race recap
ELI TOMAC | GRIT-211 | 450SX
March 6, 2023 · Eli Tomac
ELI TOMAC | GRIT-211 | SX 450
The red-plate holder's dominance would reign, while stationed in central Florida for Saturday night's racing. However the day wasn't as perfect as the Colorado native would've liked, beginning with practice in the afternoon hours. He seemed to be just off the pace, from opponents like Chase Sexton; at times, more than one-second (behind) that of the time-trials leader. Therefore it would be easy for many in his position to become a bit flustered or discouraged, but the legendary Yamaha rider would thrive when it mattered most as the thirty-second board went sideways for his heat race. Pushing his way into an early lead, Tomac would flourish with a one-second (plus) gap over Ken Roczen as the field took the green-flag. There was little to critique as Eli sped around the raceway, proving that his performance at his last outdoor event (i.e. Motocross of Nations) was legitimate and his motocross prowess hadn't faded in the slightest since the late fall. Laps continued to amass as he led the German rider around, somewhat in a bit of "management mode" while gathering analysis (via line choices) for the main event. Leading all six laps in the process, he would exit the raceway with victory in hand while hoping to surge even higher for the main event. The battle between he and Cooper Webb then translated into the inception of the finalé, where they quarreled for the lead while contesting one another in the first few corners. It would be Webb though who initially persevered and pushed his KTM machine into the lead designation. Tomac stayed in the background, awaiting the perfect opportunity to manifest...though it would take a substantial amount of patience. This led to around seven minutes into the main event, where a questionable outside line choice (in the first corner of sand) by Webb would have Tomac swooping underneath him, as they then drag-raced down the following straightaway! They both then shot for the inside line in the elevated corner, where they collided and Eli nearly went off-course! Lucky to stay upright, it was then time to reestablish a game-plan for another attack in the coming moments. This led to persistent charging, continuing to boil until a climactic opportunity would be seized with just over eleven minutes left on the clock. Webb would hit neutral as Tomac pushed to the outside on the start straightaway, miscalculating the subtle rollers that led into the initial rhythm lane. Eli would continuously triple his way by, taking advantage of the mistake while grabbing hold of the lead! The next laps were critical if the red-plated holder wanted to maintain a victorious designation. And with poise, he remained mistake-free. Webb was upon his rear wheel the entire time, staying within bike lengths as they raced to the checkered flag...but Eli wasn't budging. Doing enough to persevere through the checkered flag, Eli's dominance at Daytona would continue with an outright win!