Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
He was nailing his starts to start the year. We are talking about Eli Tomac. Has he ever been a consistently great starter?
including hole shot in his heat last night. Anybody here that ever raced NOT get tangled up in a 1st turn pinch like that at some point?
Yep, it happens. First thing he said in his interview after the race was something along the lines of "I put myself in a bad spot"
Pretty sure Tomac is the last dude on earth that would pull that crap.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
The end interview with Eli after the race started out good when he took responsibility for putting himself in a risky spot due to the bad start. Then ended oddly when Eli claimed that Craig ran into him and took him out. No doubt Eli was frustrated I'm sure but seems that by that time he would have recognized that Craig was already on the ground when Eli ran into Craigs bike when it was down.
I agree. I do not know if a rule was solidly put into effect or not, to allow that and the rider back into a restarted race.(McAdoo incident)
I was there and yeah he got back to doing it once he got going again. Thats said sometimes you have a crash and it takes a minute for everything to settle down. It could be a cramp,Charlie horse, local pain or a host of other things that just takes a few minutes to be able to get back into the grove.
True, but at the same time Craig is the one who tucked the front and in the process took Tomac down too. Clearly nobody is saying Craig meant to take him out, but when a mistake you make takes another rider down, it's on you just the same.
That being said, I haven't seen an angle that shows without a doubt whether Craig initiated this whole thing or not. So maybe it's not on Craig at all.
I know ill probably get some heat for this but i did not see that ride as some "title saving" ride. Im a Tomac guy but the nut hugging about a 12th is not where its at. Does Jett get 12th? Roczen? Sexton? They at least get up to 8th or better when they have these issues. Tomac's weaknesses have always been these outside the top 10 finishes when things are going well for him. A title saving ride to me is rides like Dungeys southwick to still get a podium etc.
The guy obviously had something going on by the way he got back up, 12th is definitely better than pulling off.
I have to agree with you.
If you asked me in that situation where would he climb back to, I’d definitely say he could get inside the top ten.
He was slow to get up, look like he contemplated pulling off, then his first 2-3 laps were nothing to write home about. It seemed to take him a surprisingly long time to catch & pass the first rider.
I would’ve expected to get 4-5 riders in the first lap!
the amount of championships this guy is going to have lost due to bad luck is more then most people could ever hope to win...two dnfs in outdoors on kawi resulted in a lost championship, giving dungy the sx in 2017, on his way to coasting to the 23sx champioship when his achilles exploded, next year he's clearly the fastest guy and breaks his leg on a corner exit from a toe dab.
please universe take mercy on this man, and let him just ride.
He was the best avg starter in 2022 in both SX and MX. The difference between 2022 and his other years when you just look at his avg starts is actually mind boggling.
He was a good half lap back, once he got his marbles together he started banging laps out. It was actually quite impressive live.
I’m a Tomac guy, although I’m stoked for the KR win too. Hope Eli is OK and will check out to be just “banged up” when inspected this coming week. If he can get that hyper-hp motor hooking up with consistent starts, he can get up and away from all the chaos like this and click off some wins.
To me, it looks like Craig grabbed a handful of front brake and it dove. My guess is the start device and steering. I think it's high time we look at getting rid of the start device. What does it gain that is positive? I can list multiple negative things: 1. higher speed into first corner, because take off speed is faster. Anyone who's drag raced knows this. 2. Every one has one, so it doesn't benefit anyone on the line. 3. Danger of accidents like Kitchen and maybe Craig because steering loss when locked down 3. Makes more people start at similar rates, unlike if there is no device and some wheelie and some take off well. No separation. Etc etc.
Please list any positives towards safety, racing, or anything else. I'll stay open to reasons.
Very unfortunate it was WillC who did the post race interview. She took 45sec asking the question for a 15sec answer.
Pit Row
thatll hit you hard at any age lmfao
I thought he rung his bell.
It was his balls. I spoke with him earlier today.
He thinks it was the handlebars or CC’s boots.
Took one to the nads. Took a few laps for the stomach pain to go away. Glad he is alright.
Actually have no issue with this idea.
If he caused the red flag he can’t be in the restart
As Hunter said, 1st turns have 40 possible outcomes. As a former pro racer myself, twice the age of Tomac, I can concur.
1st turns are super high risk, getting a jump and being in a great position around the corner clear of debris (other riders), exiting in the top 3 is THE place to be.
Clearly the adreneline kicked in after a few laps and Eli started cranking. Wonder how he feels today.
I can’t tell if this is a joke or banter. Did you really speak with Tomac and find out he got blasted in the nuts and he’s all good?
Bumping this for some Eli update hopefully?
I’m just a no one with zero insider information but can confirm this is a rumor I heard as well. Took a big shot to the nuts and took a minute to go away. I have heard this from several sources. Again, I’m a nobody so take it for what it’s worth
This would explain why he took a while to get going. I couldn’t imagine getting blasted like that and then trying to triple into a corner while sitting in air.
https://youtube.com/shorts/JCOmDl4DPPM?si=HSaKoYMv5ImkpUUq
Cool, but I don’t think that’s during the main, hardly anyone in the stands.
Looks like his start device had released; check out the screenshot.
I think he got squeezed and caught Webb’s back wheel like someone else said. It’s a wonder that shit doesn’t happen every start.
Yes. It’s what happened.
Post a reply to: TOMAC