Ever since Eli Tomac’s bike quit at RedBud, it has not been the same rider on the track that we saw at the start of the season duelling Jett Lawrence for moto wins. And that was encapsulated by his Millville results with Tomac just beating a riding injured and retired Tony Cairoli to ninth place with Cairoli testing the stock Ducati and riding in Tomac’s wheel tracks the whole moto.
Lews Phillips caught up with the US legend who said it was a bike change gone wrong at Millville and, if these bad results continue, he would not be in for team USA because he would not deserve to be chosen!
Tomac said: “Before Millville we did a big test, of course just trying to improve our normal base setup, and it’s unfortunate, it’s like sometimes you take a big swing and it’s all good and it translates to the race, and for me it did not, which was unfortunate, and I kind of just had to just sail it in there, especially Moto2. We even made some more changes, and it didn’t work out, and we’re at the point in the season where it’s time to take a swing, and not just be okay with base, and unfortunately I wasn’t able to ride it as well as what I thought I was doing early in the week.”
On team USA Tomac opined: “Last week I was asked before the race, so of course I said yes, but with my performance at the end of the day, I would say no. So I need to get back to my form, get back to my podium form, or earn the spot, and then of course I’ll go. If I keep going 5-9 or 6-9, whatever I was doing last week, I would not go, but if I get back to my podium form and I’m top two USA 450 guys, of course I’m gonna go. But I need to get my act together.”
Let’s hope for all the fans sake and team USA, that Eli can pick up his pace again over the next few weeks, he was key to team USA’s podium last year and if they want to win you feel Eli will be key again.
