The Cortez rider finished fourth in the 450SX class of the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, and then took second in the 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship’s 450 class.
And more recently, he won the Monster Energy Cup Championship at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada in October – finishing second, first and fourth in the three races to claim the $100,000 prize.
Now, Tomac will hop back on the track at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Saturday to kick off the 2017 season.
This year’s slate includes 17 events across the country, with Feld Entertainment Inc. announcing more ways to watch.
With an expanded FOX broadcast partnership, Supercross fans will be able to watch the race from Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., on FOX Deportes, alongside social media and live streaming options for fans outside of North America and Australia.
Devotees of Tomac, Ryan Dungey or Ken Roczen can still watch races on FS1 and FS2 throughout the season, but for the first time in the four-year media partnership with FOX, Monster Energy Supercross will have airtime on FOX Deportes for the kick-off in Anaheim on January 7, 2017 and on every local FOX station throughout the country for races in Indianapolis (3/18/2017), Salt Lake City (4/22/2017) and East Rutherford, N.J. (4/29/2017).
There are also changes on the track, as Monster Energy AMA Supercross has announced that heat races, semis, last chance qualifiers and main events will transition to a timed format beginning at the season opener.
The new format will make sure that racers like Tomac, Roczen and defending Monster Energy Supercross Champion, Ryan Dungey get to race in front of their fans for the same amount of time, every time.
Once the gate slams down, the referee will start the clock. For the 250SX class it will be 15 minutes plus one lap and for the 450SX class it will be 20 minutes plus one lap. That means if Dungey and Tomac have battled for 20 laps at the finish line but there is still 15 seconds on the clock, they will race two more laps.
“We believe this change will bring the fitness element more into play and provide more excitement for our fans,” Sr. Director of Supercross Operations Dave Prater said.