What seemed inevitable in 2010 didn’t happen until 2013.
On May 22, 2010, on a scorching day in Northern California, the motocross world bore witness to something special when GEICO Honda’s newest rookie, Eli Tomac, took the overall win at the Hangtown Motocross Classic. While all race wins are special, especially at the pro level, this one was especially sweet, and for several reasons. First of all, it was Tomac’s first win as a pro. It was also the season opener, which is always one of the biggest races of the year. But most importantly, it was his first race as a pro.
Unlike so many of his fellow competitors at the time, Tomac opted sit the supercross season out and wait for the beginning of the motocross season to make his professional racing debut, which he did in spectacular fashion. With zero time logged in the pro ranks, Tomac turned heads in moto one with a third place, despite a crash. In the second moto he came out of the gate even harder, trading spots with teammate Trey Canard several times before taking the lead for good and fending off a persistent Canard like a seasoned veteran. For a rookie his composure was impeccable, and the only time his inexperience showed was when he had to turn to Canard on the podium and ask for assistance in opening his bottle of victory champagne. More wins, and possibly even a title that year, seemed inevitable.
That all changed one round later at the fiery Freestone National in Texas, infamously known for its relentless heat. Tomac suffered heat stroke that day, and for the remainder of the season was unable to regain the form he showed on opening day. After winning at Hangtown, Tomac failed to make the podium for the rest of the year. The following season, Tomac failed to win a single race. The glory from that initial victory wasn’t just fading, it was being forgotten.
Ironically, Tomac would finally win again in 2012 at the Freestone National, the same place that derailed his season in 2010. Tomac would string together a total of four overall wins that season, and when the final race of the season rolled around at Lake Elsinore, he still had an outside shot at the championship. A crash, as well as a fantastic performance from eventual champion Blake Baggett, ended Tomac’s title chase, but the season could still be considered a success; he’d won races and proved that he was a viable championship threat. Finally, the kid was back to where everyone thought he’d be in his rookie year after his spectacular debut three years earlier.
Fast forward to the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. After a great first half of the season in which Tomac and former MX2 World Champion Ken Roczen emerged as the clear leaders of the 250MX Class, Tomac stepped up his game to an astonishing level in the second half, leading 97 laps and winning ten of twelve motos and five of six overalls to wrap up the 250 National Championship a round early.
Clearly, Tomac’s got things figured out, which is a good thing because next year he’ll be on a 450 racing against the likes of Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, James Stewart, Justin Barcia, Josh Grant and many more incredibly fast veterans. After watching his amazing run on his final season aboard a 250, one can’t help but wonder how the he’ll do on a 450 next year at the Hangtown Motocross Classic, where he’ll be a rookie yet again.