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Tomac climbs to podium at at&t stadium
Eli Tomac secured a podium finish at the Monster Energy SMX World Championship held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on February 22, 2026. He posted the fastest qualifying lap in the premier class, a 47.688-second circuit, aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION carrying a special Military Appreciation livery.
Tomac overcame a difficult Main Event start to move into a top-three finish. The result represents his fifth podium of the 2026 season and narrows the championship points gap as the series prepares to race at Daytona.
Race dynamics and Tomac’s recovery
Tomac began the day well with a benchmark qualifying time and a third-place finish in his opening 450SX heat, which secured a favourable gate draw for the Main Event. An early, difficult launch in the feature dropped him outside the top 10 within the opening corners.
He responded with a methodical and aggressive recovery. A sequence of decisive passes moved him into fourth place early, then into a prolonged duel for the lead. He applied constant pressure on the leader in the closing laps and advanced to second, where he crossed the line.
The result marks his fifth podium of the 2026 season and reduces the championship points gap as the series prepares to race at Daytona. Team communications after the race cited strong race pace and starting practice as focal areas for the next round.
Key moments and strategy
Team communications after the race cited strong race pace and starting practice as focal areas for the next round. The Main Event unfolded as a tactical sprint under those constraints. Multiple lead changes and close-quarter battles defined the middle laps. Riders and teams shifted between aggressive overtakes and measured pace management to conserve equipment and maintain track position.
The race launch proved decisive. Several front-runners encountered complications off the line, which reshuffled the opening order. That disruption allowed riders with clean launches to capitalise immediately. Hunter Lawrence converted a strong re‑start into sustained leadership by stringing together consistent lap times and avoiding risky moves in traffic.
Eli Tomac recovered from a poor gate to secure second place. He used early passing opportunities to rebuild momentum and then managed his pace to stay within striking distance. Team radio indicated calculated overtakes rather than speculative attacks, a strategy that preserved tire life and reduced exposure to mid‑race incidents.
Backmarkers and lapped traffic influenced late-race strategy. Leaders adjusted lines and timing to negotiate slower riders while maintaining lap speed. Crew chiefs highlighted those interactions as key data for refining setup and strategy ahead of the next meeting.
Expect teams to concentrate on starting practice and sustained race pace in upcoming sessions. Those areas will determine whether contenders can convert qualifying speed into consistent Main Event results.
Those areas will determine whether contenders can convert qualifying speed into consistent Main Event results. Tomac’s performance in Arlington offered a clear example of that dynamic. The 47.688s time in qualifying underlined the factory KTM‘s outright pace. A compromised start left him outside the front group early. He recovered through sustained mid-race aggression and precise overtakes. By exploiting brief gaps and preserving momentum, Tomac advanced through the field in rapid succession. Those decisive moves secured a podium finish and helped preserve championship momentum ahead of Daytona.
Team results and support riders
Team communications highlighted coordinated efforts to shore up starts while retaining race pace. Backup riders delivered consistent heat results, providing valuable data on tire wear and setup. Mechanics and crew chiefs adjusted gearing and suspension between motos to favor mid-race stability. Support riders also executed strategic rides that protected team points and limited rivals’ gains. Collectively, the team’s depth reinforced its position as the event moved toward the next round.
Collectively, the team’s depth reinforced its position as the event moved toward the next round. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing received further confirmation of that depth through Aaron Plessinger’s performance. Plessinger delivered a steady evening, finishing fifth in his Heat Race to secure direct transfer to the Main Event. He raced inside the top 10 during the feature and took eighth Plessinger described measurable bike progress and emphasised the need for cleaner execution on race day. He also noted his intent to build on that momentum at Daytona, where he reached the podium last year.
Jorge Prado remained absent as he continues rehabilitation of his right shoulder, injured during Seattle qualifying. The team characterised his status as ongoing and offered no timetable for a return. His absence reduced the squad’s immediate options but did not alter the
Championship implications and next round
The results tightened rivalries at the top of the standings while highlighting the value of consistent Main Event finishes. Teams with deeper rosters and reliable secondary scorers maintain a strategic advantage across a multi-round season. Expect attention to shift toward mechanical reliability and race-day discipline as contenders pursue incremental gains. Track-specific setups and recovery plans for injured riders will shape selection decisions for the coming rounds.
Track-specific setups and recovery plans for injured riders will shape selection decisions for the coming rounds. The Arlington results reshuffled the 450SX standings after seven of 17 rounds. Hunter Lawrence leads with 149 points. He is followed by Eli Tomac on 145 and Cooper Webb on 133. Those margins underline how tight the premier class title chase has become.
Round 8 is scheduled for February 28 at Daytona. Teams and riders will pivot to the historic Florida venue. Daytona’s track tends to reward aggressive starts and holeshot gains. Those factors could prove decisive for riders seeking to overturn small points deficits. Expect teams to prioritise launch setups, tyre selection and short-run aggression over long-run pacing.
250 class and event atmosphere
The 250SX class continued to showcase emerging talent and close competition. Race-day attendance and paddock atmosphere reflected renewed fan engagement. Organisers reported visible club and grassroots presence around the pits, and team hospitality areas remained focal points for technical exchanges.
For riders moving up the standings, consistency at venues like Daytona will matter more than single-race heroics. Track characteristics, including sandy sections and tight transitions, elevate the importance of rhythm and positioning. Race engineers are likely to emphasise suspension compliance and traction management ahead of speed alone.
Medical and recovery teams will remain central to team operations as the series proceeds. Short turnarounds between rounds increase the value of rapid but safe rehabilitation. Teams that balance rider health with strategic risk-taking may gain an advantage in the championship run.
Arlington recap: breakthrough win in 250SMX and strong performances in 450SX
The Arlington card produced decisive results in the 250SMX ranks, where Pierce Brown captured his first career Supercross victory in the Eastern divisional opener. Jo Shimoda returned from surgery to take the holeshot and secure a strong runner-up finish. Daxton Bennick completed the podium.
The evening featured an Military Appreciation theme at AT&T Stadium, with special liveries and event elements recognizing service members. Organizers incorporated the tribute across the venue as part of the Arlington spectacle.
On the 450-class side, Eli Tomac finished second aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, narrowing the margin to the championship leader. The result reinforced his status as a title contender and carried momentum into the next stop.
The Red Bull KTM squad will look to translate qualifying pace into race wins by improving race starts and capitalizing on consistent finishes. Teams that manage rider recovery, setup choices and measured risk-taking are positioned to influence the championship standings as the season progresses.