Printed on 31 December 2022
As we glance again on the 2022 season, there may be one rider that shone brighter than anybody else, Eli Tomac.
What a yr for the American who, in what many believed was the twilight of his profession, moved to Yamaha for giant cash then completely took 2022 by storm. After early spherical insanity in supercross, Tomac took calm management, displaying poise and tempo when he wanted them and refused to get into the slam fest that overpowered his rivals. Good.
His out of doors season was an epic battle of pure velocity with Chase Sexton and once more Eli confirmed great calmness beneath strain because the title got here right down to the wire to make it an AMA SX and MX double for the primary time in his profession. And he nonetheless wasn’t achieved!
At his final try on the MXoN, Tomac received revenge on what occurred in 2018 so as to add a MXoN title to his assortment, then, solely a few weeks later received the inaugral WSX occasion in entrance of British followers in Cardiff after some massive battles with Ken Roczen.
It was the proper season for Eli Tomac, who will now go down as one of many biggest US riders ever no matter what occurs in 2023.
In case you missed it, we caught up with Eli to speak about his season and profession in Cardiff:
One other rider who deserves a point out is Tim Gajser.
After the title stress of 2021, Tim Gajser was on one other degree to everybody in 2022. He was in full management from the primary spherical of the season with velocity beneath the hood and good line decisions when he wanted to make passes. He was so dominant he even turned it down a notch mid-season and safeguarded the title earlier than choosing up the tempo within the ultimate two rounds to remind everybody the velocity was nonetheless there when he needed to make use of it! Tim Gajser was good in 2022.
One other Honda rider who excelled was Jett Lawrence. The child is particular, he received his first supercross title and his second outside with spectacular poise within the out of doors season. When he was requested a query, he answered it and rode smarter than he has in his profession, making nice selections nearly each time. He then stepped up tot he 450, a motorcycle he appears to be like born to trip, and ran on the entrance on the MXON even battling teammate Sexton. Lawerence was additionally the preferred rider within the pits at Purple Bud MXoN, despte being Australian! He’s the following celebrity of the game and a pleasure to look at rider a motorcycle.
The finest title battle of 2022 got here right down to Sexton v Tomac and Vialle v Geerts and I believe the MX2 title duel nearly got here out the winner! After a season of scintillating velocity from each Geerts and Vialle, for the title to be determined within the ultimate moto in a face to face duel as a result of Vialle crashed whereas main, taking out Geerts, to finally seal his second world title, was a script even Hollywood couldn’t have written! It was onerous to not really feel sorry for Geerts, it was the most effective yr of his profession and he ahd the title in his fingers, however Vialle’s psychological power was unbelievable he by no means gave up and made it occur when he actually needed to ship. However the degree they each rode in any respect yr ought to by no means be forgotten, it’s onerous to trip a 250 quicker than they have been moving into 2022!
And that brings us to the largest shock trip of 2022. Jago Geerts on the MXoN. Underneath the context of that misplaced MX2 title jsut two weeks prior, for Jago to spend ten days on a 450 after which come out and trip with a main Eli Tomac on each the Saturday and the Sunday in contrasting circumstances in Tomac’s again yard was really spectacular. It underlines simply how good Jago Geerts is and the way excessive the extent of he and Vialle have been using in 2022. Geerts blew some minds in America and confirmed everybody he would be the actual deal when he strikes to the 450 class in MXGP in 2024. What a efficiency after essentially the most disappoiintming second of your profession.
We caught up with Jago after the race on this unique interview:
In order that’s a wrap on the 2022 motocross and supercross season, filled with particular reminiscences and performances, and definitely a yr Eli Tomac won’t ever, ever overlook. What a rider.
And we solely have every week to attend till it begins another time!
Article: Jonathan McCready
Tomac picture: Yamaha
