Troy Dog
Welcome to the Vurbmoto Roundtable! It’s a feature we had in the early days and now it’s such a legend that it makes a return. Our panel of experts, Bird and T-Dog, give their best opinion on hot topics in the sport. We also let Slaw give his opinion, but no one cares what he has to say. Let’s get to it!
When do you think WE will see Eli Tomac return to racing and what will his race results look like when he does?
Bird Dog: I’m thinking we see him come back with just enough time to get his speed back so he’s ready for SMX. He doesn’t need the points so there’s really no rush in that respect. He will likely want a few rounds to build his fitness and find the race pace, which should take three or four rounds. With this type of investigative journalism, I think he’ll target Washougal or Unadilla as his initial comeback.
How will he stack up? He’ll be off the pace of Sexton and Jett for sure. And AP and Hunter seem to be rolling as well. I’d say he sits around 5th or 6th for the first two rounds then becomes a podium threat heading into the latter rounds.
Troy Dog: Tomac’s injury happened on May 4 in Denver and we were given that press release on May 9th that gave us a timeline of 6-8 weeks until his return. I think we will see Tomac at RedBud for a return because well, who wants to miss RedBud? Not me. He very well could return the following weekend in Spring Creek, which starts the ‘second half of the nationals’, which is what one of the PR’s said. He really has no reason to rush.
When he comes back he will be a podium threat. It’s Eli freaking Tomac after all. I can see him taking a few rounds to find the pace, but once he does, he will make the series very interesting towards the end. Tomac WILL get an overall win or two.
Slaw Dog: Just a guess, but we see him at Southwick or RedBud. THIS IS NOT INSIDER INFO. Once he returns, he’ll be a bit off the pace, but give him a few rounds and he’ll be back on the podium. Spotting the Lawrence Bros and Sexton a bunch of rounds is not a good strategy and Tomac will feel that once he’s back, but at the end of the day, he’s ELI FREAKING TOMAC and will be just fine.
Which rider has completely surprised you through the first two rounds…good or bad?
Bird Dog: Chance Hymas! As a super journalist I got some inside info on Mr. Hymas. He’s battled fatigue and arm pump throughout the last few seasons but has since made some adjustments and is feeling the best he’s ever felt. I was waiting for him to drop anchor after the 25 minute mark at Hangtown but he didn’t! His moto scores are 3-4-2-4 through two rounds and he ran a solid third at Thunder Valley in the second moto last year. If he can continue to build confidence (because he obviously has the speed) I think he’ll be in the title hunt conversation at the end of the summer.
Troy Dog: Um, Mark Fineis, hi. This dude came out of nowhere in a stacked 250 field and is putting the business on some very established talent. He’s gone 14-11-DNF-13 through the first four motos on his Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha. I’m not saying that these are groundbreaking results, but as a very underhyped rookie he’s been charging up through the field and not fading late in the motos. We’re on;y going to see him get better once the series heads East.
Slaw Dog: Chance Hymas. He’s a dude now, and while I always thought he could be a dude, I didn’t think it was this year. I’m pretty sure he has no ACL or something, too. Moto dudes are just build different.
Will Jett Lawrence be able to bounce back quickly at Thunder Valley and return to form, or will this take the wind out of his sails for a few rounds?
Bird Dog: I’m assuming “bounce back” can only mean one thing, WIN. I don’t see that happening this weekend. We still aren’t sure the extent of his leg injury and Sexton is coming off literally the best ride of his life. I think he could podium blind folded, but this is Sexton’s round to lose. Not to mention, Sexton looks way more comfortable on the KTM outdoors. If he can roll off a few wins while Jett heals this could shape up to an amazing finish to an outdoor season that most thought would be a runaway.
Troy Dog: Jettson will return to form at Thunder Valley, despite missing a chunk from his leg. That is not the issue. The fun part will be watching him climb the standings. He’s down 24 points to Chase Sexton and is sitting in sixth. If he can ride like 24-0 Jett, then this won’t take long to make up, but if his chunk is limiting him then it may take until High Point to get back in the top step. I personally think that he will be back to form this weekend.
Slaw Dog: He’ll be fine. Now, will he be the 24-0 Jett this weekend? That I don’t know. Will he be super fast and challenge for the overall? Yes, yes he will. He is that talented. He basically walked to sixth in the second moto last weekend. With a few days to recover he will be more than good for this weekend. Slaw MD, reporting for duty.
Main Image: Octopi Media
