Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1546388
Tomac Confirms Retirement After SMX Playoffs I t's officially the end of an era, as Eli Tomac announced he'll retire from professional com- petition at the conclu- sion of the 2026 SMX World Championship Playoffs. Tomac won four 450 Supercross main events this year and recently posted his best result in the Pro Motocross Champion - ship, a fifth-place finish at the season finale at Ironman Raceway. "I will be stepping away from Supercross and motocross racing at the end of September, following the final three SMX rounds," Tomac said. "This has been the hardest decision I've ever made in my profes - sional career, but I know in my heart that the time is now and that the time is right. I've won races and championships beyond my imagination. Racing has been the only thing I've woken up to and known the last 25 years, but I wouldn't trade it for anything." Tomac's career will be remembered as one of the best ever, span - ning 17 professional seasons between 2010 and 2026. The Colorado native is ranked second all-time on the 450SX wins list with 57 main event victories and fourth all-time in AMA Pro Motocross 450MX wins with a total of 32. He's also a two-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion (2020, 2022) and four-time 450MX Champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022) and rep - resented Team USA at the FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) on six occasions. He led the United States to victory at RedBud in 2022. In addition, Tomac extended his Daytona Supercross record with an eighth-career victory in 2026, was notably crowned the 2024 FIM World Supercross Champion in the SX1 class, and was also rec - ognized in 2022 as an ESPY Award recipient in the prestigious Best Athlete, Men's Action Sports category. "Eli exploded onto the scene well over a decade and a half ago, and if he wasn't on your team, you sure wished he was, because you'd ultimately be fighting against him to try and win," said Ian Harrison, Red Bull WIND IN THE P28 KTM Factory Racing team manager. "Over the years, Eli has become the second-winningest rider in Supercross history and has won multiple national and Supercross cham- pionships. We've had the privilege of working with him this year, and it was no different—he was fighting for the title and for wins each and every week. Eli is an amazing rider, and for the team and myself to see how he operates and to get a better understanding of his sportsmanship and work ethic was a gift after all those years that we competed against him. But, like all good things, they do eventually come to an end, and with that Eli has decided to retire at the end of this season. Our team is grateful for the opportunity we've had and know that whatever he does in the future, it will be successful. Eli is a hard worker, disciplined and dedicated, and we truly wish him and his family all the best." CN Eli Tomac announced he'll retire at the conclusion of the SMX Playoffs.