Fans familiar with professional motocross rider Eli Tomac could have predicted that the Cortez native would show up on a podium this season.
After all, Tomac has been racing to top-three finishes his entire life and as luck would have it, he did so again last weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Competing in the ninth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season on March 1, Tomac was nothing short of spectacular, finishing second overall in a stacked field filled the sport’s biggest stars.
Navigating a difficult indoor course filled with deep ruts and unpredictable terrain, Tomac appeared in control from start to finish, finishing just behind race winner Ryan Dungey.
“It’s good to finally get a podium,” Tomac was quoted as saying after the race. “You just really had to stay on your toes on all 20 laps of this race because of all the ruts in the course.”
The second place finish certainly provided a boost for Tomac, who, after injuring himself during the season opening race in Anaheim on Jan. 4, has had difficulty regaining his form.
“My season has been pretty rough starting out with a big crash leaving me injured in my very first race,” Tomac was quoted as saying. “Since then I have just been building and building, trying to get more comfortable on my motorcycle.”
Signs of a comeback presented themselves on Feb. 8 in San Diego when Tomac finished seventh overall, yet over the next two weeks, consistency proved tough to come by.
Thus, Tomac’s podium finish in Indianapolis felt especially sweet for the 21-year-old rider, who expects things to only improve from here.
“I realized that I haven’t been riding like Eli Tomac would. I’m coming out of my shell a little bit,” said Tomac.
Next up for Tomac will be the tenth race of the 17 race Supercross season, which will take place in Daytona Beach, Fla. on March 8.
In light of Tomac’s recent success, local fans would be well advised to tune in to Fox Sports 1 and watch one of Cortez’s finest professional athletes in action.
