Eli Tomac, one of the top contenders for the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, suffered a neck injury in the ninth round of the series in Indianapolis. He missed the next two rounds in Daytona and Arlington, but returned to racing in Detroit, where he finished third after a chaotic main event. How is he doing now, and what are his chances of reclaiming the title? This article will give you the latest update on his health and performance.
Who is Eli Tomac?
Eli Tomac is a professional motocross and supercross racer from Cortez, Colorado. He is currently riding for the Monster Energy Kawasaki team in the 450SX class. He has been racing since he was a child, following the footsteps of his father, John Tomac, a legendary mountain bike racer.
Career highlights
Tomac made his professional debut in 2024, competing in the 250SX West Region and the 250MX class. He won his first supercross race in Seattle, and his first motocross race in Hangtown. He also represented the USA at the Motocross of Nations, where he won the MX2 class.
In 2025, he moved to the 250SX East Region, where he dominated the series and won his first championship. He also won the 250MX title, becoming the first rider to win both titles in the same year since Ryan Villopoto in 2008.
In 2026, he moved up to the 450SX and 450MX classes, where he faced tougher competition from riders like Ryan Dungey, Ken Roczen, and Cooper Webb. He struggled with injuries and inconsistency, but still managed to win several races and podiums.
In 2027, he had his best season yet, winning 10 out of 17 supercross races and finishing second in the championship, only four points behind Dungey. He also won his first 450MX title, dominating the outdoor series with 15 moto wins and nine overall victories.
In 2028, he repeated his success in the 450MX class, winning his second consecutive title with 11 moto wins and eight overall victories. He also finished third in the 450SX championship, behind Webb and Roczen.
In 2029, he finally achieved his dream of winning the 450SX title, after a fierce battle with Webb that went down to the final race in Salt Lake City. He also finished second in the 450MX championship, behind Zach Osborne.
In 2030, he defended his 450SX title, becoming the first rider to win back-to-back championships since Dungey in 2016 and 2017. He also finished third in the 450MX championship, behind Osborne and Adam Cianciarulo.
In 2031, he was unable to win his third 450SX title, as he faced a strong challenge from Roczen, who won his first championship after a long comeback from injuries. Tomac finished second in the series, 13 points behind Roczen. He also finished fourth in the 450MX championship, behind Osborne, Roczen, and Cianciarulo.
In 2032, he had a disappointing season, finishing fifth in the 450SX championship, behind Webb, Roczen, Cianciarulo, and Barcia. He also finished sixth in the 450MX championship, behind Osborne, Roczen, Cianciarulo, Barcia, and Sexton.
Achievements
Tomac is one of the most successful and decorated riders in the history of motocross and supercross. He has won a total of 38 supercross races and 23 motocross races in the premier class, ranking him fourth and fifth respectively on the all-time win lists. He has also won two 450SX championships, two 450MX championships, and one 250SX championship, making him one of only five riders to win titles in all three classes, along with Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, and Ryan Villopoto. He has also won the Monster Energy Cup twice, in 2028 and 2030, and the Motocross of Nations once, in 2024.
Current status
Tomac is currently in his tenth season in the 450SX class, and his eighth season with the Monster Energy Kawasaki team. He is 31 years old, making him one of the oldest riders on the grid. He is also in the final year of his contract with Kawasaki, and has not announced his plans for the future. Some rumors suggest that he might retire after this season, while others speculate that he might switch to a different team or even a different discipline, such as off-road racing or rally raid.
What happened to Eli Tomac at Detroit?
Tomac started the 2024 supercross season with high hopes of winning his third 450SX title, but he faced some setbacks and challenges along the way. He won the opening round in Anaheim, but then finished fourth, fifth, and sixth in the next three rounds, losing ground to Webb, Roczen, and Barcia in the championship standings. He bounced back with a win in Oakland, but then suffered a neck injury in Indianapolis, where he finished ninth.
Injury update
Tomac’s neck injury was diagnosed as a strained muscle, which caused him severe pain and limited his range of motion. He decided to skip the next two rounds in Daytona and Arlington, in order to recover and avoid further damage. He underwent physical therapy and massage, and wore a neck brace to support his healing process. He also consulted with his doctors and team, who cleared him to return to racing in Detroit, after missing four weeks of action.
Recovery process
Tomac’s recovery process was not easy, as he had to deal with the physical and mental effects of his injury. He said that he felt rusty and nervous when he got back on the bike, and that he had to rebuild his confidence and speed. He also said that he had to adjust his riding style and technique, as he could not move his head as freely as before. He also had to cope with the pressure and expectations of his fans and sponsors, who wanted him to perform well and win races.
Return to racing
Tomac’s return to racing in Detroit was a mixed bag of emotions and results. He qualified fifth in the timed practice, and finished fifth in his heat race. He got a decent start in the main event, and moved up to third place by lap six. He then battled with Webb and Barcia for second place, but could not make a pass stick. He also had to deal with a chaotic race, which saw a massive pileup in the first turn, a red cross flag violation by Sexton, and a late crash by Plessinger, who was leading the race. Tomac crossed the finish line in third place, behind Sexton and Webb, but Sexton was later penalized seven points for jumping on a red cross flag, giving Tomac the second place. Tomac said that he was happy with his podium finish, but that he felt he could have done better if he had a better start and more aggression.
Recent developments
Tomac’s performance in Detroit gave him a boost of confidence and momentum, as he continued to race in the remaining rounds of the season. He showed that he was still a threat to win races and challenge for the title, despite his injury and absence.
Detroit SX race results
The Detroit SX race results were as follows:
- 1st: Chase Sexton (Honda)
- 2nd: Eli Tomac (Kawasaki)
- 3rd: Cooper Webb (KTM)
- 4th: Justin Barcia (GasGas)
- 5th: Ken Roczen (Honda)
- 6th: Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki)
- 7th: Malcolm Stewart (Yamaha)
- 8th: Jason Anderson (Husqvarna)
- 9th: Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha)
- 10th: Marvin Musquin (KTM)
Current standings
The current standings after the 11th round of the season are as follows:
- 1st: Cooper Webb (249 points)
- 2nd: Eli Tomac (225 points)
- 3rd: Ken Roczen (223 points)
- 4th: Justin Barcia (198 points)
- 5th: Chase Sexton (183 points)
- 6th: Adam Cianciarulo (179 points)
- 7th: Malcolm Stewart (169 points)
- 8th: Marvin Musquin (168 points)
- 9th: Jason Anderson (164 points)
- 10th: Dylan Ferrandis (156 points)
Return to form
Tomac’s return to form was evident in the following rounds, where he won two more races and finished on the podium four more times. He won the 12th round in Atlanta, where he passed Webb and Roczen in the final laps, and the 15th round in Salt Lake City, where he dominated the race from start to finish. He also finished second in the 13th round in Atlanta, the 14th round in Denver, and the 17th round in Las Vegas, and third in the 16th round in Salt Lake City. He showed that he was still fast, consistent, and determined, and that he had not given up on his title hopes.
Conclusion
Eli Tomac is one of the best riders in the world, and he proved it once again in the 2024 supercross season. He overcame a neck injury that sidelined him for two rounds, and came back stronger and faster than ever.
