Eli Tomac Ready For Four In A Row?

Cycle News Staff | January 25, 2013

GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac will be trying for his fourth straight 250SX West victory tomorrow night at Overstock.com Coliseum in Oakland, California, the hottest rider in AMA Supercross having won two races at Angel Stadium and one in Phoenix thus far in 2013.

Tomac won last year’s race in Oakland.

“Oakland is a little bit different compared to the rest of our West Coast tracks,” Tomac said in a team release. “The dirt is usually a little bit softer. They get rain and moisture up there a little more often so the base is softer than a lot of the other places. You have to adjust, but soft dirt is something I like, so it should suit me well.”

So far this year, nothing has slowed Tomac, the defending West SX Champion, who has built a nine-point championship lead over second-placed Ken Roczen. Tomac has faced a few challenges with his starts in the early going, but has always found a way to end up on top of the podium at the end of the night.

“My confidence is really high right now,” Tomac said. “I’ve been able to win from different positions, be it if I started up front or in the pack. Last week I was able to pass the second and third place guys in the points to take the win so that was good. I just need to stay mistake-free and hold onto this momentum all the way to the end.”

GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne, meanwhile, felt the lingering effects of a shoulder injury last Saturday but still managed to move forward in the championship standings with his fourth-place finish.

“It’s been going good and I’m feeling near 100 percent now,” Osborne said. “I’ve been able to ride this week and we’ve made some improvements on the bike. My shoulder is feeling so much better than it did, so I’m really looking forward to this weekend.”

Osborne said getting his health back should be the final piece that unlocks a spot on the podium.

“I didn’t get the start I wanted last week but still ended up fourth,” he said. “I would have liked to have been on the podium three times by now, but I’m happy with where I’m at considering the circumstances I’ve had to face. When I had a good start, my shoulder was hurt. Now my fitness is there, my speed is there, the bike is dialed in better and now with my shoulder back, I should contend for a spot in the top three if not a win.”

Osborne is fourth in the West standings, 11 points behind Cole Seely.

Recently retired 450SX rider Kevin Windham will be at the race this weekend, kicking off a farewell tour of sorts. Windham plans on attending all of the remaining races on the schedule so he can sign autographs in the pits and participate in rider introductions and perform his signature transfers for the fans one final time.