One of the most successful and respected riders in the history of American motocross and supercross, Eli Tomac, has announced he will retire from professional racing at the conclusion of the 2026 SMX World Championship post-season.
The decision will bring the curtain down on a remarkable 17-year professional career spanning from 2010 to 2026, during which the Cortez, Colorado native established himself as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Now 33 years old, Tomac has enjoyed a strong final season with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, claiming four 450SX Main Event victories in the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship.
Throughout his 17-year professional career, Tomac represented four of the sport’s biggest factory teams, racing for GEICO Honda from 2010-2015, Monster Energy Kawasaki from 2015-2021, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing from 2022-2025, and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in his final season in 2026.
Reflecting on his decision, Tomac admitted stepping away from the sport was far from easy.
“I will be stepping away from Supercross and motocross racing at the end of September, following the final three SMX rounds,” Tomac said.
“This has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my professional career, but I know in my heart that the time is now and that the time is right. I’ve won races and championships beyond my imagination. Racing has been the only thing I’ve woken up to and known the last 25 years, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Tomac leaves the sport with a résumé few riders can match. He sits second on the all-time 450SX wins list with 57 Main Event victories and fourth on the all-time AMA Pro Motocross 450MX wins list with 32 overall wins.
His championship tally includes two AMA Supercross 450SX titles in 2020 and 2022, along with four AMA Pro Motocross 450MX championships in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.
Tomac also represented Team USA six times at the prestigious FIM Motocross of Nations, captaining the American squad to victory at RedBud in 2022.
Before establishing himself in the premier class, Tomac enjoyed considerable success in the 250 ranks. He claimed the AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship in 2012 before securing the 2013 AMA Pro Motocross 250MX title. Across his 250MX career, he recorded 12 overall victories, including a memorable win at Hangtown on his professional debut during the opening round of the 2010 season.
Even in the latter stages of his career, Tomac continued adding to his legacy. Earlier this year he extended his record as the most successful rider in Daytona Supercross history with an eighth victory at the iconic event. He was also crowned the 2024 FIM World Supercross SX1 Champion and received the prestigious ESPY Award for Best Athlete, Men’s Action Sports in 2022.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager Ian Harrison paid tribute to Tomac’s impact on the sport and the influence he had during his lone season with the Austrian manufacturer.
“Eli exploded onto the scene well over a decade and a half ago, and if he wasn’t on your team, you sure wished he was, because you’d ultimately be fighting against him to try and win,” Harrison said.
“Over the years, Eli has become the second-winningest rider in Supercross history and has won multiple national and Supercross championships. We’ve had the privilege of working with him this year, and it was no different – he was fighting for the title and for wins each and every week.
“Eli is an amazing rider, and for the team and myself, to see how he operates and to get a better understanding of his sportsmanship and work ethic was a gift after all those years that we competed against him.
“But, like all good things, they do eventually come to an end, and with that Eli has decided to retire at the end of this season. Our team is grateful for the opportunity we’ve had and know that whatever he does in the future, it will be successful. Eli is a hard worker, disciplined and dedicated, and we truly wish him and his family all the best.”
Tomac and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will now focus on closing out the season through the SMX Playoffs before the final chapter of his professional career is written at the SMX World Championship Final in Ridgedale, Missouri, on September 26.
Eli Tomac Career Highlights
Two-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion (2020, 2022)
57-career 450SX Main Event victories (second all-time)
Four-time AMA Pro Motocross 450MX Champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022)
32-career 450MX overall victories (fourth all-time)
2013 AMA Pro Motocross 250MX Champion
2012 AMA Supercross 250SX West Champion
2024 FIM World Supercross SX1 Champion
A record eight-time Daytona Supercross winner (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026)
ESPY Award recipient in 2022 (Best Athlete, Men’s Action Sports)
