Eli Tomac was set to compete in the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship, starting with the Pro Motocross opener in Pala, California on May 25. However, a day after announcing this, Tomac suffered a thumb injury during free practice at the penultimate round of the Monster Energy Supercross in Denver. He fell and injured his thumb, resulting in a fracture that will need surgery and sideline him for six to eight weeks. The hope is that he will be able to return in time for the Southwick National on June 29.
Tomac recounted the incident with his thumb:
“It happened during free practice in Denver when I tipped over and must have landed on my thumb awkwardly, which caused a ligament tear and a fracture. It was quite a situation,” he explained.
“What’s interesting is that right after the fall, I had a quick X-ray at Alpinestars at the track. We might have missed something or had the wrong angle, so I initially thought it was just a jam or sprain. It hurt, but I thought I could push through it. I managed to get through the main event, but crashed because my hand gave out. I didn’t know the full extent at the time, so I decided to wait a few days. When it didn’t improve, I got an MRI, and the results revealed some serious damage.”
A race winner and six-time podium finisher in the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross Series, Tomac felt he was gaining speed, confidence, and momentum as he approached the start of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
“My results have been a bit inconsistent this season, but overall, I felt like I was improving,” he said. “My speed was good most of the time, and I performed well in qualifying. I had one main event win and several second-place finishes. Considering it was a comeback season from a major Achilles tendon injury, I was feeling strong and making progress. It’s just unfortunate that this happened now. I was really enjoying the racing and the experience. While setbacks like this are disappointing, they’re part of the sport.”
Due to thumb surgery and the subsequent healing process, Tomac will once again have to watch the motocross world continue without him.
“I’m getting the surgery on Monday, which was the earliest they could schedule it,” he said. “The only positive is that the recovery won’t be as lengthy as with my Achilles or shoulder injuries. I’ll have pins in for six weeks, and then they’ll be removed, after which I’ll need time for the wound to heal before I can ride again. I expect to be back in about two months, which would put me in the middle of the motocross season. If I can compete in a few rounds and then be strong for the SMX, I’d consider it a successful comeback.”
Despite this latest setback, Tomac remains optimistic about the rest of the year.
“Yes, that’s the positive aspect,” he said. “I’m not out for the entire year, and there’s still something to aim for. My focus is on getting back to full health and returning to racing before the year ends. Naturally, I wanted to achieve more and be closer to the championship, but given the circumstances of my return, I have to keep realistic expectations. So far, it’s been solid with a win included, which was my primary goal after coming back from my Achilles injury.