After 17 professional seasons racing dirt bikes, Eli Tomac has announced his retirement from the SuperMotocross World Championship.
“I will be stepping away from Supercross and motocross racing at the end of September, following the final three SMX rounds,” Tomac said in a news release. “This has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my professional 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, 33, finished his career with eight championships across Supercross and Pro Motocross. He won his first title in the 250 SX class in 2012 before claiming another 250 championship in the 2013 Pro Motocross series.
His first of four 450 Motocross championships came in 2017, followed by titles in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Tomac also won the 2020 and 2022 Supercross championships.
He came within one round of a ninth overall championship in 2023, when he ruptured his Achilles tendon during the penultimate Supercross race on his hometown track in Denver.
Tomac continued competing at championship level
Tomac remained a championship contender in his final season. He won the opening two rounds of the 2026 Supercross season in Anaheim and San Diego, and sat third in the championship standings with four rounds remaining.
Only 15 points separated Tomac from leader Hunter Lawrence when Tomac suffered a hip injury during qualifying for the inaugural Cleveland Supercross race.
Tomac ends his career second on the all-time 450 Supercross wins list with 57 victories, behind Jeremy McGrath. He ranks fourth in all-time 450 Motocross wins with 32, trailing Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Dungey and Rick Johnson.
His accomplishments also include helping the United States return to the top of the podium at the 2022 Motocross of Nations at RedBud MX Park. It was the country’s first victory in the prestigious race in more than a decade, with the U.S. dominating Team France and the rest of the field.
“For those of us who had the privilege of watching Eli Tomac’s entire career, what stands out most isn’t just the victories, championships, or records. It’s the authenticity,” said Dave Prater, Vice President of Supercross for Feld Motor Sports in a news release. “Eli never chased attention, never tried to be something he wasn’t, and let his riding speak louder than words ever could. Fans didn’t just respect him, they loved him because he was real. “Through every triumph, setback, comeback, and unforgettable battle, he carried himself with humility, grit, and class. Legends are defined by more than trophies; they’re defined by the impact they leave on a sport and its people. Eli Tomac didn’t just become a champion, he became an icon whose legacy will inspire riders and fans for generations. Thank you, Eli, for an incredible ride.”
Tomac concluded his Pro Motocross career with one final top-five finish at last weekend’s Ironman National. He was credited with fifth overall after moto finishes of seventh and fifth.
Tomac finished between 2026 Motocross champion Hunter Lawrence, who placed fourth overall with moto results of eighth and fourth, and Jett Lawrence, who was sixth overall after finishing 11th and third in the motos.
“Never before in our sport have we had a competitor who was so good, for so long,” said Davey Coombs, President of MX Sports Racing. “Eli Tomac won the first professional race he ever entered, the 2010 Hangtown National, and then all these years later he began his final season with a win at the 2026 Anaheim Supercross opener. Throughout all of those seasons, Tomac performed at the absolute highest level of SMX, showing a versatility and staying power that’s rare in any form of professional sport. He also carried himself in a manner that’s earned him the deep respect of his competitors and everyone in the paddock, making him a role model for all. “Our sport was fortunate to have Eli Tomac’s presence on the starting gate over so many years; his leadership as well as all of his championships will resonate for generations to come.”
Three SuperMotocross races remain
Fans have three more opportunities to watch the future Hall of Famer race live during the 2026 SuperMotocross Playoffs. The series begins September 12 at Historic Crew Stadium, continues September 19 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles, California, and concludes with the SMX Final on September 26 at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri.
With momentum from Ironman, Tomac could still have a chance to win a ninth SuperMotocross championship.
Eli Tomac career highlights
- Two-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion: 2020, 2022
- 57 career 450SX Main Event victories, second all-time
- Four-time AMA Pro Motocross 450MX Champion: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
- 32 career 450MX overall victories, fourth all-time
- 2013 AMA Pro Motocross 250MX Champion
- 2012 AMA Supercross 250SX West Champion
- 2024 FIM World Supercross SX1 Champion
- Record eight-time Daytona Supercross winner: 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026
