Eli Tomac – The title was within reach, yet unattainable.

Eli Tomac sits out the Philadelphia Supercross, thus missing his hopes for a third title.

Up until Cleveland, everything pointed to Eli Tomac finally realizing his long-held wish this season: races where he was there exactly when it mattered. And above all, the feeling that the overall picture was increasingly turning in his favor.

His title fight ends precisely at this stage.

Following his crash in Cleveland qualifying, Tomac will not be starting the next Monster Energy AMA Supercross round in Philadelphia. Medically, he has received good news – no fractures. From a sporting perspective, this changes little. The timing is more significant than the diagnosis.

A season that went in his direction

Until a few weeks ago, this was also his championship. Perhaps not dominant in the classic sense, but always with the title in mind. Four wins, plus podium finishes – and above all, the feeling that he could react at any time when it mattered.

The picture became even clearer after Daytona. While others wavered, Tomac remained consistent. Even minor setbacks didn't really throw him off course. In Nashville, the familiar pattern emerged again: fast in qualifying, convincing in the heat. This was no coincidence. This was a driver who knew exactly when to deliver.

And then, within minutes, everything changes. The main event spirals out of control – a bad start, a crash, only twelfth place. Suddenly there's a deficit that wasn't there before. But nothing that can't be corrected.

Cleveland should provide the answer.

In qualifying, Tomac was near the front and on course. Then came the mistake in the whoops. No spectacular high-speed crash, no obvious trigger – just one moment, but it was enough. And suddenly everything came to a standstill again. Persistent hip problems knocked the 33-year-old out of the title fight.

The third title remains an open chapter.

It's this repetition that sticks in your mind. In 2023, the Achilles tendon injury, just before the title. In 2024, the next setback, just as he was working his way back to the top. Now, in 2026 – again at a point where he had the momentum on his side.

You could call it bad luck. Or it could be part of the sport. Supercross doesn't allow for any gray areas. You're either in – or you're out. And even if you do everything right, one small moment is all it takes to negate months of hard work.

KTM as proof – not as a question mark

This season also revealed something else. The move to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing worked. No settling-in period, no visible adjustment phase. Tomac was competitive from the very first race. Starts, speed, and race intelligence – the overall picture was spot on. Especially on a bike that doesn't immediately suit every rider, that was a clear signal.

He is still at the level to win titles.

Between the present and what is yet to come

The decision to skip Philadelphia is therefore no surprise. At this stage, it's no longer about forcing anything. The focus is on recovery – and on what comes next. Because the AMA Pro Motocross Championship is just around the corner. A different format, different demands, different opportunities.

The season starts again from scratch there.

What will remain of the 2026 AMA Supercross season?

In the end, a familiar picture remains. Tomac was, at times, the driver to beat. The one who set the pace when everything came together.

And once again, this phase is interrupted.

It's not a performance issue. Not a structural deficit. Rather, it's a series of moments that always occur when the title seems within reach. A third Supercross title? Still possible. But postponed once again.

By Ralph Marzahn  April 24, 2026