Yamaha’s off-road competition bikes are engineered with one goal in mind: to create winners. From the youth-focused YZ65 and YZ85, to the iconic YZ125 and YZ250 two-strokes, and the championship-caliber YZ250F and YZ450F—featuring the innovative Power Tuner app—these machines are built to put riders in the Victory Zone. And no one exemplifies Yamaha’s vision quite like Eli Tomac.
So far in the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, Tomac has proven he’s still one of the fiercest competitors in the field. He’s been fast, consistent, and up until now, the only rider besides Jett Lawrence to claim moto wins this season. Heading into Southwick—the sandy, physically punishing Massachusetts circuit known as The Wick 338—expectations were high. Tomac himself had said on Friday that Southwick was his favorite track of the year. Fans and analysts alike were hopeful this would be the race where he could finally dethrone the dominant Lawrence brothers.
But that wasn’t the case.
Instead, it was another showcase for the Australian siblings. Jett and Hunter Lawrence went 1-2 overall, with Hunter passing Tomac in the second moto to secure his runner-up finish. Tomac, ever the competitor, had no excuses to offer after the race—only honest praise.
“Well, they were just good today,” Tomac admitted. “So, yeah, it was tough out there. Like I said, they rode really well on this track. Of course, I love this place, too. I tried to have as much fun as I could, but of course Southwick, it’s a gnarly track to race on. And yeah, just didn’t quite have that pace, and that’s all I can really say.”
That’s the kind of no-nonsense attitude that’s earned Tomac the respect of fans and fellow riders alike. He’s not one to dwell on setbacks or offer excuses. His takeaway was simple: “Got beat, try to get better next time.”
In the first moto, Tomac found himself caught behind Jorge Prado, the MXGP standout known for his strong starts and tough-to-pass style. Prado didn’t make it easy, especially on a track like Southwick where roost and visibility can be serious challenges.
“Yeah, Jorge was running a good pace and honestly, I was just eating his roost,” Tomac said with a grin. “I swear he was roosting me over the backside of the singles better than anyone… like on purpose! It was just destroying my goggles, and it was getting pretty frustrating. I actually just kind of backed off because I was trying to figure out where I could maybe pass him, but he was just launching the roost today, that’s for sure.”
Despite the frustrations and a third-place finish overall, Tomac’s performance was far from a disappointment. He showed speed, resilience, and his usual grit—even if the top step of the podium remained out of reach this time.
As the season continues, Tomac remains a major threat to challenge the Lawrence brothers. With a championship-caliber Yamaha beneath him and his relentless determination intact, don’t count him out just yet. The Victory Zone still beckons.