SuperMotocross 450 countdown: No. 4, Eli Tomac and the last shot at SMX glory

Eli Tomac, 32, announced earlier this year Monster Energy has renewed its contract with Yamaha Star Racing until 2025. It was great news for his fans; the bad news was that it would be his last full season. Despite leaving the door open to racing in 2026 and beyond, Tomac has remained steadfast in his decision.

Given the physical demands, injuries and emotional commitment required to race at this level, no one can blame him for wanting to enter the next phase of his career. And Tomac has almost nothing left to prove.

MORE: Daytona is the home of Eli Tomac

Tomac is a six-time 450 champion. He won the Monster Energy Supercross title in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. He was the Pro Motocross champion in 2020 and 2022. He came close to matching those numbers in 2016 and 2021 when he finished in second place. external series

SX 2024 Rd 03 San Diego Aaron Plessinger congratulates Ken Roczen.JPG

After years of struggling in the Supercross 450 class, Aaron Plessinger brought a ray of sunshine to a cloudy San Diego afternoon.

Tomac’s combined 84 SuperMotocross wins, including 52 in Supercross and 32 in Motocross, puts him fourth on the all-time wins list. He is second in Supercross wins. The air doesn’t get much thinner and the Cortez, Colorado native knows a thing or two about rarefied air.

There is only one thing missing and that is the SuperMotocross World Championship.

Tomac is one of the fittest riders in the field and his ability to avoid injury throughout his career is a big factor in the aforementioned statistics. Ironically, it was a rare injury that prevented him from winning the 2023 Supercross title, which he would have all but secured with victory at the penultimate round in Denver. He was comfortable driving in the Feature that evening a hard landing ruptured his Achilles tendon and was eliminated from the finals in Salty Lake City the following week.

The injury also stopped him from competing in the inaugural SMX Championship.

SMX 2024 Rd 02 Texas Hunter Lawrence leads Eli Tomac at the turn of the tunnel.JPG

Hunter Lawrence took top five finishes in both the Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross World Championships after struggling in Supercross.

With Jett Lawrence and Cooper Webb, Tomac was one of the top three riders to suffer a thumb injury in 2024. It took longer than expected to get back on the bike and Tomac only returned for the final two Motocross rounds hoping to get back to full speed. Critics wondered if it would be enough time.

Tomac finished seventh at Budds Creek in Mechanicsville, Maryland, and topped the podium at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana. A question remains as to whether Tomac would have entered the playoffs stronger had he been able to return a little earlier, but the rider who finished fourth or better in three heats and won the championship, Lawrence did not return. until the first SMX race. Two of Tomac’s results were podiums, and his best finish came on an incredibly hot afternoon in Forth Worth, Texas.

SX 2024 Rd 05 Detroit Jason Anderson sits on earth moving equipment cut.JPG

Jason Anderson will turn 32 at the start of the 2025 Supercross season, which puts extra stress on his performance this year.

Without any reservations, Tomac believes he can leave on his own terms and at the pinnacle of the sport.

“I’m excited for 2025” Tomac said in a news release during the offseason. “The most important thing for me was to do my best to get healthy, and right now I’m much stronger than last year. In 2024, I felt like I had a fast preparation time, so I’ve done a lot of racing up to this point, and it should keep me sharp.”

Tomac proved his point by winning the World Supercross Championship.

“To be clear, coming to Anaheim will be very important,” Tomac continued. “As usual, it will be a very full gate with many guys who can win. I think I’m in better shape than last year. I’ve had good results with off-season racing and will continue to do so in the new year.’

Almost every fan in the stands, as well as many of his competitors, would be delighted to see Tomac end his career with a SuperMotocross World Championship in 2025.

2024 Statistics
Feature start: 21
Average feature finish: 4.90
Earnings: 1
Podiums: 9
Top five: 12
Top 10: 21
Best Finish: Win (St. Louis SX)
SMX ranking/payout: Third/$250,000

2024 news
Team USA finished second in MXoN
Eli Tomac reacts to the 2024 Motocross of Nations
Tomac will replace Chase Sexton on the 2024 MXoN roster
Tomac has renewed with Star Racing for a final year in 2025
Tomac returns to training, eyeing the Budds Creek return
Thumb surgery sidelines Tomac for SX finale, Pro MX start
Tomac’s St. Louis sweeps for the Triple Crown for his first SX win of 2024
At Daytona, winning is the only thing for Tomac
Daytona is Tomac’s home
Jett Lawrence on Tomac race: ‘It’s not the same beast it used to be’