Image: Octopi Media.

Eli Tomac’s tough start in the main event at round six of the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross season put him in the wrong place at the wrong time late in the race.

The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider’s seventh-place result on Saturday in Indianapolis is not indicative of the ride he put in. Fighting through the pack after a dismal start, Tomac had worked his way into fourth-place and looked ready to challenge Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) for the final spot on the podium.

The defending champion’s run to the front ended abruptly late in the race as Barcia came together with lapped rider Vince Friese (MotoConcepts Honda). Barcia’s bike came to rest on the landing of a jump and with nowhere to go, Tomac slammed into the MC 450F in front of him resulting in a crash.

“It’s unfortunate to have a podium taken away from me because of someone else’s mistake,” Tomac explained following the race. “But with a good start, I can avoid all that.”

While a good start has always been important in Supercross, they have become critical to success in the 2021 450SX class. With this season bringing one of the deepest talent pools in recent history, a bad start can make it nearly impossible on some nights to work your way through the field.

“In the main, I didn’t get the best jump and that hurt me. The field this year is stacked with talent and having to work my way from the middle of the pack up to third isn’t easy.”

The Supercross series moves to Camping World Stadium in Orlando this weekend, where Tomac will look to recoup the points lost in Indy as his bid to defend his 2020 championship continues.