Eli Tomac, a dominant force in Supercross, recently praised his fellow rider, Malcolm Stewart, for his fiery response to a comment made by racing legend Ricky Carmichael. Stewart, fresh off a historic 450SX victory at the Tampa Supercross, became a hot topic in the Supercross world after he blasted Carmichael, taking aim at the sport’s all-time great for his out-of-touch comments regarding modern-day riders.
Carmichael, often referred to as the “G.O.A.T.” (Greatest of All Time) in Supercross, has long been vocal about the evolution of the sport. However, his recent comments sparked controversy, especially when he implied that today’s riders, like Tomac and Stewart, rely too heavily on technology to compete at the highest level. Carmichael’s remark was seen by many as a criticism of modern training methods, bike technology, and the advancements in Supercross. But Stewart, who has worked tirelessly to prove himself in the competitive 450SX class, wasn’t having it.
After winning in Tampa, Stewart fired back at Carmichael, saying, “Ricky Carmichael feels he’s the god of Supercross, but he’s an old-school rider who doesn’t know sh***t. He thinks we modern-day riders rely on tech, and that is just the opposite.” Stewart’s blunt words highlighted the clear divide between the old school and new school of motocross and Supercross. In his eyes, the newer generation of riders is more focused than ever on pushing their physical limits, regardless of the technology available to them.
Stewart also referenced a comment Carmichael made in the past, where the legend claimed riders like himself, along with younger stars like Jett Lawrence, would be able to dominate the sport due to their physical toughness. Carmichael had suggested that riders from the modern era, particularly those like Stewart, would be unable to compete at the same level on a 450 bike, insinuating that they lacked the same grit and determination as riders from his time. Stewart’s win in Tampa, however, was the perfect rebuttal to Carmichael’s claim.
Tomac, who has himself been an icon in the sport for over a decade, fully supported Stewart’s remarks. He praised Stewart for speaking his mind and standing up to the outdated perceptions held by some of the sport’s older figures. Tomac made it clear that the current generation of riders, like Stewart, are not only technically proficient but also incredibly tough. In fact, the level of physical conditioning and mental fortitude required to succeed in today’s Supercross is higher than ever, regardless of the technological advancements.
The incident has sparked debate across the motocross community, with many supporters of the newer generation of riders rallying behind Stewart’s bold stance. What’s clear, however, is that Stewart’s Tampa win and his words in response to Carmichael serve as a statement of self-belief and pride in the current era of Supercross racing. As for Carmichael, he may need to rethink his perspective on the sport’s evolution and the capabilities of today’s riders.
