WTH Tomac??

BS12
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AU
4/12/2026 7:17pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:
Eli Tomac: “What a day – the whole day was good, other than the Main Event result! I was comfortable with my setup all day, so...

Eli Tomac: “What a day – the whole day was good, other than the Main Event result! I was comfortable with my setup all day, so I’m just frustrated not only with the bad gate selection – I should have avoided the inside on the start – but also the crash. That bad start really put me in a tough spot from the get-go and I had my work cut out for me trying to make passes on such a slick, tight track. I lost a bunch of points today, but all I can do at this point is ride my best at the remaining rounds and let the chips fall where they may."

Who's going to remind Eli that he had first gate pick...

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MXMattii
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BE
4/12/2026 7:29pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:
Eli Tomac: “What a day – the whole day was good, other than the Main Event result! I was comfortable with my setup all day, so...

Eli Tomac: “What a day – the whole day was good, other than the Main Event result! I was comfortable with my setup all day, so I’m just frustrated not only with the bad gate selection – I should have avoided the inside on the start – but also the crash. That bad start really put me in a tough spot from the get-go and I had my work cut out for me trying to make passes on such a slick, tight track. I lost a bunch of points today, but all I can do at this point is ride my best at the remaining rounds and let the chips fall where they may."

BS12 wrote:

Who's going to remind Eli that he had first gate pick...

He knows, and telling the PR-people this is taking accountability. "I should have avoided the inside on the start" was probably said with a bit more colorful words like: "Screwed the start already up before the gate drop, dunno how the hell I could think the inside would be a good idea. WTF was I thinking!".

1
4/12/2026 7:35pm
aees wrote:
It's not unexplainable. If you ever ridden a scoop tire on a hard packed track, you know they're is pretty much zero stopping power on that...

It's not unexplainable. If you ever ridden a scoop tire on a hard packed track, you know they're is pretty much zero stopping power on that kind of blue grove surface so he has to do all stopping with front brake.

The ride height needs to be solved in other ways than using the scoop tire. Seems he has a hard time turning without it though.

RDnutz wrote:

any reason they can't address the taller ride height he likes by using a taller seat?

Having a larger rear tire brings the center of gravity up, as well as steepens the head angle. Adding a taller seat will do neither. 

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Zacka 161
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Mount Waverley, VIC AU
4/12/2026 7:45pm
aees wrote:
It's not unexplainable. If you ever ridden a scoop tire on a hard packed track, you know they're is pretty much zero stopping power on that...

It's not unexplainable. If you ever ridden a scoop tire on a hard packed track, you know they're is pretty much zero stopping power on that kind of blue grove surface so he has to do all stopping with front brake.

The ride height needs to be solved in other ways than using the scoop tire. Seems he has a hard time turning without it though.

RDnutz wrote:

any reason they can't address the taller ride height he likes by using a taller seat?

Having a larger rear tire brings the center of gravity up, as well as steepens the head angle. Adding a taller seat will do neither. 

Would they or could they make a works tyre with a taller sidewalk and NOT a scoop pattern??


Or you’d think you’d get very very similar from sliding the forks up. 


Both of which I’m sure the KTM Boffins have considered and we are all here just farting into the wind

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2

The Shop

4/12/2026 8:55pm
RDnutz wrote:

any reason they can't address the taller ride height he likes by using a taller seat?

Having a larger rear tire brings the center of gravity up, as well as steepens the head angle. Adding a taller seat will do neither. 

Zacka 161 wrote:
Would they or could they make a works tyre with a taller sidewalk and NOT a scoop pattern??Or you’d think you’d get very very similar from...

Would they or could they make a works tyre with a taller sidewalk and NOT a scoop pattern??


Or you’d think you’d get very very similar from sliding the forks up. 


Both of which I’m sure the KTM Boffins have considered and we are all here just farting into the wind

Im sure its possible, and so is a different link to bring the ass end up, or different triples to change head angle. Id imagine they've tried those options to get Eli comfortable. They were quick to adopt the cable clutch for him.

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kpiper
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4/12/2026 9:30pm

KTM would have had a really bad series so far without Tomac. So there is that. He got them 4 wins, including the biggest event at Daytona. Ian said in his interview that Eli is good with the bike setup. Told him he just needs to work on himself. 

The title is probably out of reach, so maybe he will feel the pressure is off and just go for it in the last four races, which would be fun to see.

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4/12/2026 10:26pm

I was with my son earlier in the year and he was rubbing his hands together like RV. "Tomacs got this"! 

I made the exact argument alot of you are making. With as many wins as he has and as many seasons he was capable . He has blown all but two somehow. 

I just kept saying "yep he looks great. But he will find a way to lose this". 

I am actually an Eli fan. I just wanted to annoy my son. But shit, here we are and things aren't looking good. 

Further to that. Listening to Pulp last week and someone said Kenny is doing all this with no pressure. Wait until there is pressure. Whelp he looked like someone else was riding his bike. Lucky Dylan crashed as he wasn't going to get third. He kept it light. But you could see on his face, that wasn't the same Kenny (headspace) from a couple weeks ago. 

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el j
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north augusta, SC US
4/13/2026 5:04am

Could have swore somebody punched me in the gut about halfway through the main.😵‍💫 That was likely the championship carried away in the dust for ET3.

Couple things…

I think Tomac got more attention this year than he really likes… returning veteran champ past 30, new team, new bike, winning four races out the gate, lappergate where Roczen, Lawrence and others complained but Tomac took the brunt of the criticism from the road blocks fans, toothgate, he did get sick- you could hear it in the interviews a few weeks back - hence more press examination. Lot more microphones in his face this year and tons more attention and speculation. Don’t think thats his comfort zone.

Then anyone is likely to have an off race or two for the whole season.

If I were him and I paid attention to media, which I don’t know how much he does, I would think these arses can kiss MY arse. I’ve got a share of the lead or knocking on the door most of the season. Won four races, been on podiums. What the hell is everyones problem!

Its almost as if Tomac has a bad race if he doesn’t win EVERY race, but others just getting a podium or top ten seems amazing, lets throw a party for them, give a trophy, they worked so hard, and wear a cowboy hat, or are they are the little brother of a past champ, or they decided to be a second banana on a team with a real champ, etc. Yea its so sweet🫠

I think he has at least two kick ass rides bedore the SX season is over.

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45ACP
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Friendswood, TX US
4/13/2026 9:16am

Big Tomac fan here. Really rooting for him to pull off another championship. But as someone mentioned above, he sure has a ton of wins for only having 2 titles. Seems like he always finds a way to screw it up. 

4/13/2026 11:27am Edited Date/Time 4/13/2026 11:33am
Windhamfan wrote:

It’s almost like someone is getting paid off to lose it’s so bad. How do you have these results after the first 9 rounds? 

RDnutz wrote:

1 or 2 equipment choices that didn't pan out and some bad luck.

gt80rider wrote:
Well... the two choices, if et3 is indeed healthy and happy w the bike are 1. Headtrip, which has plenty of precedent from previous yrs...  or...

Well... the two choices, if et3 is indeed healthy and happy w the bike are 1. Headtrip, which has plenty of precedent from previous yrs...  or 2. Riding to a script.... which is unlikely... but... knowing what we know now days, if the powers that be "have something" on him... is entirely possible... it's how the rest of the world actually works... 

Sooo are you saying Eli might be in the Epstein files? (Dun dun dun!)

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CDA331
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4/13/2026 12:29pm
Jaybird67k wrote:

As soon as I seen him lined up on the inside I was like WHY?

That was a terrible choice.

Saw*

2
4/13/2026 1:52pm

These tomac and Lawrence and roczen types NEED to get their wins in now before HE gets here 

7
KurtJ99
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4/13/2026 1:56pm
themx11 wrote:

Tomac, Roczen, and Sexton being complete head cases are the entire reason Cooper Webb has 3 sx titles. 

Totally agree, those wins were an asterisk had no competition. /ragebait

TeamGreen
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4/13/2026 2:40pm
 Take it easy guys. He’s keeping it real

 Take it easy guys. He’s keeping it real

image 2876

C'mon, people.

That shit is FUNNY!

What's wrong with this place? 🤣

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3
soggy
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4/13/2026 2:48pm
ohh_454 wrote:
Who the hell let Eli out on the track with this thing???

Who the hell let Eli out on the track with this thing???


IMG 4840 2.jpeg?VersionId=xvsSyYFu8wwL

RDnutz wrote:

that's a classic desert sand paddle tire. Doesn't match what I have seen described as "scoop" tire for Moto.

lol context clues my dude

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1
soggy
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UT US
4/13/2026 2:49pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:
Eli Tomac: “What a day – the whole day was good, other than the Main Event result! I was comfortable with my setup all day, so...

Eli Tomac: “What a day – the whole day was good, other than the Main Event result! I was comfortable with my setup all day, so I’m just frustrated not only with the bad gate selection – I should have avoided the inside on the start – but also the crash. That bad start really put me in a tough spot from the get-go and I had my work cut out for me trying to make passes on such a slick, tight track. I lost a bunch of points today, but all I can do at this point is ride my best at the remaining rounds and let the chips fall where they may."

BS12 wrote:

Who's going to remind Eli that he had first gate pick...

MXMattii wrote:
He knows, and telling the PR-people this is taking accountability. "I should have avoided the inside on the start" was probably said with a bit more...

He knows, and telling the PR-people this is taking accountability. "I should have avoided the inside on the start" was probably said with a bit more colorful words like: "Screwed the start already up before the gate drop, dunno how the hell I could think the inside would be a good idea. WTF was I thinking!".

You actually think Tomac said any of this??


Teams are making up 99% of these quotes. 

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jmo443
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4/13/2026 3:06pm

Crazy when he started clicking off wins earlier this year people thought “can he beat McGrath numbers?”  Now people are on the “ he should have retired two years ago” 😂

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1
4/13/2026 4:34pm
jmo443 wrote:
Crazy when he started clicking off wins earlier this year people thought “can he beat McGrath numbers?”  Now people are on the “ he should have...

Crazy when he started clicking off wins earlier this year people thought “can he beat McGrath numbers?”  Now people are on the “ he should have retired two years ago” 😂

Exactly

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RDnutz
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4/13/2026 6:20pm
soggy wrote:

lol context clues my dude

sorry, my tired 68 yr old brain isn't wired to detect that. Mostly deciphers things in a literal context 

Tyler D
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2013
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La, CA US
4/14/2026 12:06pm Edited Date/Time 4/14/2026 3:30pm
aees wrote:
It's not unexplainable. If you ever ridden a scoop tire on a hard packed track, you know they're is pretty much zero stopping power on that...

It's not unexplainable. If you ever ridden a scoop tire on a hard packed track, you know they're is pretty much zero stopping power on that kind of blue grove surface so he has to do all stopping with front brake.

The ride height needs to be solved in other ways than using the scoop tire. Seems he has a hard time turning without it though.

RDnutz wrote:

any reason they can't address the taller ride height he likes by using a taller seat?

Having a larger rear tire brings the center of gravity up, as well as steepens the head angle. Adding a taller seat will do neither. 

just raise the forks up in the clamps 5mm. they should have a geometry setting ready to go for when he needs to swap between tires.running a scoop on that track is a head scratcher and deserves to be called a blankie at that point. 

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ProKawi24
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Herald, CA US
4/14/2026 12:24pm
kpiper wrote:

Tomac feels worse about the last three races than any of us. 

I can't be the only one who sat here after qualifying & the heat race thinking "ohhh damn Beast Mode is back" then sit here stunned during the main like he grabbed the wrong bike. 

At least in my mind I can assume there's nothing physically wrong with him. Just another time of Eli being Eli with the bike. 

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matze
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Stuttgart DE
4/14/2026 12:56pm
jmo443 wrote:
Crazy when he started clicking off wins earlier this year people thought “can he beat McGrath numbers?”  Now people are on the “ he should have...

Crazy when he started clicking off wins earlier this year people thought “can he beat McGrath numbers?”  Now people are on the “ he should have retired two years ago” 😂

yes its crazy how black and white this forum is

3

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