Tomac Chilling out to Prepare for Budds Creek

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. -- Rookie motocross rider Eli Tomac is only three races into his professional career and already the GEICO Powersports Honda rider is having to make some notable lifestyle changes.

"For the first time in my life my dad actually told me to go play Xbox yesterday," Tomac said. "He didn't want me going out in the sun."

After a wildly successful amateur career where he had plenty of time for his body to recover between races, Tomac said the week-in, week-out racing schedule of Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship requires some adjustments to his old routine.

"My last race, my starts really hurt me," Tomac said. "I'm not sure if I was physically recovered from that race in Texas. My energy was just very flat."

In order to be at his peak of performance for Saturday's Budds Creek National, Tomac is actually pulling back on his training regiment.

"We're taking it a lot more easy," Tomac said. "I'm only going to be riding once this week. We want to make sure my body is nice and recovered.

"As an amateur we only raced like seven big nationals a year and didn't race that much between because there's not much racing around my area. This weekend-to-weekend stuff is new for me."

Despite getting adjusted to life as a pro, Tomac is still among three GEICO Powersports Honda riders in the top 10 in the 250cc points standings. Tomac is in fifth, one spot behind teammate Trey Canard. Justin Barcia, who won a moto last weekend, is eighth.

Another GEICO Powersports rider who has been adjusting to a new environment has been Brett Metcalfe, who is three races into his stint as a 450 rider.

"I really struggled with my starts last week," Metcalfe said. "It's taking some adjustment on this bike, and you hate to put yourself into a position to have to make up a lot of ground after a bad start.

"I've been re-focusing on my starts, which should lead to more podium finishes."

Despite being new to riding the larger bikes, Metcalfe is second in the 450 standings.

Practice gets under way at 8:30 a.m. EDT, Saturday, with the opening ceremonies at noon and the first moto at 1 p.m.