Image: Octopi Media.

Multi-time American champion Eli Tomac has credited a team effort after scoring an elusive first-career Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN) victory with Team USA at RedBud.

This year was Tomac’s fourth MXoN showing and, despite an immensely successful career, the 29-year-old entered the prestigious race yet to lift the Chamberlain Trophy.

In previous outings, the newly-crowned Lucas Oil Pro Motocross 450MX champion was runner-up on debut in 2013 with Team USA and third a year later, before finishing off the rostrum in 2018 the last time MXoN was staged at the iconic RedBud venue.

Team USA showed they meant business from the outset on the weekend, emerging top of the qualifying heats after drawing the 15th gate pick in the ballot for the outings on Saturday. While Tomac was able to win the opening race on Sunday, the strong results and consistency of teammates Justin Cooper (MX2) and Chase Sexton (Open) were instrumental for the overall.

“First off, I just want to say I’m so proud of my teammates,” Tomac explained. “This event is truly a team event and there is no race like this. When we woke up to rain this morning, I thought ‘uh-oh, this could really level the playing field’, but we came through strong, even in these muddy conditions.

“We’ve waited 11-years for this. It’s a long time to wait, so this is very special to us. I know these don’t come easy and they don’t come often. I think back to the beginning of the day and beginning of the weekend…

“It felt great with the team, we had a great team atmosphere, great team effort and with the racing today we all pulled our own weight and put in those solid motos, those solid scores. I’ve got to give it up to Chase and Justin, this is an awesome one to win.”

Tomac ended the day second overall in the MXGP category with 1-6 moto scores, while Team USA’s win ended its 11-year MXoN victory drought and marked the first time that each of the three riders stood on the top step at the event.