Image: Octopi Media.

450SX title threat Eli Tomac says that he is ‘going to do everything possible to get back on the line in Detroit’ after sustaining an ankle sprain and bruised lower leg at the Tampa round.

Two-time champion Tomac – in his final season of Monster Energy Supercross – injured his left leg in the second qualifying session, but managed to race-on into the night show for an eventual 17th-place result.

While the five points scored could be instrumental in what has been a season of attrition in recent weeks, it will be important for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider to quickly rebound entering round six if he is to get his title prospects back on track.

“It was a tough day in Tampa,” Tomac reflected. “I caught my leg underneath the footpeg on a jump during qualifying, and sprained the top of my ankle and bruised my lower leg. I’m going to do everything possible to get back on the line in Detroit.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 team manager Rich Simmons added: “I’ll start with the elephant in the room – it was an unfortunate night for Eli. It was just a freak accident with him getting his foot caught between the foot peg and the ground during qualifying. He was really sore and bruised, but he did the best he could to manage a points night.”

It’s still Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM) who holds the premier class red plate five rounds into the season, with Tomac now demoted to fifth and 21 points outside of the lead. He had led the series following his victory in San Diego at the second round.