In a significant blow to the 2024 Supercross season, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing has announced that eight-time AMA Supercross/Motocross Champion Eli Tomac will be sidelined due to a broken fibula sustained during qualifying at the Tampa Supercross event.

What initially appeared to be an ankle sprain has turned out to be far more serious. Tomac injured himself during qualifying when he jammed his foot into the ground, but in a display of remarkable determination, he continued to compete through the evening’s events. Despite the broken leg, Tomac managed to finish seventh in his heat race and participated in the main event, securing valuable championship points.

The true extent of the injury was only discovered after further medical evaluation following the weekend’s racing. The fibula, the smaller of the two bones in the lower leg, was confirmed broken, forcing Tomac to withdraw from upcoming rounds starting with this weekend’s event in Detroit.

Team Manager Rich Simmons praised Tomac’s extraordinary resilience, stating, “It speaks volumes about Eli’s grit and determination” that he completed the races while injured. Tomac had been showing exceptional form this season, including a victory at San Diego, making the timing of this setback particularly unfortunate.

“I’ve never felt better on the motorcycle in Supercross,” Tomac expressed in his statement, highlighting the frustration of having to step away while in peak form. While no specific timeline for recovery has been established, both Tomac and the team are focused on ensuring a complete return to health.

The announcement adds another dramatic turn to the 2024 Supercross season, with Tomac’s absence likely to have significant implications for the championship standings. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team will provide updates on Tomac’s recovery and return to competition as his rehabilitation progresses.