Page 34 - ISSUE-81

ELI TOMAC
450 MX / 1ST
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Finding a level of dominance in any level of sport is an achievement in itself. But at the pinnacle of one’s genre, outclassing all other individuals in a particular region or champion- ship is truly exceptional. Enter Eli Tomac, a young man who’s been on the cusp of great- ness for decades, and truly seems to be coming into his own as the 2018 season rolls on. His streak of overalls was on the line heading into Tennessee, and many wondered if his antics of the past would loom over his head, as the wins began to accumulate. However, he seemed to be poised and ultra composed when heading to the line for moto number one, as he sat calmly with a stoic facial expression. It would work, as the cool breeze from the fanning pitboard behind would propel him to an awesome start, leaving the eld engulfed
in cakes of mud. Roczen would be in rst for the opening segments, and Tomac’s maturity would be displayed in front of the eyes of all. The third, fourth, and fth lap would go by, yet he would then feel a bit of pressure from the Yamaha ride of Justin Barcia behind; his level of urgency would then climax, and he would proceed to make the move around the Honda, just before the gigantic uphill triple on the far side. It was then time to put the hammer down, where both chassis, motor, and mind would all mesh together in one comprehensive unit. This clay-based layout would begin to deteriorate, but Tomac would ourish, nding
a comfortable pace and gap ahead of the Yamaha rider behind. The hefty eight-second
gap would be enough for Tomac to conserve his energy, and cross the line with a sign of relaxation, as he took the moto win. The following moto was just around the corner, and before he knew it, he would be swarmed into a mediocre position on the start. Looking to make moves in an ef cient manner, his fourteenth of lap one would quickly be changed into a top ten position in the following laps. Eventually he would come up on the ride of Justin Hill, where the two would converge into a quick joust; Tomac would work his away around for sixth place, just before the mechanics area. Baggett would then be the next to be overtaken, and Roczen appeared to be the main course of the menu. Passing the number ninety-four on lap twelve, it was just Barcia and Musquin in front. However, after being re- layed signals from his mechanic, his inner mathematician was of reassurance, knowing that if he could stay here, the overall would be his. And that’s just what he would do, taking third place on the results sheet, and generating an overall win for the day!
34 GRITMOTO • JUNE 24, 2018