ELI TOMAC INTERVIEW: “I DID NOT WANT TO GO WINLESS, THAT’S FOR SURE.”

Eli Tomac 2021 Washougal National-86

ELI TOMAC INTERVIEW: “I DID NOT WANT TO GO WINLESS, THAT’S FOR SURE.”

Although he had not taken an overall win this summer, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac did the deed at Round 10 of the Pro Motocross season at Ironman Raceway. With his win, he inched closer to catching Ken Roczen, who is second in points. Both 450 motos saw several dramatic lead changes between the top three of Star Racing Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrendis, Honda’s Ken Roczen, and Tomac, but it was Tomac who shone in moto two, and easily won. After the day, we asked Eli about the humidity, his rivals, and his upcoming team move. 

By Jim Kimball 

2021 FOX RACEWAY NATIONAL #2 | FULL COVERAGE


ELI, WELL DONE. WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THAT THE TOUGH GET GOING. It was a great day for us, and we got the overall. What was key for us today was moto one. It put us in position to have a chance at the overall. I have had a lot of great runs in moto two this year. I have been leaving it on the table from moto one and today we had good starts in both motos. We had really good lines the whole day. It was a track that was fitting for me. It was our first hot race of the day too. I was so excited that I was physically good that way today. It was a good day on the motorcycle.

THE FANS LOVED THE BATTLING YOU DID TODAY. The fans have been good at every race this year and it is obviously because of the effect of the year before and everyone being locked down. I think everyone realizes what you can miss when things go away, so everyone has had great enthusiasm this year. That is the way it has been on the podium with the fans and on the track. It has been fun.

MAYBE A DUMB QUESTION, BUT HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO GET THIS OVERALL WIN? It was big. I did not want to go winless, that’s for sure. It was big for us to get it and better late than never.

eli tomac 2021 Washougal National Qualifying-6The Fox Raceway National #2 and Hangtown National will be Eli’s final races on the Kawasaki KX450 before he moves over to the Star Racing Yamaha team for 2022. 

YOU ARE REALLY NOT THAT FAR OFF KEN ROCZEN FOR SECOND IN POINTS. I AM ASSUMING IT’S IMPORTANT TO TRY TO FINISH SECOND IN POINTS AS OPPOSED TO THIRD. I will take what I can get, but for me between third and second is not that much. You want to be on the next spot up, no one remembers second. But it would be great to get it, but not the end of the world if not. The good thing is we do have a chance for it.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU, DYLAN, AND KEN ARE RIVALS, BUT YOU SEEM TO APPRECIATE EACH OTHER. We do, I think more of that is just the 450-class mentality. All three of us are a little bit older and I think certain things kind of change as you get older, your mentality and mood. I think we are all true people and that is probably why we race the way we do.

Eli Tomac 2022 Alpinestars Intro-14Eli Tomac is 71-points behind Dylan Ferrandis in the 450 Championship, but he’s only 21-points behind Ken Roczen for second with two races left. 

DO YOU HAVE THE MOVE TO THE NEW TEAM AT ALL IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND WHEN RACING DYLAN? No, not right now. I am giving everything I have for now, and that is it. I am not a guy to just roll around for no reason out there. I want to win the race at the end of the day, and that is it period.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ON PALA AND HANGTOWN? Yes, I am glad we get another chance at Pala. I did not have a good performance there earlier, so I am excited for another shot at that, and Hangtown. I feel like I am pretty good at West Coast tracks, it is going to be a good final two.

2021 FOX RACEWAY NATIONAL #2 | FULL COVERAGE

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