Tomac: "I don't want to go there [reevaluating success]."

Edited Date/Time 8/22/2025 5:35pm

Fascinating discussion with Eli today, building on last week's press day interview.

Good stuff from Jett on motivation and Hunter on consistency, plus some others.

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Money
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8/22/2025 2:59pm

Great quote for click bait 

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PRM31
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8/22/2025 3:11pm

Good questions. Some detailed, well thought out responses, and some not so engaging responses…

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8/22/2025 3:12pm

I like that attitude from Tomac. He's doesn't want to settle, that mindset is what's made him one of the greats, and will keep him motivated to beat Jett. Whether he can or not, it sounds like he's gonna give it his all, not much more we could ask of him.

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RACING
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8/22/2025 3:28pm
Money wrote:

Great quote for click bait 

Exactly what I thought.

 

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The Shop

Spike33
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8/22/2025 3:54pm

Downvoted for the lame CNN clickbait title. Dumb. 

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8/22/2025 4:33pm
Money wrote:

Great quote for click bait 

RACING wrote:

Exactly what I thought.

 

Will need a restraining order from you soon, boss.

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CPR
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8/22/2025 4:57pm

I can see why some might think it’s a click bait title, but after listening to the interviews, Tomac saying he’s not ready “…to go there.” as in accepting that he may not be a regular race winner anymore, is the best thing in all the interviews imo. 
I for one thought he may have been settling on being a podium contender now, not championship guy. I’m glad I was wrong. We haven’t got to hear Eli be that open and honest in the past. It’s great to hear.

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8/22/2025 5:09pm
CPR wrote:
I can see why some might think it’s a click bait title, but after listening to the interviews, Tomac saying he’s not ready “…to go there.”...

I can see why some might think it’s a click bait title, but after listening to the interviews, Tomac saying he’s not ready “…to go there.” as in accepting that he may not be a regular race winner anymore, is the best thing in all the interviews imo. 
I for one thought he may have been settling on being a podium contender now, not championship guy. I’m glad I was wrong. We haven’t got to hear Eli be that open and honest in the past. It’s great to hear.

To be fair, reading it back from a thousand-foot view, I can see the clickbait element (and what people thought it was referring to).

I was just thinking of the best part of the whole video when I quickly posted it here. It's my bad.

 

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CPR
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8/22/2025 5:12pm
CPR wrote:
I can see why some might think it’s a click bait title, but after listening to the interviews, Tomac saying he’s not ready “…to go there.”...

I can see why some might think it’s a click bait title, but after listening to the interviews, Tomac saying he’s not ready “…to go there.” as in accepting that he may not be a regular race winner anymore, is the best thing in all the interviews imo. 
I for one thought he may have been settling on being a podium contender now, not championship guy. I’m glad I was wrong. We haven’t got to hear Eli be that open and honest in the past. It’s great to hear.

To be fair, reading it back from a thousand-foot view, I can see the clickbait element (and what people thought it was referring to).I was just...

To be fair, reading it back from a thousand-foot view, I can see the clickbait element (and what people thought it was referring to).

I was just thinking of the best part of the whole video when I quickly posted it here. It's my bad.

 

It is the best part, but it also made me click on it 😂

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8/22/2025 5:17pm
CPR wrote:
I can see why some might think it’s a click bait title, but after listening to the interviews, Tomac saying he’s not ready “…to go there.”...

I can see why some might think it’s a click bait title, but after listening to the interviews, Tomac saying he’s not ready “…to go there.” as in accepting that he may not be a regular race winner anymore, is the best thing in all the interviews imo. 
I for one thought he may have been settling on being a podium contender now, not championship guy. I’m glad I was wrong. We haven’t got to hear Eli be that open and honest in the past. It’s great to hear.

To be fair, reading it back from a thousand-foot view, I can see the clickbait element (and what people thought it was referring to).I was just...

To be fair, reading it back from a thousand-foot view, I can see the clickbait element (and what people thought it was referring to).

I was just thinking of the best part of the whole video when I quickly posted it here. It's my bad.

 

CPR wrote:

It is the best part, but it also made me click on it 😂

It's my fault for posting here so quickly. I normally do it last, when I have some time to think. I take full responsibility, haha.

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8/22/2025 5:21pm
Spike33 wrote:

Downvoted for the lame CNN clickbait title. Dumb. 

He should take it as a compliment the guy with the worst takes on this forum downvoted his thread

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bens 152
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8/22/2025 5:24pm

A ‘click bait’ title is usually followed by a video or audio that is utter shit and gives you nothing. This was not that. 

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PRM31
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8/22/2025 5:25pm

Tomac did say that…

Tim507
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8/22/2025 5:27pm
CPR wrote:
I can see why some might think it’s a click bait title, but after listening to the interviews, Tomac saying he’s not ready “…to go there.”...

I can see why some might think it’s a click bait title, but after listening to the interviews, Tomac saying he’s not ready “…to go there.” as in accepting that he may not be a regular race winner anymore, is the best thing in all the interviews imo. 
I for one thought he may have been settling on being a podium contender now, not championship guy. I’m glad I was wrong. We haven’t got to hear Eli be that open and honest in the past. It’s great to hear.

To be fair, reading it back from a thousand-foot view, I can see the clickbait element (and what people thought it was referring to).I was just...

To be fair, reading it back from a thousand-foot view, I can see the clickbait element (and what people thought it was referring to).

I was just thinking of the best part of the whole video when I quickly posted it here. It's my bad.

 

Not even click bait as Eli said what the title said😉 The best part was watchiing Eli's face as that disclosed the full level of his honest statement! It was an awesome question and and equally awesome answer😀

Well Done!!

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8/22/2025 5:32pm
PRM31 wrote:

Tomac did say that…

I guess most people presumed/thought it was 'not wanting to go there' in regard to a team/bike.

I'm just too close to it. I obviously wrote it knowing what it meant... It's my bad, haha.

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8/22/2025 5:40pm
PRM31 wrote:

Tomac did say that…

I guess most people presumed/thought it was 'not wanting to go there' in regard to a team/bike.I'm just too close to it. I obviously wrote it...

I guess most people presumed/thought it was 'not wanting to go there' in regard to a team/bike.

I'm just too close to it. I obviously wrote it knowing what it meant... It's my bad, haha.

Its not your bad. Some people are miserable and fine anything to complain about. Dont apologize 

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kpiper
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8/22/2025 5:43pm
PRM31 wrote:

Tomac did say that…

I guess most people presumed/thought it was 'not wanting to go there' in regard to a team/bike.I'm just too close to it. I obviously wrote it...

I guess most people presumed/thought it was 'not wanting to go there' in regard to a team/bike.

I'm just too close to it. I obviously wrote it knowing what it meant... It's my bad, haha.

Don't think it was a bad title at all. My first thought was that you might have asked him if he was considering retiring this year. Not the move to KTM.

You are really the only journalist out there asking interesting questions. Thank you. Hope the riders actually appreciate you asking such questions instead of the same old boring ones.

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El_Rayo
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8/22/2025 5:52pm

Really good interviews Lewis 👍🏽. Was pretty cool to hear Tomac’s unwithering mindset to keep winning. 

And as far as deegan? I’m kind of a fan of him but damn he sounded so cocky in his responses, to be honest they even sound rehearsed too. 

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OleTex2
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8/22/2025 6:30pm

Excellent interview. I enjoyed listening to his takes. 

OwenJakes
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8/22/2025 9:12pm
El_Rayo wrote:
Really good interviews Lewis 👍🏽. Was pretty cool to hear Tomac’s unwithering mindset to keep winning. And as far as deegan? I’m kind of a fan of...

Really good interviews Lewis 👍🏽. Was pretty cool to hear Tomac’s unwithering mindset to keep winning. 

And as far as deegan? I’m kind of a fan of him but damn he sounded so cocky in his responses, to be honest they even sound rehearsed too. 

Completely. I find it easy to be a fan of his performance but not him personally. 

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surfrider47
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8/22/2025 9:33pm
PRM31 wrote:

Tomac did say that…

I guess most people presumed/thought it was 'not wanting to go there' in regard to a team/bike.I'm just too close to it. I obviously wrote it...

I guess most people presumed/thought it was 'not wanting to go there' in regard to a team/bike.

I'm just too close to it. I obviously wrote it knowing what it meant... It's my bad, haha.

We appreciate the apology. A lot of people (some in our sport too) would never admit guilt and apologize like that. Thanks Lew

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TooOld4WFO
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8/22/2025 9:37pm

Keep doing exactly what you are doing with your interviews. You have a gift for this. 

Your questions are excellent. You catch these guys off guard with many of them. They have to stop and think a bit to answer them. So fewer pat answers. This allows for a much more honest and often a more revealing side to them.  

I consistently see riders really stopping to consider your questions.  

At a minimum the riders are learning to respect you and your efforts. And maybe a few look forward to what will you ask them next time.

Great job! Michael and Vital are fortunate to have you.  

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971_Fan
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8/22/2025 10:20pm
To be fair, reading it back from a thousand-foot view, I can see the clickbait element (and what people thought it was referring to).I was just...

To be fair, reading it back from a thousand-foot view, I can see the clickbait element (and what people thought it was referring to).

I was just thinking of the best part of the whole video when I quickly posted it here. It's my bad.

 

You're my favorite media guy, and the title was fun.  It drew people in.  Too bad you caved to the suckers who cried about it and edited it.  

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RACING
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8/22/2025 10:21pm Edited Date/Time 8/22/2025 10:22pm
Money wrote:

Great quote for click bait 

RACING wrote:

Exactly what I thought.

 

Will need a restraining order from you soon, boss.

C'mon LewLew, YOU're the Boss. 

You said it yourself: what you posted is "fascinating". How could someone be any better than you? 

Please, keep enlighting us, we were poor souls in the dark before you came.

😉

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Herr Lich
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8/23/2025 1:13am

The larger question is how long will Eli continue to race? I've always said he won't become a sad fat shadow of his former self (looking at you Chad Reed), mainly because that's what he's always said. This interview just confirms it. But I think not only is Eli not as good as he once was, he is now facing the best rider to ever do it. I think he'll give SX a go in 26, get a few podiums, maybe a win (the Weege Theory) and then call it. 

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8/23/2025 4:14am
RACING wrote:

Exactly what I thought.

 

Will need a restraining order from you soon, boss.

RACING wrote:
C'mon LewLew, YOU're the Boss. You said it yourself: what you posted is "fascinating". How could someone be any better than you? Please, keep enlighting us, we were...

C'mon LewLew, YOU're the Boss. 

You said it yourself: what you posted is "fascinating". How could someone be any better than you? 

Please, keep enlighting us, we were poor souls in the dark before you came.

😉

Okay so, yeah, seems like there's a lot of underlying emotion there.

To clarify once again, people: I was not the 'fascinating' part of that Eli interview. I know this is just shocking news.

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Spoonguy
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8/23/2025 5:02am

Once again making a statement as the premier or foremost journalist the sport of dirt bike racing has. So well done Lewis, we need more like you. I would think you and Lindsay would be well received and successful in a magazine or newsletter type form. Or even if you save your interviews, at some point a book of "champions quotes" or something along those lines. Many of us still read magazines. 

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8/23/2025 5:38am Edited Date/Time 8/23/2025 9:25am

Deegan comes across incredibly insecure to me through his thinly veiled “dude whatever i smoked everyone and I don’t care about nothing” vibes after getting beat on by Joe week after week.

8/23/2025 5:42am

Will need a restraining order from you soon, boss.

RACING wrote:
C'mon LewLew, YOU're the Boss. You said it yourself: what you posted is "fascinating". How could someone be any better than you? Please, keep enlighting us, we were...

C'mon LewLew, YOU're the Boss. 

You said it yourself: what you posted is "fascinating". How could someone be any better than you? 

Please, keep enlighting us, we were poor souls in the dark before you came.

😉

Okay so, yeah, seems like there's a lot of underlying emotion there.To clarify once again, people: I was not the 'fascinating' part of that Eli interview...

Okay so, yeah, seems like there's a lot of underlying emotion there.

To clarify once again, people: I was not the 'fascinating' part of that Eli interview. I know this is just shocking news.

Was hoping for some riveting comments about beans and eggs for breakfast. Major let down.

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