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Motovan Presents MXP Chatter With Tanner Ward

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For the past few weeks, all of us have been tuning in to the Saturday night broadcasts of the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Series to watch riders like Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb, and Jason Anderson battle hard in the 450SX class. But we also have been tuning to see one of our favourite Canadian riders Tanner Ward compete in the 250SX East Series. This is Tanner’s first time racing Supercross and although he hasn’t made a main event yet, he’s been getting better and better with each race. On Saturday night in Detroit Tanner was riding great all day long and ended up just missing the main event by two positions. This coming weekend Tanner will head to Indianapolis to compete in his final race of the 250SX East Series. After that, he will head to the GPF Training Facility to begin testing his new Thor/Kawasaki/Pro Circuit Race Team KX450F for this summer’s Triple Crown Series. We caught up with Tanner as he was back home in Woodstock, Ontario getting recharged before heading to Indy on Friday.

MXP: Hey Tanner, how are things this week?

TW: Things are great! After Detroit, I drove back to Woodstock for the week to kind of recharge a little bit and get away from the grind. I’m still doing some gym workouts but mostly I’m just relaxing. Also, Montanna and I got the keys to our new place in Woodstock so we had to do some moving yesterday. Other than that, all is good and this weekend I’m heading to Indianapolis.

Getting a new place to live is always exciting. Did you guys buy a house in Woodstock?

No, we’re just renting again. I can’t afford a house yet Palms (laughs).

Well, you’re moving to the 450 class this summer so soon you’ll be able to buy a house. Okay, let’s talk about Detroit and how the day went. Although you came up a little short again of making the 250SX East main event you had your best ride of the series so far?

Thanks! I felt great all day and I really gelled with the track. I don’t know, I didn’t have a great qualifying session in the afternoon but in my heat race, I was able to get off to a good start and almost made the main event from there. I was pretty mad that I let Weltin, Simonson, and then Smith by at the end. At one point I was inside the Top 9 but honestly, in that race, I was finding it hard to breathe and I really cramped up. I think it was because of the fireworks they let off during opening ceremonies as the stadium was still full of smoke. It’s no excuse as all of the riders had to deal with it, but for whatever reason, it really affected me.

Tanner had his best race of the season so far in Detroit. Photo by Matt Wellumson

At the best of times, the fumes are bad inside some of these stadiums, but with you being the first heat race of the evening the fireworks would make the conditions even worse. Anyway, you mentioned that you liked the Detroit track, but was there a section that you were struggling with during the heat race that allowed riders like Weltin and Simonson to take advantage?

I felt good everywhere, even in the whoop section I felt like my speed was better than it has been all series long. If there was any section where I felt like I could’ve been better I think it was the dragon’s back section after the finish line. In practice, it was a little steep and we were kind of jumping on and then jumping off. But in my heat race, it was knocked down a bit so you could just skim up over it. I didn’t make that adjustment and that is where Weltin passed me.

Even in the LCQ you were fast and just missed the main event. We’re you happy overall with how the night went?

For sure! I was riding good and for the first time, I put myself in a position where I could make it into the main event. I think it’s all a process and so far I’ve been getting better and better with each round. I’ve been feeling more comfortable on the bike and with the tracks, and then finally, I was able to get some good starts in Detroit. I don’t know, it kind of feels like it’s all coming together so hopefully I can end my 250SX East Series off on a high note this weekend and make it into the main.

Tanner knew coming into the 250SX East Series that he would have a steep learning curve. Photo by Matt Wellumson

It’s like the road to success at any level in this sport Tanner, it’s a process and it doesn’t happen overnight. As you just mentioned, you’ve been improving each weekend and then you go back to the practice track during the week and work on things. Then you go to the following round and try and apply what you’ve learned. It looks as though that is exactly what you’ve been doing and judging by your results in Detroit, it’s working.

You’ve exactly right it is a process and since this is my first time racing SX it’s definitely been a steep learning curve. Detroit was a big step forward mentally for me because I was finally able to run with some fast riders and see what the pace is like. That was important for me.

One thing I’m interested in hearing your take on is the difference between practicing during the week and then racing on the weekend. Even if you’re riding real SX practice tracks during the week really well, learning to actually race a SX is a whole other story wouldn’t you say?

I completely agree and that has been the biggest thing I’ve had to learn throughout the series. Even though I spent months riding a SX track in Florida, figuring out how to race on Saturday night has been challenging. Not only are you trying to ride the track and not crash, but you’re also battling other riders while the track is changing constantly. It’s been fun but challenging at the same time. Looking ahead to next year and I hope I can do this series again and take what I’ve learned and see how 2023 goes. I knew it would be a multi-year process so we’ll try and get through Indianapolis healthy and go from there.

Well, my next question what is your plan after Indy. Are you coming back home for a bit or are you heading South again?

No, this week was my little break at home and after Indy, I’m headed to GPF to begin testing my 450. I’m excited to get on the bigger bike and see how it is. We have a lot of work to do to get ready for the Triple Crown Series so we have to get to it. As I said, SX has been fun but my main focus this year is moving to the 450 class and being a part of the Thor/ Kawasaki/ Pro Circuit Team. I’m looking forward to getting to GPF and begin testing with my new team.

That does sound exciting. Have you ridden the KX450F yet?

No, I haven’t, so far I’ve just been riding the KX250F. It looks as though Gopher Dunes is opening later week so I might take my 450 down there on Thursday and do some riding prior to leaving for Indy on Friday.

Tanner has been really enjoying his new Kawasaki and he looks forward to testing the KX450F next week.

Well, maybe I’ll see you at Gopher Dunes on Thursday. When we were talking about Detroit earlier I meant to ask about riding media day on Friday. This was was your first media day of the series and I don’t think it was a coincidence that you had your best race the next day. Did riding the track on Friday make a big difference with how you felt on Saturday?

For sure it did. Just to be able to get all of the jumps down on Friday made a big difference. Once I got on the track on Saturday I could just go for it and work on my riding and not have to worry about learning the track. I got on the list late for media day so I ended up going out in the second session with the top 450 riders. So I was on the track with Sexton, Tomac, and all of the good guys. I was a little nervous, to be honest, but it all worked out and I ended up having a lot of fun. Obviously, the more track time you can get the better when it comes to feeling comfortable.

Well Tanner, it sounds as though you have an exciting time ahead of you with the Indianapolis SX this weekend and then testing your new KX450F after that. Good luck this weekend and thanks for taking the time to chat with us.

No worries Palms! Thanks for calling and yes the next few months should be fun. I can’t wait!

Chris Pomeroy: 1989 Rookie-of-the-year and former nationally ranked pro racer who turned into a dirt oriented scribe
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