Hear me out....
Lewis seems to still think vialle to mxgp is a real possibility.
Sexton to kawi.
Barcia moving on.
What if tomac gets to September and decides that's it and just retires? I've heard all the interviews with him talking about how he felt when he was injured, etc, but have to at least consider that with the way things are going this outdoor season he might have second thoughts about starting fresh with a new team. They might have agreed to terms but doubt the contract is signed yet.
Who would that leave under contract at KTM group? AP, mookie, RJ, and juju? That's it to race two classes for two manufacturers? Not sure about ryder D and Casey Cochrane contract situations but things could get rough in a hurry for KTM.
Even if Tomac does ride, it feels like he’s losing speed quickly. Idk if he’s hurt or what, but something seems off. Juju has been a major disappointment.
He’s not getting slower, everyone else is getting faster.
Honestly the fire he had coming into supercross doesn’t seem to be there right now. Maybe there’s a missing detail that I’m unaware of, but learning a new team in your mid 30s and hoping to contend for a title or podiums sure wouldn’t be fun to me.
I like when guys can race as long as they feel happy doing so, but I do feel differently about people like Dungey who go out on top vs a Chad Reed type of retirement
If it weren’t for Jett (freak of nature), and now the DNF, wouldn’t Eli be leading the championship? I agree he’s a bit off, but it’s not terrible. The way he looks on this bike, I think KTM may be a good switch.
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I am the Worlds biggest Tomac fan, but I believe Eli should finish this season, grab some cash at the SMX finals, then take his beautiful wife, and beautiful kids, and walk off into the sunset. His accomplishments speak ( loudly ) for themselves. I see very little upside in a move to another team, and I would like to think that he has been smart with his money, so hopefully that is not an issue. Hope he will consider this option.
For Eli fans this would be a viable option to preserve his legacy. For him, he could go out and compete for championships. For his family, generational wealth. Add a few million more dollars to the portfolio by riding dirtbikes. I know what option I would take.
If not for his freak Achilles injury, I think he would have retired already. Its got to be so hard for an athlete of his caliber to reconcile that loss.
For me…the switch to KTM and all that…the real head scratcher is simply “if” the team…the bike…are a good fit for Eli. That’s all there is to it.
When he’s on…he’s in it and he’s still shown the ability to win races. Especially in SX.
As for Jett this and Jett that…? Jett’s gonna Jett and that’s all there is to it. Eli’s got to just ride his race and see where that gets him.
Clutches: from where I’m sitting …the KTM clutch system seems pretty damn bullet-proof…and that’s a good thing for a rider that’s got a history of DESTROYING FACTORY CLUTCHES. 🤣
ET races to win. I don't think the prospect of trying to learn a new team and bike while also trying to keep up with Jett would appeal to him. Then there's the no cable clutch... then there's not being able to have his special KYB guy with him (or could he?)...... not even mentioning having never raced on a steel frame since 85cc. But he's a legend either way.
It hasn't been talked about enough, but apparently Tomac and Ricki Gilmour (KYB guru) are no longer working together as of this season.
I'd assume once he had his settings dialed with him, now Star has all those settings so it's not that huge of a deal. Going to a new bike though...starting all over. It would be hilarious to see ET show up at A1 on a KTM with full KYB forks and a YZ front wheel! 😁
I don't know if this is true anymore. If jett, hunter, sexton, and Eli all ride to their current potential, I'm not sure Eli is on the podium, and I don't think that's what he had in mind when he decided to keep racing.
Eli’s won 2 motos, Hunta and Chase haven’t yet so there’s that.
He is 32 years old and age catches up to everyone. I don't care who you are it will get everyone at the end.
So what do fans gain from him retiring??
You actually don’t want to watch him ride anymore?? I don’t get it. I want to watch him ride for another couple of years. Don’t care if he wins, the race is better with him in it.
Watching ET ride is as enjoyable as ever for me. My comment was directed toward what might be best for the ET Family. I don’t have a crystal ball, but past history clearly shows that most riders have a bit of a tough time transitioning from aluminum to steel frames. And vice versa, so I am wondering if the juice is worth the squeeze at this point in his career. When Eli rings me up to ask me what he should do, I will be sure to brief him on your take on the matter also. Until then, I am just another old school fool.
What might be best for the ET family is to quit now. Why expose himself to any more risk when he’s already a multimillionaire??
But it’s not our place to be advising riders on what we think is best for their careers.
Call me selfish, but as a fan of racing I want to see him out there, not riding off in to the sunset..
I guess we will have to agree to agree. No argument with any of your points.
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Jett is that guy right now. People are overreacting about Eli, but like you I'm optimistic about this move to KTM. The adjustment to a steel frame will not be easy, but after witnessing his chassis/suspension setup this summer in MX I think there is a lot left to be desired that the KTM could offer.
I agree and have been thinking about the same thing the past 2 days.
I still think Chase is CRAZY to leave KTM, and Eli seems to have lost motivation and who could blame him? Being at the near end of his career, why would you want to subject yourself to that level of training and the physical, mental and emotional trauma of trying to beat Jet. Seems like a real drag to me. Particularly when you have a large family waiting at home for you.
But hey, these guys don't tick like the rest us!
But that sure would seem to leave KTM in a bit of a hole.
I hoping he's just not motivated to go all out for a team that doesn't want him and he's all in for next year. Yeah, he's getting up there but he's won two motos and he is Tomac afterall. He's still got it.
Based on all the interviews I've seen, Eli wants (maybe needs) to challenge himself against this new generation. I don't think his motivation to win has changed at all. Behind the scenes, I think he is pissed. That program is not operating on the elite level that is required to win the 2025 MX title. In 2022, he and chase were essentially 1-2 every moto and that level of consistency is now the minimum required to win the championship going forward.
I'm sure he's tried the KTM and if he thought he couldn't be competitive on it, then he wouldn't sign to race it.
Would Eli be leading?
Wasn’t Hunter only 5 points or so behind Tomac before RedBud?
Without the Freak or Eli’s DNF, I think Hunter would have surpassed Eli in the points last weekend i.e. he was in front of Eli before the engine let go and finished 3rd to 7th in the second moto.
I totally agree; I think Eli has his hands full with Hunter and Chase, and occasionally AP, let alone Jett.
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