BigMxRadio
If Tiger Wood isn’t on your radar, congratulations on waking up from your coma. We’re glad to have you with us. The first thing that jumps out at you when watching Tiger Wood aside from the wind burn you got when he flew past you is his genuine love for what he does. Motocross is easy to fall in love with but racing and training can be a full-time job. It’s pretty clear to me that Tiger cherishes how far he’s come as well as where it all started.
“Back is Australia I started riding and I loved it,” he told Vurbmoto. “I didn’t take it that seriously. Just riding on weekends and going to school during the week. Sometimes, my dad would pick me up early to go to riding and those were the best days of my life at the time.”
Wood understands that to be successful at anything in life, discipline and sacrifices are required. He also understands that doesn’t only apply to himself. Tiger recognizes the effect and sacrifices of his family, and the height of those kind gestures is not something he takes lightly.
“It takes a village to raise a child” is a common saying that certainly applies to motocross racers as well. Rider, parents, family, and sponsors have to be all in if a rider’s potential is to be realized. Many riders can recognize their own efforts, but some can be blind to the efforts of those around them. That is not the case for young Tiger Wood.
“My family has made huge sacrifices to make all this happen for me,” he said. “My dad is here with me this weekend, but my mom and sister are back in Cairo [Georgia] because she has school. I know they’d want to be here with me, but they’ve got their own dreams I appreciate everything they do for me.”
Tiger is 16 years old but only just graduated to a full-size GasGas MC 125. Being small in stature may very well help his progression as he will be given time to mature on and off the bike. Competing aboard a 125 two-stroke this year and moving up to the 250 four-stroke for 2024. We could very well see Tiger stalking his competition for at least this and one more season before following in the footsteps of fellow Australians like Chad Reed, Michael Byrne and the Lawrence brothers, to name a few.
Wood is exercising active patience as he knows there is much work to be done before turning pro. At the same time, the 16-year-old is champing at the bit.
“We have a general plan,” he said. “Maybe a couple years on a 250 before I turn pro but that will be determined by how I’m progressing. That will let me know when it’s me time because I don’t want to rush into it, but I obviously don’t want to be amateur for too much longer.”
Like all moto kids, Tiger is just riding his bike and getting more comfortable on it. Though pressure and expectations are high, you can tell just by listening to him speak about riding that it’s still a ton of fun for him and that probably is what helps him stay positive over everything else.
“Nothing compares to the 1-2-5. She’s fast! Can’t beat a hot hot day and just letting her eat,” he says.
Time will tell what’s to become of the young Aussie with the ear to ear grim plastered across his face. His drive is matched only his love for the sport, and both will serve him well along this journey. The program might say Thomas Wood but to the announcers and fans who yell his name, it’s Tiger Wood and this young Australian is just getting started.
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