It was huge news for motocross fans when Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha rider returned to racing at the recent Budd’s Creek National. While Eli would finish seventh overall there, he finished a strong third overall at Ironman. Tomac was eager to simply return to racing, but also prepare for the upcoming SMX series, and determine if he was a good choice to represent Team USA in the upcoming Motocross of Nations. (later Eli would bow out of the MXON, citing Aaron Plessinger as a better choice to join Chase Sexton and the tbd 250 rider). It was at Ironman where we had a long, relaxing conversation about a wide range of topics.

BY JIM KIMBALL

ELI LET’S FIRST BEGIN WITH IRONMAN; YOU GOT ON THE PODIUM, ARE YOU HAPPY? Well, as a racer, you want to win. So, I’m not happy with third. But I can accept it as I’ve been away from racing for this long. I kept Chase Sexton and Aaron Plessinger in sight. And it was an improvement from Budd’s Creek.

Eli Tomac was able to grab a third overall in just his second race back from his thumb injury.

YOUR PRIMARY INTENTION WITH COMING BACK AT THE LAST TWO NATIONALS WAS TO PREPARE FOR SMX RIGHT? Yes, that is the intention of being here, but at the same time, I intended on racing this whole series of motocross, so I was just excited to get back to it.  I was close to being ready by Unadilla, but ended up giving myself another week of preparation. Then I went to Budd’s Creek and that was good to get those gate drops in before SMX. Those SuperMotocross races are our big-money races, and I am excited to race those, because I missed them the year before. So, all in all, this should help me be prepared.

AT BUDD’S CREEK YOU HAD A STRONG FIRST MOTO WITH A FOURTH, WHAT HAPPENED INMOTO TWO? I just did not ride as well in moto two, and I got a worse start.  I made a few bike changes, and I was just not as comfortable, so I was just a little more reserved in my riding.  I was further back in the pack, and I honestly could not move forward the way I wanted to.  It was just more of a struggle in moto two – and that was that