THOMAS WOOD

What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is Thomas Wood, but people call me Tiger. I’m originally from Australia but base myself in Cairo, Georgia.

What classes do you race?

I race Mini Sr. 1 and Mini Sr. 2.

How did you get into motorcycles?

Mum and Dad bought me a Pee Wee 50 for my 5th birthday and I’ve loved riding motorcycles ever since.

Tell us about your first race.

My first race was in 2015 at The Hayden Pittman Memorial in my hometown, Townsville.  I was nearly 8 at the time on a KTM 50 and remember being super nervous lining up at the gate for the first time.  I thought I was going to do heaps better than I did, but ended up at the back of the pack! Even so, my love of racing began that day.

What other sports do you like?

I like to play a bit of tennis and basketball.

Describe a typical day at the track for you.

On race day I generally wake up early, have some breakfast and do a warm-up.  I like to get to the line early to watch a few practices or races and get a good look at the track.  I then hit the track for my motos and in between them I’m watching the other races (and sneaking in a good corn dog from the concession stands).  Once the racing is done for the day, I like to go rip up the pit bike track if there is one and hang with my race buddies. By then it’s time for a movie and bed, ready to do it all again the next day.

Favorite meal to have before you race?

Longhorn the night before is a favorite! And before the race, a bowl of cereal.

Best moment on a motocross bike?

Coming in hot and railing a big long smooth rut.

Best road trip story.

Mum and I went to pick up an RV from Florida and drive it back to Georgia. As soon as we drove out of the lot Mum knew there was something wrong.  By the time we were on the turnpike, there were wicked smells coming from the front end.  We pulled into the next stop and realized things weren’t good.  By the time we got to the repair centre the brakes were nearly gone! We’d traveled less than one hundred miles but were pulled up until that RV could get fixed. We ended up having a mini vacation in Ocala until we could get back on the road. That RV was horrible and sold it about two months later.

What’s your favorite track to ride?

Red Bud would have to be my favorite.  It was so much fun racing there.

Who is your favorite professional racer and why?

Ken Roczen because I love his riding style and his comeback story. True Grit and determination.

Who would you like to thank for helping you out?

Troy Lee Designs for keeping me kitted out, Factory Connection for the smooth ride, and Colleen and the MTF crew for their awesome training program. Dad has been, and will always be there for me and I’d love to thank him for that, too.