In an exclusive conversation with Donn Maeda, Eli Tomac shared insights into his recovery and his determination to make it back to Supercross before the season ends. Despite the challenge of a significant injury, Tomac is remaining optimistic and focused on his goal of returning to racing.
Eli Tomac, one of the sport’s top riders, is currently in the midst of recovering from an injury, but he’s keeping a positive attitude about getting back on the bike. According to Tomac, his recovery is progressing as expected, with a six-week timeline for full recovery. “It should be around a six-week recovery,” he explained. “That’s when I believe I get the green light to do normal things. My final check-up is the six-week mark… I’m hoping that’s the final check-up, then I would get back into training where I have no restrictions.”
Tomac is eyeing a return to Supercross, stating, “I have an idea of coming back for the last few Supercross if things go the way I think they will. I don’t think there’s any question I’ll be back for the last few Supercross.” His goal is to get more race experience before motocross season begins. “I want to get more gate drops in before motocross, that’s my goal right now, to make the last couple or few Supercross.”
The path to recovery has not been an easy one for Tomac. When reflecting on the extent of his injury, he admitted, “It’s pretty messed up,” and marveled at his ability to push through pain. He recalled looking at an X-ray and realizing he had ridden with a broken leg. “It’s amazing what you can push your body through.” However, he acknowledged that the whoops section of the track was particularly difficult for him, as the pain was excruciating. “Killing me,” he said about the pain he felt while navigating the whoops.
So, how did the break go unnoticed initially? Tomac explained that after practice, he didn’t immediately go to the medics because he believed the pain was due to a sprained ankle. “I stayed at my rig, I thought I was going 
It wasn’t until after the heat race that Tomac sought medical attention due to the increasing pain. “I went into the medics after the heat race because I had such severe pain even in the heat. I’m like, ‘I think there is a problem now.’” The issue was that the break, which was higher on his leg near the fibula, had been missed earlier. “We missed it, and I want to say ‘we’ because I was kind of directing the medics that it was my ankle, but it was actually higher on my leg on the fibula.”
The injury was subtle, and the X-ray might not have been zoomed out enough to catch the fracture initially. Tomac admits that it’s tough to pinpoint exactly why the injury wasn’t spotted earlier. “Maybe the X-ray was too zoomed in or it was a small fracture at the time when it was missed,” he said. “I don’t know if anyone knows the exact reason, but I went out for the main event and thought I could deal with it and I somewhat did. Of course, I was in major pain and on one leg, but it’s really hard to point the finger at anyone for not catching it before the main event.”
Ultimately, Tomac takes responsibility for not seeking medical attention sooner. “I can even blame myself for not going in there, having that pain level, after practice,” he admitted. Despite the challenges, Tomac’s determination to push through has been a testament to his resilience and commitment to the sport.
As the clock ticks on his recovery, Eli Tomac remains focused on his goal of returning to Supercross in time for the final few rounds. Fans are eagerly awaiting his comeback, and if his mindset is any indication, the legend of Eli Tomac will only continue to grow stronger as he fights through adversity.
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