Ryno Power Canada Presents MXP Chatter With Tanner Ward

After an incredible rookie season in 2017, Tanner Ward came into last season looking to build on his success from the year before. However, like most young pro riders, Tanner quickly learned last year that sometimes your sophomore season doesn’t always go as planned. When his brother Jeff sadly passed away on July 2^nd, Tanner was forced to deal with his family tragedy while still trying to win races. With the very difficult season behind him, Tanner is now solely focused on 2019 and trying to win his first pro championship. We caught up with the popular Ontario rider while he was preparing for Thursday night’s Pro Circuit Open race in Florida.

MXP: Hey Tanner, it feels like it’s been a while since we last spoke. I’ve seen a lot of your Social Media posts saying you’ve been down training in Florida. Where exactly are you?

TW: I’m staying in my trailer right at the Bithlo track near Orlando. I have a friend staying with me, and also my uncle lives close. We have a good set-up here and the track is pretty good.

Does Bithlo still have those Wednesday night practice sessions under the lights?

I’m not sure, they haven’t had them since I’ve been here. I have been here before though when they’ve had them and they’re definitely a lot of fun.

So, we’re pretty much a month away from the opening round of the 2019 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Series. How has the training been going?

Everything has been going really well. When I got down here I only had a KTM 350 to ride so that was actually a lot of fun. I have a 250 now so I’ll be spending my days riding that now.

Okay, so you really don’t even have much time on the 2019 KTM 250SX-F?

Not at all! I just got a 250 to practice on and this week. I’ll be heading over to a race at the Tampa MX Park, so I’m looking forward to that.

How is the new KTM 250SX-F compared to last year?

The new bike seems to work really well. The motor is easier to use, and it has a little more bottom end. I thought my practice bike last year lacked some torque whereas my race bike motor was unbelievable to ride. Sometimes it was difficult to adjust to my race bike on Saturdays after riding my practice bike all week. With the 2019 KTM250 being better right from stock, I cannot wait to see how good my race bike is going to be.

What is the time frame for you as far as testing goes for the upcoming season?

Well, we have our team photo shoot coming up in a few weeks and that is when we’ll all get our race bikes and really dig into testing. It will be good to meet up with everyone, and with Jess Pettis coming to the team in 2019, it will be fun to have him around also.

From what I’ve heard so far, only Cole Thompson will be doing the AXTour rounds while you and Jess will wait for the MXTour opener in Calgary to make your season debut.

That is correct, right now I’m just focusing on the outdoor series and trying to get ready for that. I may race the final two AX races in Sarnia and Barrie if I’m home by then and if the weather is good, but other than that I’ll just be focusing on Calgary.

Was that your decision or was it a team decision?

We decided as a team. The indoor races were fun last year, and I had some good results at a few, but I think the MXTour Series is what you’re still judged on and that it why I want to be ready for that.

So the plan is to race the outdoor series and then the indoors in the fall?

Exactly! I still love racing indoor races and I’ll definitely be doing the SXTour as well. I just think it’s too hard to have to train on AX tracks right now to be ready for the AXTour Series, and then also have to train on outdoor tracks so we’re ready for Calgary. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was good to get some gate drops in last year before the outdoor series. That is why I might race Sarnia and Barrie, just to get a couple of intense races in before Calgary. We’ll see what happens.

Let’s go back to last season for a minute. You ended up fourth overall in the Triple Crown Series, which was great. How do you feel the 2018 season went?

Overall, I think it was a good season, I had some great finishes and some good rides. I just think I struggled with consistency. I really think that’s what held me back from 2018 being a really good year. With so many fast riders in the 250 class you really need to be up front off the start in every moto. My starts were decent last year but they weren’t always great.

Even with being a little inconsistent, you still had a few podiums and battles up front.

Yes, my podium at Gopher Dunes was really special on so many different levels. With what my family was going through at the time, to have them all at Gopher Dunes cheering me on was really special. I rode hard that day, and to get on the podium at the toughest race of the year was unforgettable.

You went through events last summer that no one should ever have to go through, yet you still battled hard and never quit. Looking back now, you must be very proud of how you handled that terrible adversity.

Yes, it was definitely a difficult time for our family, and it was tough to remain focused and still go racing, but this is my job and I knew that I still had to go out and try to perform. I also know that moving forward nothing will be as tough as what I went through last summer, so I know that I’m able to deal with just about anything that comes my way.

One of things that I’ve noticed about you Tanner is that despite all of your success both as an amateur and as a young pro rider, you’re really still the same likeable, down to earth kid as you’ve always been.

Thanks! I mean I sure try to be. Why change as a person just because I know how to ride a dirt bike? I really have to thank my Dad for that as he’s always taught me to work hard, be humble, and to just let the riding do the talking. I’m so grateful for where I am in this sport and I’m also grateful for all of the friends I’ve made over the years. At the end of the day I just love riding my dirt bike.

Your joy for this sport is evident every time you’re at the track, Tanner. Please try and never lose that enthusiasm. Thanks for your time Tanner. Enjoy the rest of your time in Florida and we’ll see you when you return.

Thanks Palms! I can’t wait to get the season started and see what happens. I think 2019 is going to be a good season for the Red Bull Thor KTM Team.