Image: Octopi Media.

As the end of the season draws closer, Eli Tomac admits ‘the weight’s been lifted’ in terms of having to consider championship implications when going for Supercross wins.

While not mathematically out of the championship picture, Tomac’s bid for a title defense in 2021 is nearly gone, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider only finding the podium five times so far this season.

All is not lost for the 2020 450SX champion though, with two of those podiums coming in the last three rounds, including Tuesday where he ran with red-plate holder Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) for most of the race, eventually scoring a second on the night.

When asked whether the weight of defending the championship had been lifted, allowing him to focus on going all out for race wins, Tomac opened up about his title chances.

“In that sense, it’s been a few races that the weight has been lifted off me [in] that way. It’s nothing you want in that situation, but I was just excited tonight to have a better run in the stadium environment.”

Sitting third in the championship standings as the series heads to round 12, Tomac says despite critics thinking he’s lacking motivation this season, his goals when lining up haven’t changed following his 2020 championship.

“It might look like [things have changed] from the outside, but no. There’s no better feeling than winning and that’s the only reason I line up every time is to get a win.”