Eli Tomac crashed in San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium.
It was a bittersweet ending to the first half of the American Motorcyclist Association, Supercross Lites West season. Tomac, 19, had won three straight SX 250cc races for Geico Powersports Honda factory racing team.
Then, San Diego hit. In lap seven, Tomac crashed his Honda CRF250 into the (track) whoops and did not finish. The Cortez native led in the SX Lites West standings, until that conclusion of that race.
Dean Wilson (Kawasaki) won in San Diego and took the points lead.
After more than a two month break while the AMA SX series went eastward, Tomac patiently waited. But he had to do so with a physical therapist. A chipped right elbow in San Diego kept him off the dirt track.
“I was lucky enough to have that 10 week break to recover,” Tomac said. “I wasn't allowed to ride on my motorcycle for five and a half weeks. We did a lot of physical therapy, like, three days a week.”
When the west series resumed in Seattle on April 21, Tomac was back. He placed third, while Wilson was seventh.
“When I first got back on my bike, I actually didn't feel that rusty,” Tomac said. “Normally, when you take like a month off, you kind of lose it. But I was right there on my same practice times at home (in McElmo Canyon on his motocross track). I was definitely a little lucky on that part.”
The west season finale was Round 16 a week later at Salt Lake City, Utah's, Rice-Eccles Stadium. Salt Lake is a home away from home, so to speak.
“It's the closest round for me, so it's kind of like a home race,” Tomac said.
Tomac stayed near the front of the pack in Salt Lake. Things were going good. Then, some good fortune came from an unfortunate crash Wilson suffered. The race was there for the taking and Tomac took advantage. He led the final five laps over Jason Anderson (Suzuki) to get the win.
It was Tomac's fourth win of the year. But with Wilson finishing all the way at 19th, that gave Tomac the points lead and the SX Lites West championship, 184-154, over Wilson. It was a delightful surprise to say the least.
“When I went across the (finish) line in Salt Lake, I didn't even know I actually won,” said Tomac of winning the championship. “Dean Wilson had to have something happen. He crashed out. I didn't think it was mathematically possible to happen (to win). When it did happen, it was definitely a shock for sure.”
Winning an AMA points championship at just 19 years old is quite an accomplishment in Tomac's quest for elite status in the sport.
“It's pretty much the childhood dream you could say. To go out there and win a supercross championship,” Tomac said.
The following week on May 5, in Las Vegas was the SX Lites Shootout at Sam Boyd Stadium. The event featured SX Lites East champion, Justin Barcia, also of Honda. In the end, Barcia took the checkered flag ahead of second-place Tomac.
Now, Tomac will shift gears to the outdoor 250cc AMA Motocross series that started Saturday, May 19 at the Hangtown Classic in Rancho Cordova, Calif. It was two years ago at this race when Tomac made motocross history by winning his professional debut at 17. Eli was no longer just the son of USA Cycling Hall of Famer John Tomac. Eli Tomac became his own name, his own brand. He is ready for Hangtown today at 4 p.m. on Fuel TV.
“Things are going well. I think our bike is going to be really good this year,” Eli Tomac said. “It's going to be better than last year, so it's going to be exciting for everyone.”
Fans can follow Eli Tomac and his motocross results on www.amaproracing.com and www.fuel.tv.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at [email protected].
