Posts
620
Joined
1/23/2025
Location
Burnet, TX
US
Fantasy
Was watching some old 2015 nationals and ET3 was insane. Putting 60s+ on 2nd place. He was on another planet. Got me thinking: does 2015 ET3 topple Jett?
Discuss.
ET3 this summer was going to be a monster on that Ktm.. Damn his bad luck.
Hes been saying since he first rode it he can’t wait to get it outdoors, and when you see his Daytona form and early sx form…
Nobody other than maybe prime RC would have anything for Eli that year.
I know racing and qualifying are completely different but Tomac was 6 seconds off the pace at Fox. I think he can compete in SX but I just don't see it happening in MX anymore outside of a race here and there. The Hunta brothers are just on another level than anyone other than the rare occasion Sexton is on his game.
Back on topic though. 2015 (and 2022) Tomac would give any rider in the sports history all they could handle.
Maybe he needed to get his legs back under him, but by the time high point or red bud came around he’d be a beast.
But I don’t see him giving up 6 seconds a lap to anyone come race time. He was going to shred his way through the pack judging by how he looked.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
seriously. he made the entire field look like c-class. Dude was on another planet that year - still remember watching him yard sale it and blow his shoulders up with my old man (RIP). We both just sat up straight and said "Holy crap!"....and that was the end of one helluva an epic summer.
It would have been interesting to see: Jett is like a gazelle hopping around the track and ET3 was like a bulldozer just hammering everything into submission.
Marchbanks will never be forgiven for what he stole from us.
the next generations are almost always faster and better than the previous. I think it would be competitive but Jett would come out on top.
Was marchbanks on the outside? I do think blame pie he gets 65/35 of the blame pie as you have to expect the guy on the inside to stay in it and at least not head straight there wide open.
The guy on the inside can’t see backwards and is only taking the line as it is.
I’m thinking Eli should be back for Redbud! His practice mechanic posted this on his Instagram story
Jetts superiority is that he doesn't push it to the edge, and ultimately past the edge, like Eli did. That's why he's got the rookie year perfect season and Eli has a few amazing races.
Bubba from ‘08 has entered the chat
For the 4T era, I think 04 RC, 08 Stew, 13 RV, 15 Tomac, 16 Kenny, 18 Herlings, and Jett would be the best race.
In 2015 ET3 was insane.… And in the back of his head, he knew if he went down or had a tip over, he would have to kickstart that mofo! I don’t think Jett has had to deal with that in the back of his mind his whole career as a pro. Something interesting to think about.
I'm not convinced that Eli was going to be a front-runner, this year. Obviously it's a huge bummer that he is out. I think he'd maybe be in the mix on certain days but I think people are hyping up his level this year, a little bit too much. '22 Eli, to me, was the last year that he was probably peak. So in saying that, we unfortunately didn't get to see Jett and Eli really compete when both are at the top of their game. I think there are different windows where peak Eli is as fast as anyone in history. Same with RC. Tough to say how they would all stack up. I would image that whoever was most on their game would win that day. I think those elite guys would all be so close that it would just come down to who was feeling it on that particular day. Could probably throw JS and RV in there with Jett too.
Rookie year Jett went undefeated. Rookie year Tomac did not. That pretty much sums it up.
That clip of ET3 jumping into the rut uphill at GH on the Honda in 2015 makes me want to smoke a cigarette every time I watch it. Pure poetry.
2015 Eli would spank 99.9% of all riders in history. Jett may have a chance, because I feel like he could go faster than he is doing now if he got pushed. And obviously, RC would win or die trying. Stewart could maybe hang in there, but even for him, it would be very hard.
I was lucky enough to see Eli at Glen Helen in 2015 and let me tell you, it was mind boggling.
Old people usually think their generation was fast.
Jett (and many more riders today) are much faster than many top riders 15years ago.
Pit Row
You read my mind, the perfect storm for a one off all time race would be RV, RC, Stew, Eli, Jett. I think it comes down to RC or Stew because those two were literally willing to die to win. I don’t see that out of the other 3. When Stew was on in the Kawi days it was and still is arguably one of the best riders I’ve ever seen. But back to the original question, I think I’d go Eli in 15 for one race, Jett for a series.
So you’re saying that KR is faster now than he was in 2014? He’s won championships across 12 years, I don’t think 32 year old KR is substantially faster than 20 year old KR was.
The equipment might be better in the last 15 years, some techniques are definitely better, but fast is fast
Exactly. Especially in action sports of all kinds. The upcoming generation sees all the moves the current gen is doing and they expand on the techniques and push them further.
I have always said that 2015 Eli was the fastest I have ever seen anyone be on a motocross bike... But that blazing speed only lasted 5 motos.
Hangtown moto 2 was remarkable, lapping 5 to 7 seconds faster than anyone else and 15 seconds a lap over anyone not in the top 3-5, and winning by over 90 seconds.
Pre-Lakewood injury ET3 had legendary speed. No idea who is the best, but that version of ET3 was in the conversation of absolute best. You can only compare someone to how they were against the same generation, and that Eli was something.
The competition matters.
2015 Tomac against Dungey, Roczen, prime Barcia, Baggett, Pourcel
2023 Jett against Dylan Ferrandis, Plessinger, Chase
Yes. 2015 Eli was the fastest anyone has ever been. Jett is amazing but he's also in a lull period for greats.
Ok Gravel, I agree on that, you were more specific than me...
Yes, fast is fast... in it's generation but as equipment becomes more tailored to modern techniques and techniques develop (usually) in faster direction, the thruth is, guys (and gals) with the old technique would not be able to hang with guys with the new technique and bikes tailored to that.
I don't think RC would have a chance to hang with Deegan, Deegans technique is more refined and his bike is setup to match that... not even mentioning Jett and Hunter.
...but for us who was a bit younger 20years ago of course remember RC as 'probably the fastest ever'.
Yup, I forgot about RV, RV in 2013 was an absolute animal
I was lucky enough to be at Glen Helen in 2015 also but even more spectacular was during the week on Thursdays my son and I would stay late to ride the rough track and he would be there testing suspension with the showa guys the things he would do coming down Mount St Helens was non-human maybe touch the ground twice three times all the way down!
I would argue that Ken is just as fast or faster in a long term perspective. While his peak speed doesn't seem to me to be as fast, I think he is far more consistent and a better championship contender.
Ken has completed 6 full SX seasons in the premier class. He likely would have secured another title if he had less injuries
Ken in 2016 is a lot better than he is now
Post a reply to: ET3 v JL