Image: Octopi Media.

A frustrated Eli Tomac has called for a cap on shorter Monster Energy Supercross track layouts, suggesting a reduced 15-rider gate after the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing title contender endured a tough night with lapped traffic at the Indianapolis Triple Crown.

Tomac – currently second in the 450SX standings – was impacted by lapped riders on multiple occasions inside Lucas Oil Stadium, with a mid-air moment with Vince Friese (International Supercross Race Team) in race two almost resulting in a crash.

The 33-year-old wasn’t the only rider to have problems on Saturday night, with title-rival Hunter Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive) also having difficulties as he reached backmarkers across the three outings.

Two-time 450SX champion Tomac has since expressed that fewer riders should be on track at one time – including less starters in the main events – and especially when the lap-times are on the lower side.

“It was frustrating – I almost got taken out in the second moto by lappers,” said Tomac after the race. “It’s bad… It’s bad, I think that if the track is sub 50 seconds, make it a 15-man gate. There are riders that are just way off the pace of the top lead group, and if the promoter wants to potentially lose championship contenders, then let’s keep it the way it is.

“When a guy goes from the very far right side of the track to the very far left side, like what happened in moto two – and as Hunter said, it’s repeat offenders. It’s the same people doing the same thing over and over again, and they don’t get a big enough penalty for it – it’s kind of outrageous.

“These guys are six to seven seconds a lap slower, maybe even more, and they’re out there with us, so they are really just a hazard. I think it should be less riders on a gate – and I actually think in motocross it should be 30 riders on the gate, so I think both series have an issue with too many bikes on the track – especially when it gets to a short lap time.”

Lawrence, who had his own run-in with Friese and Cole Thompson, explained that select riders continue to be an issue under blue flag conditions.

“I don’t mean to get on a rant, but it always seems to be the same repeat offenders on the lapped traffic that are just pretty sketchy,” said Lawrence. “I know they have their race on, but I don’t know, it’s tricky and very unique.”

Lawrence delivered victory in Indianapolis via a 2-4-1 scorecard, which sees him extend his advantage over Tomac atop the 450SX standings to four points entering the mid-season break, with racing to resume in Birmingham on March 21.