Main event winners Tomac and Beaumer recall second round.
Returning to the top step of the 450SX podium for the 53rd time in his storied career, Eli Tomac put on a masterclass in San Diego, fighting his way through the pack to take victory. In 250SX West, it was Red Bull KTM’s Julien Beaumer who won the first Supercross of his young career. Both riders spoke to media following the main events for these Debrief interviews.
450SX
Eli, congratulations on the win. This is your 11th straight season with a win, how does it feel?
Well, it’s up there on the list for wins. I think of the last time I won a 20-minute main, and I didn’t get one last year. So, it’s a big thing for me, just coming back and proving that I actually am in a better position and better shape, and also just regrouping from last week.
There have been a lot of questions going around asking if you were going to be the Eli Tomac of the past. I think tonight you answered that. Did you ever question yourself, and if so what were they?
Like I said in that opening, it was just about getting it done in the real deal, not just the [triple crown races], and coming from the back, not getting any gifts. Just making it happen all the way. Even just working on the areas where I felt I was weak, and then it coming into effect on race day and actually working.
Where are we at right now with the level of this sport, where you have to ride wide-open for 20 minutes straight? It’s impressive to see how hard you’re charging, but I guess that’s what it takes now to win a 450SX main event.
I think the days of getting a big lead and coasting it in are hard to come by. We’re not going to get many of those races with the riders that we have on the gate. Like you said, those 20 minutes were wide open.
We’ve heard you talk about reaching the flow state before, and how it comes easily. Was that the case tonight? Or were you aware of everything that was going on, I remember seeing you [and Jett Lawrence] nearly collide on the face of the supercross triple, do you even remember that happening, or were you just focused forward?
I do. It’s nice to race with a guy like Jett, and most of the 450 guys have good self-awareness for those situations. Like, you know it’ll be tight, but I think most of us know that if we go wheel-to-wheel in the air off the triple, it’s not going to end well. So, it’s like you’re trying to get in that flow state, but for me tonight, it was just full on for those 20 minutes. There wasn’t any time to take a break.
250SX West
Julien, you’ve got the red plate heading into round three. How much does this boost your confidence notching your first-ever win?
It’s definitely a big confidence booster. At the start of this year, I had a goal set, and it was to do this. I just needed to believe in myself. I think tonight showed that I believe in myself.
Last year, it seemed like you had up and down moments. This year, we’re seeing a very solid Julien Beaumer. I noticed that you decided not to jump the quad in that rhythm section and stuck to the safe option… Was that you just deciding that you didn’t need to take that risk to win tonight?
Obviously, the quad was a bit faster, but I thought I could make it up on the rest of the track. I looked at it on the sight lap and the corner was fairly choppy. I almost started doing it when I saw [Cole] Davies start doing it, but there were a few laps where I for sure thought he was dead, so I decided to stick to my line. It wasn’t much slower, but it was a lot more consistent.
You were all over Davies for like seven laps. Were you just trying to be patient, and did you plan that pass to make it happen where it did?
Yeah, I really used those first seven laps to figure out where I could make a pass. I tried once after the mechanics area, but I couldn’t make it happen. I saw him setting up that three into the rhythm, so I could see the big opening, I just needed to dive down the inside and push him up the berm.
You’ve been working with Davi [Millsaps] for a while now and we know he can be like. He can crack the whip but can do it in a joking way. How nice was it to go out and put in 15 minutes and know that when you get to the test track on Monday, it’s not going to be as miserable.
I don’t think he really cares, [laughs]. I’ll probably show up to the test track and it’ll be the same as normal. Yeah, we won, but it’s right back to work.
Two years ago you were in Supercross Futures on a privateer Yamaha. Now, you’re on the top step of the podium on a factory Red Bull KTM. Take us through the emotions you had after getting your first win.
Yeah, it’s definitely crazy. Two years ago, I was in futures on my own, so to be here tonight is incredible. Obviously, there’s a lot of sacrifice put into it and I put a lot of pressure on myself to come and do what I do. I think that it’s paying off.