by Davey Coombs
250 Words: All About Eli
Wednesday, January 23, 2013 | 10:40 AM
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PrintThree weeks ago, fans all over the world were anticipating an epic battle for the 250SX West Region, with Ken Roczen, Blake Baggett, Zach Osborne, Martin Davalos, Tyla Rattray, Ryan Sipes, Jason Anderson, Kyle Cunningham, Cole Seely, Malcolm Stewart, Christian Craig, and more all gunning for the #1 plate on the front of Eli Tomac's GEICO Honda. Through the usual attrition—crashes, injuries, pile-ups, etc.—that field of true contenders has narrowed quickly at the series’ one-third mark. In fact, only the Red Bull KTM of Roczen and the Lucas Oil/TLD Honda of Seely appear to have the outright speed to beat the better-than-ever Tomac, who seems to have come into his own as a supercross rider. On the night the sun set on Kevin Windham's career, Tomac showed us again that he might be the next big star in this sport.
What Eli is doing right now is sticking to a career plan that his parents laid out for him as he was growing into a top prospect as an 85cc racer. They picked the team that was the best fit for him, moving from Suzuki to Factory Connection Honda in order to grow directly into the spot he's in right now. There have been bumps along the way, like overheating in Texas just one week after winning the Hangtown National (his first race as a pro) and his coming up short of the 2011 West Region Lites SX title in the stretch run. Now ET is humming on all cylinders, and he rides with a business-like attitude that already has folks recalling a rising Jeff Stanton.
Tomac has been unstoppable through three rounds of the Monster Energy Supercross West Region.
Simon Cudby photo
Of course Tomac is one mistake or one terrible start away from resetting the points field and giving Roczen and Seely a new lease on this season (Tomac also built a big early-season points lead last year until a crash at San Diego erased it all). But with every win he earns, the kid seems to grow more comfortable, both on and off the track, and he could build some serious momentum over the next few weeks. Then the talk will really start to build about him making a few races on the 450 and showing us a preview of what he’ll bring to the big kids' table next year.
I have a feeling that, like Justin Barcia, Eli Tomac will be formidable immediately on a 450.
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He should be on the 450 NOW!!!------- enough cherry picking in the minibike class!!
ET has a bright future!! His move to Geico Honda was spot on, as Davey said and with Windham's retirement, they can just move him up and keep his talent in house. This is great for Honda, they can keep Canard and Barcia under one awning and have Tomac still riding red, with out having to write another big check.Looking forward to watching him do battle on a 450, he will be a threat to the Sensational Seven upon his arrival...
From the out side looking in the entire Tomac family deserves credit for Eli's success!! Great Job and Good Luck in the future!!
Roger--I know what you mean about guys like Rattray and Sipes, but Eli is only 20 and has the right to defend his NO 1 plate.. It is only his 3rd full season, that isnt cherry-picking.. It is Roczens 3rd supercross season also.. what about that..
@bd200. I'm pretty sure Roczen's first year only involved a couple of supercorss races due to the fact that he went back to the GP's. I'm not bagging on Eli neither. He isn't cherry picking in his third year. If you consider Tomac a cherry picker then you have to consider Baggett, Wilson, Barcia, Villipoto, etc etc etc as cherry pickers as they all spent 3 years in the 250 class as well.
turn on your heart light
I made it to the "B" class back when there were no plus (age) classes and "A" meant that you were going for your pro license. My highest finish in the B class was third place on two separate occasions before a knee injury forced me to quit at 25 years of age. I came back at 39 and raced 3 more years and had the best time of my life.
I know what it feels like to realize that you are not going to be the best: the guy who has his fitness level at peak, the bike handles great everywhere, and has talent oozing out of his pores.
I sympathize with Roczen and Seely at this point in the 2013 supercross series. If they do manage to beat Tomac, it will be because he is having a bad night, or fails to finish. They will know that they are in the right place, at the right time, and capitalized on someone else's misfortune rather than their own abilities.
At least this is how I remember second and third place feeling 27 years ago...
Eli is riding on a level far above his competitors. The way he rails berms and scrubs triples is amazing. His whole family is a class act. If someone is to break McGrath's 72 wins, it should be Eli Tomac.
I know Roger D. over at KTM needs to be talking to the head office about writting a check to get Eli in orange. Because Ryan D doesn't have it unless everybody else is hurt.
@Star Playa--keep trying racist, dont comment on white people, you dont know what makes us white guys tick You said that yourself, so if it isnt about your boy Stewart keep your racist as$ away no room for racist like yourself around here...Get lost
If Tomac is a sandbagger, which would be tough to say since he hasn't won an outdoor championship yet, he joins an illustrious list. To name a few:
Marty Smith, Broc Glover, Mark Barnett, Micky Dymond, Doug Henry, Steve Lamson, Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto
Gaston Rahier, Harry Everts, Eric Geboers, Alessio Chiodi, Marvin Musquin
I would sincerely like to know why Malcolm Stewart continues to be referenced as a title contender. As far as my 'research' online has indicated, he hasn't mustered anything more than maybe a 5th place finish, at best. So what's the deal here folks? Why?
Oh, i found it. Best finish, 5th.
@Jacenelson87: Is it just me, or do you get the feeling from Malcolm that he is just waiting for his big break? You know, the ride that he really believes will give him the edge he needs to be a "title contender"? Sorry, I have to stop typing and press the "enter" key because I am laughing to hard at "Oh, i found it. Best finish, 5th."
First off, to the guys calling Tomac a "cherry picker", you must not pay attention to closely as to whats going on in the moto world cause if you did you would surely know that he doesnt want to ride the 250 anymore and wanted to race a 450 all season but Geico is paying him to win another 250 title so that is where they put him. Secondly, I agree that Malcolm Stewart gets waaaaayyy too much publicity and we all know why. Obviously he would lap any of us probably 10 times in a 20 lap Supercross but overall he hasnt done anything to be put in title contender talks before the season started. Maybe he will be better on a 450 cause he is a big kid.
Hey star playa, There are only 2 guys to win 450 Championships in the last 2 years. They both have 3 championships each. Villo and in case you didnt know the other is Dungey. Dumbass !
I meant the last 3 years
Well foundwood, I'm glad that you enjoyed my comment. And Ronniebarnhardt, I'm glad you touched on that point. We do all know why he gets the press but I thought we were all pretty much on the same page in our sport that someone has to earn respect and recognition. Apparently that's not the case. Honestly, I'm not trying to take shots at Malcolm. I don't have anything against him as a rider. It's more to express my disappointment with journalism when it comes to motocross. It's too often that I read something that slathered with ridiculous adjectives like, 'The Greatest of All Time' or 'The Fastest Man on the Planet" I don't think that really anyone has the authority to bestow these titles on someone. You never know when some rider is going to come out of the amateur ranks and completely wipe the floor with riders past. Not knocking down on Ricky's accomplishments in any way. The dude was insane. I'd just like to see more impartial journalism. Can of worms, I know, but take it or leave it.
@pitbull--NO I wont linten up.. Star Playa through the race crap--He told all us white guys that we couldnt comment on post about Stewart because we were white and "didnt understand what made the black man tick" And that people of color have heart" and a whole host of other racist BS.. Star Playa brought this onto himself, HE is the racist, he said I couldnt comment because I am white..so he cant comment on white Dungey right?? HE IS THE RACIST... I could care less what freakin' color anyone is, but Star Playa (gay name by the way) does, he is a racist... And Preston and Dgizzy joined him on his rant.. dont believe me, look it up, it was during the 30 best supercrossers posting..on the James Stewart one of course, I think it was January 1st. 4th best of all time I think..
Whoa, stay focused gentlemen..........Eli Tomac, great dude, on his way to the bigs...........
I pull for Malcom to take it to the next level
When he got 5th at AI I figured he finally found it.....
Until I realzed the Nelson crash in the whoops got him that finish
JimM
Pala374
Eli needs to come down here to Texas to train. He has the speed no doubt just as he did last year but he still needs that fitness to compete outdoors and I'm not convinced that has gotten any better.
But, then again, I guess almost none of the pros could handle Texas and aren't coming back in the spring anyways.
@731chopper
It better to train at altitude then sea level proven fact! Also the way Colorado whether has been this year you can ride all year round! No point in going to Texas Cali or Florida. Colorado is working out perfect!
Short should take a note from Eli and come back his results have fallen off since moving to Texas with his wife!
My bet is Eli does not see 450 sx this yr. Geico won't want to risk their points leaders health and Big Red wont want anyone else mixing it up with their big guns who will be well into the points mix by then. If Eli were to beat one or both by even one spot two times that could seal a deal for someone else.
It will be interesting to see if they let him ride any 450 rounds on the East .Technically, Canard and Barcia are not his teammates, stable-mates is a term I remember from somewhere. It's a really long time between rounds, like 2 1/2 months. It's tough to weigh keeping someone sharp vs risking injury vs screwing up a Honda-mounted championship contender.
@pitbull--Really?? You believe that no white person can comment on a "person of color" ?? Really?? And no that was NOT all he was saying.. Like I said read his posting.. If you still agree after reading what they posted, you are as ignorant as he is..
And if I cant comment on a person of color, then he cant comment on a white rider correct?? Which was in my original post..
@Pitbull. your a stupid man. equality isnt a "communist philosophy", its not a philosophy at all. its a concept.Equality before the law is enshrined in your own constitution, of which Im sure you are proud. Why is it that when ever one of the Stewarts is mentioned this race crap comes up. The only race that should matter is the one when when the gate drops. It doesnt matter what colour your skin is; if you win your the best if you dont your a loser. by definition.so suck it up, you got black mototcross riders , get over it.
@jammer--thank you, it was a point I was trying to make before--until Star playa and preston and dgizzy all piled on and said I couldnt comment on a person of color because I was white.. but they seem to think it is alright to post and rip on white riders..they are the racist ones.. Not me, I dont give a crap what color anyone is, but they seem too..
I think therealmofo laid it down for you homies. Listen and learn.
No doubt Eli is the world beater right now and unless he takes a hard fall he will have his 2nd championship, and most likely do the same in the 450 class next year. But I can’t help thinking that if Seely was not badly injured and missed the entire outdoors and not back on the bike until 3 months ago that it might be a little more interesting in the 250 class. I am amazed at the determination on these young riders like Canard and Seely that after life threatening injuries they are in the top of their class in so little time back on the bike!
Good for you guys and keep it up!
It's interesting that therealmofo is accusing someone of being racist, and at the same time call his screen name "gay". A bit hypocritical, don't you think?
so true @thorkline! It's absurd!
Maybe everybody needs to watch this to get their pent up energy out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39hjrAhCHkU&feature=player_embedded
It's moto related cause Metal Militia is a main sponsor. Get hype.