It's the right time": Eli Tomac, the U.S. off-road legend, says goodbye to racing

Eli Tomac has announced his retirement at the end of the 2026 season. A legendary career between MX and Supercross comes to a close.

Even legends, sooner or later, have to hang up their helmets. The moment is approaching for Eli Tomac, who, after shining for 17 years between Motocross and Supercross, has announced his retirement from competition at the end of the 2026 season. Mind-blowing numbers for the star-spangled talent, one of the great modern phenoms of the discipline, who will still have time to add to his extensive trophy cabinet until next September 26 in Ridgedale, Missouri, which will host the SMX World Championship Finale.

The rider from Cortez, Colorado, will go down in history as one of the greatest riders ever, with a career spanning 17 professional seasons between 2010 and 2026. Two-time AMA Supercross 450SX champion (2020, 2022), four-time 450MX champion (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022), a representative of Team USA at the prestigious FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) on six occasions, winning in 2022 on home soil at RedBud. Second on the all-time 450SX wins list with 57 Main Event victories and fourth on the AMA Pro Motocross 450MX all-time wins list with a total of 32.

At the start of his career, Tomac captured the 250MX outdoor title in 2013 after earning 12 total wins in the class, including his professional debut victory at the season opener in Hangtown in 2010, before moving up full-time to the premier class in 2014. He also won the 2012 250SX West Division championship. He further extended his record at the Daytona Supercross with his eighth career victory there in 2026, was crowned the 2024 FIM Supercross World Champion in the SX1 class, and in 2022 received an ESPY Award in the prestigious Best Athlete, Men’s Action Sports category.

For any athlete, it’s never easy to say goodbye to what has defined their entire life. Eli Tomac is no different, but after due consideration, he knows it’s time for him to step away from competition. "At the end of September, after the final three rounds of the SMX championship, I will retire from Supercross and Motocross. It has been the toughest decision of my career, but deep down I know the time is right," admitted the American star. "I’ve won races and championships I never imagined. Racing has been the only thing I’ve known and what I’ve woken up for every morning for the past 25 years, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world."

Ian Harrison, Team Manager of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, has nothing but praise for Eli Tomac and the work they did together—even if only for a single season, given that he only raced with KTM this year. "We had the privilege of working with him," Harrison emphasized. "Seeing how he operates and gaining a deeper understanding of his sportsmanship and work ethic was a gift after all those years we raced against him. But, like all good things, this too must 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 had, and we know that whatever he does in the future, he will succeed. We wish him and his family all the best."

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