Ricky Carmichael Fires Back at Haiden Deegan Over Eli Tomac Record Comments
The GOAT isn’t holding back. Ricky Carmichael, widely regarded as the greatest motocross rider of all time, has responded sharply to recent comments made by Haiden Deegan regarding Eli Tomac’s growing list of records.
In a recent interview, Deegan, the rising star of Star Racing Yamaha, praised Tomac for his incredible career and even suggested that Tomac has surpassed Carmichael in certain statistical achievements. “Eli’s got more records set than Ricky at this point,” Deegan stated. “He’s breaking records every season.”
However, Carmichael was quick to put things into perspective, taking issue with the way Deegan framed the discussion. “Look, I respect Eli Tomac a ton. The guy is a beast, no doubt,” Carmichael said on a recent broadcast. “But let’s not get it twisted—records are one thing, domination is another. Eli has done some incredible things, but I’ll take my championships, my wins, and my legacy over some broken records any day.”
Carmichael, a five-time Supercross champion and ten-time AMA Motocross champion, reminded fans that his dominance over an entire generation of riders is what cemented his GOAT status. “It’s about more than just numbers. It’s about what you did to the sport, how you changed it, and how you stacked up against the best in your prime. I raced against McGrath, Stewart, Windham, and Reed—week in and week out. If you want to say someone has more records, fine, but let’s talk about dominance.”
This isn’t the first time Carmichael has responded to claims that Tomac is surpassing him. While Tomac has broken some of Carmichael’s individual event records, such as Triple Crown wins and Daytona Supercross victories, Carmichael’s overall career still stands as the benchmark for motocross greatness.
Haiden Deegan, a fiery young competitor himself, has yet to respond to Carmichael’s comments. However, the exchange has fueled more debates in the motocross community over who truly deserves the title of the sport’s greatest.
Regardless of the rivalry, both Carmichael and Tomac have left an indelible mark on motocross history. And with Tomac still competing at the highest level, the conversation over records, dominance, and legacy is far from over.
