When the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season began on Jan. 7, Eli Tomac seemed content with his decision to call it a career following the series finale in May.
However, on Saturday morning, Star Racing Yamaha announced that the two-time Supercross champion signed a contract extension for remaining 2023 season with the team. Tomac will race AMA Pro Motocross this summer as well as the SuperMotocross playoff rounds this fall.
“At the beginning of the season, I truly thought this was going to be a farewell tour, but I’ve been having too much fun racing my motorcycle,” Tomac said. “I have been enjoying every minute along the way with the team.”
In the opening six Supercross rounds, the 30-year-old has collected four wins and maintained a tight grip on the points lead since day one. He enters this Saturday’s race at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as the leader, seven points ahead of Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb and Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton.
“It’s been a great start to 2023, and [Eli Tomac] has been riding phenomenally,” said Jeremy Coker, Star Racing Yamaha’s team manager. “We look to keep that momentum going for the rest of the year and defend the 450 titles in both Supercross and motocross.”
Last year, Tomac clinched the Supercross and motocross championships — an accomplishment that very few riders in the sport can boast about. And just three weeks ago when Supercross visited NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, for round five, Tomac made it clear that he was satisfied with most things he’d accomplished in his 450 career.
But it appears Tomac doesn’t feel as if the book should be closed quite yet. He tied Ricky Carmichael for third on the all-time wins list by securing his 48th main event victory last week at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., and has the opportunity to slide into sole possession of the spot on Saturday night in Arlington.
With four motocross titles and 32 career wins in the outdoor series, there’s no doubt that Tomac will continue to be a threat throughout the year as he defends his reign.
The one title remaining for the Star Racing Yamaha rider to add to his resume would be a SuperMotocross World Championship.