THE DIRTY DOZEN - TIGER WOOD
After a great season in 2021, we catch up with Tiger Wood's and go over his season last year and the start to his 2022 season. Many changes have happened for this young man and everything seems to be going his way. Read the interview below to find out more about him!
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR 2022?
My main goal for 2022 is to win Loretta’s in both Supermini 1 and Supermini 2. To do that I need to give my training 100% to get better on my bike, get better at racing and if I can do that I should be where I want to be.
WHEN DID YOU START RACING?
I started racing in Australia when I was 7, attending local races at a very low level and found that I loved the sport. From there I kept on progressing and my parents gave me the opportunity to train and race in America. My first race in America was Mini O’s 2017 with 9th being my best finish in 65 10-11 Class.
WHO’S YOUR FAVOURITE PRO RIDER AND WHY?
It’s either Eli Tomas, or Jason Anderson because they’re both very humble, have great technique on the bike and are crazy fast!
YOU WERE ABLE TO BRING HOME 3 TITLES FROM SPRING NATIONALS, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR PERFORMANCE AND WHAT WAS YOUR BEST MEMORY FROM THE SPRING NATIONALS?
I felt my performance at Springs Nationals was good overall but I can definitely improve. Daytona was a great weekend. I didn’t get great starts in the heat races, but I was able to secure 4th in each race which meant good enough gate picks for the mains. In the main event I was able to get great starts, I focused on my own riding and was able to maintain good intensity the whole moto and came away with the win in both classes. We then went onto Freestone where I struggled with the track conditions being more hard packed and slippery than I’m used to. I really need to get better at hard pack tracks because I’ll be racing those in the future for sure. I still managed a 4th and 5th overall. Spring a Ding was another good week winning 3 out of my 4 motos and coming away with a first and second overall. I loved the track, and definitely felt more at home. I was able to get good starts and was able to ride how I know I can ride.
My best memory from Spring Nationals was definitely winning my first title at Daytona. It was a great feeling knowing I executed what I knew I could do and coming out on top.
HOW HAS THE SWITCH TO GAS GAS BEEN FOR YOU?
The switch to Gas Gas has been awesome! It hasn’t been a big change as I rode a KTM before but love the bike and feel at home on it. Being on the Gas Gas Amateur Team and having the support of Buddy and Maddie has helped a lot.
YOU SHOWED AN EXTREMELY STRONG PERFORMANCE AT MINI O’S 2021, HOW DID IT FEEL FOR YOU TO GO OUT THERE AND GET THE JOB DONE LIKE YOU DID?
It felt great! It was a great feeling knowing that I executed exactly what I needed to do each moto. I won a lot of motos that week, all of them were hard fought for and to be able to maintain focus and be consistent was key for me. We focused one moto at a time with the aim to ride that moto the best we could and it paid off. To then be awarded the Platinum Pipe Award and Bronze Boot Award was surreal.
BEING NEW TO THE DUNLOP ELITE TEAM, HOW HAS IT BEEN BEING APART OF THAT TEAM AND TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT HOW YOU FIRST FOUND OUT YOU WERE APART OF THE TEAM.
Being part of the Dunlop Elite Team is a great experience and knowing that some of the top Pro’s in the sport have been a part of this program gives me confidence I’m on a good path. Right after my second last moto at Mini O’s I was asked to do a Dunlop interview post race. I had done a few of these before so wasn’t expecting anything too different. But then at this interview I said my name to the camera as usual and then Rob Fox put a hat on my head, and said “And I ride for Team Dunlop Elite”! It wasn’t until I actually said the words that I knew what had just happened. I’d always wanted to be a part of this program since moving to America and knowing that I was one of the team riders was just an amazing feeling.
Being able to participate in all the things Dunlop has to offer such as my Race Day Live Interview, Dunlop Elite Photo Shoot and the Dunlop Elite Dinner for the team that Rob Fox organized is such an amazing opportunity. At the Dunlop Elite Team Dinner we heard from industry insiders willing to share their knowledge and provide guidance about the sport to all of the Dunlop Team. It’s a real tight group of riders and to be included in that felt very special to me.
YOU’VE FINISHED UP ALL YOUR AREA QUALIFIERS, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT REGIONALS COMING UP?
I feel ready for regionals. I have been training hard and I’m excited to try to punch my ticket for the Loretta Lynn Nationals. After what has happened to Waverley this year, it’s going to be amazing to get back and race the event and support the town.
TRAINING AT MTF HAS HAD TO HAVE GIVEN YOU MANY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING WITH THEM AND HOW MUCH DO THEY CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR RACING SUCCESS?
I came to MTF late in 2017 for a short period of time before Mini O’s. It didn’t take me long to realise I loved the training and the work that we do at MTF each day. I’ve pretty much been here ever since! I came to MTF as a mid pack 65 rider wanting to get better, and MTF have taught me everything I have needed to know to get me where I am today. As I’ve improved MTF have taken me to the next level in racing and racing techniques so they are key to my success. Being able to watch the pros train at MTF is great too. Colleen and Little B put a lot of work into their program to make sure many riders like me get the best opportunity to succeed. I’m very thankful for everything MTF does for me.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND TRAINING ON A NORMAL WEEK?
In a normal week at MTF we train 4 times a week on the bike which gives us plenty of seat time and 5 times a week in the gym trying to get stronger and better balanced.
WHAT ARE YOUR GO TO MEALS TO COOK AT HOME?
I always start the day with an egg omlette or scrambled eggs and I love a good stir fry for dinner.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO THANK AND WHO HAS HELPED YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE AT?
I would like to thank a lot of people! I have had a lot of people help me but Dad has been there to help me since day 1. He’s always encouraged me, tried to make me as fast as I can be and is always supportive. My mom, my 2 sisters, Collen, Big B, Little B, David Walls and everybody at MTF have all been amazing. Max Lee at Troy Lee Designs has been a long time supporter and I’m very appreciative of that. Factory Connection have helped with my suspension for years and we have built a great relationship. I have also been lucky enough for some other great sponsors that have been a part of my program and racing including Gas Gas, Dunlop, Monster, Lynk’s Racing, FMF, 100%, Alpine Stars, Protaper and Guts Racing. Having all these people behind me keeps me wanting to succeed.