It was a selection of mid-week changes that allowed Eli Tomac to turn his season around at round four of the 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Phoenix, Arizona.

Finding a good balance was key according to the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider, admitting he was struggling during the opening three rounds with sub-par 450SX main event finishes.

“For me it’s just all about finding a good balance,” said Tomac. “Going from the fall to Anaheim 1, I thought I was in a really good spot, and then you go to the racetracks and it’s a different story. I’ve done it quite a few years now and I thought I was in a decent spot and those first few rounds I was struggling big time. Just made some changes this week that just fit me.

“It was embarrassing and I just felt terrible. All I can do is just try to get better. I didn’t believe I was that guy getting eighth place. It probably looks really weird that I went from eighth to first place in one weekend with how bad I was riding, but I just found a better balance for myself and made it happen.”

Claiming the main event victory by nearly 12 seconds over a charging Chad Reed, Tomac believes he is back to fighting form thanks to the vital changes made within his program.

“I don’t know, we were just on it tonight,” he said. “There was a lot of stuff going on this week that changed for myself and the team and it turned into a positive, obviously. These past three weekends have been pretty embarrassing for myself and as a racer, so I feel like at least I’m back to some fighting form.”

Tomac now sits third overall in the 450SX championship chase, 20 points behind series leader Ryan Dungey after contesting four of the 17 scheduled rounds.