End of an Era: Eli Tomac Confirms Yamaha Departure as KTM Era Begins

🚀 The SuperMotocross paddock is buzzing with a seismic shift in the rider landscape. Last week, Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha officially announced the departure of one of the sport’s all-time greats, Eli Tomac, following four championship-winning seasons (2022–2025) with the blue team.

In a formal statement, the Yamaha camp expressed gratitude for their time with the Colorado native: “Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing extends its sincere thanks to Eli Tomac for the remarkable success achieved together over the past four seasons… and wishes Eli all the best in his future endeavors.”

It was, indeed, a partnership defined by immediate and exceptional success. Tomac’s debut 2022 season with Yamaha saw him sweep the major titles, taking both the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX and Pro Motocross 450MX championships. That same year, he anchored Team USA to victory at the Motocross of Nations (MXoN), solidifying his move to Yamaha as one of the most successful gambles in recent memory.

🏆 A Legacy in Blue

Tomac’s tenure on the YZ450F was nothing short of dominant, amassing significant career statistics despite suffering injuries that sidelined him for portions of the subsequent seasons. His final tally with the team includes:

* 16 Main-Event Wins in 450SX

* 16 Moto Wins in 450MX

* Two coveted Daytona Supercross wins, cementing him as the winningest rider at the iconic venue.

His success came during a late-career surge that proved Tomac’s resilience and competitive fire. For the Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha team, the legacy left by Tomac is indelible.

🍊 The Move to Red Bull KTM

While the official farewell from Yamaha marks a key moment, the motocross world has known for weeks that Tomac was not hanging up his boots. The highly anticipated next chapter in his Hall of Fame career was officially confirmed on Tuesday, November 4th, when Red Bull KTM Factory Racing launched their 2026 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) roster.

Tomac was announced as a key addition to the 450-class team, marking his first time competing aboard an Austrian machine as a professional rider. He joins a formidable lineup that includes former MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado and returning KTM rider Aaron Plessinger.

KTM’s team manager, Ian Harrison, commented on the exciting addition: “It’s that time of year again when we start preparing for the upcoming season with new riders and bikes, and we welcome Eli into the team for 2026. It’s always interesting to bring in a rider such as Eli, who we have raced against over the last decade and we’ve always looked for ways to beat him, but now we are focusing on how we can support him to win. I am confident that our team and all of the riders will benefit from his experience and maturity.”

The switch to KTM is a monumental move, making the 32-year-old one of the few elite riders to have raced for Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and now KTM. This final chapter in orange promises to be one of the most compelling storylines heading into the 2026 AMA Supercross season. The countdown to Anaheim 1 is officially on!

For a closer look at the new partnership and to see Tomac’s first laps on the Austrian machine, you can check out this clip: Eli Tomac on the move to KTM – “With Only a Few Days on the KTM, I Really Like Where I’m At!”.