goes their way but they're not the threat to win at all times like they were previously. In addition to Eli having the problem of age he also is facing the greatest rider in motocross and supercross history in Jett Lawrence.
Yes, in most sports they are. Check out the science. It's incontrovertible.
'More ice cream, hot dogs, days off, balanced life.'
If you add in 'more hamburgers, fries, and shakes' plus not usually competing in motocross, you have the Webb Diet and Training Regimen.
I rate American football up there with Darts, Table tennis, Golf and Ribbon twirl dancing.
Being disrespectful to other sports and the athletes doesn’t make you more core.
Eli Tomac doesn’t have the strength and conditioning?
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