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Meanwhile, the AMA Pro Motocross Championship continues to heat up, with Eli Tomac showing strong form as the most credible threat to Jett Lawrence’s reign. In fact, Tomac is the only other rider to have snagged moto wins this season. Heading into Southwick, a track Tomac calls his favorite, expectations were high for a potential upset.
But the Lawrence brothers Jett and Hunter had other plans, locking out the top two spots. Hunter even overtook Tomac for second in the final moto. Tomac acknowledged their dominance with humility. “They were just really good today,” he said. “I tried to have fun it’s a gnarly track but I just didn’t have the pace.”
As always, Tomac didn’t lean on excuses. “Got beat, try to get better next time.”
His day wasn’t without frustration. In the first moto, he struggled to pass Jorge Prado, whose aggressive roosting made visibility a challenge. “I was just eating his roost,” said Tomac. “I even backed off at one point trying to figure out a clean line, but it wasn’t easy.”
The second moto started better, with Tomac quickly moving into third past Hunter, only to be overtaken later. “He was more open in some of his lines,” Tomac said. “He came around the outside and made a clean square move on me. I tried to hold on but couldn’t stay close.”
Though podiums are still coming, Tomac is craving more. “I’m not going home happy, I want to be closer to wins,” he admitted. His team agrees. “We’re happy with a podium, but Eli wants the top step,” said team manager Rich Simmons.
Even with a decorated career, Tomac remains driven. What fuels his continued grind? The belief he can still win. “After achieving certain goals, things change,” he said. “But I’m still here because I want to keep improving.”
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