Teenage Australian international Tiger Wood has been all over the map in recent years, racing his way towards a professional career in the United States, with a pit stop in Canada providing valuable experience for the young racer. A third place in Birmingham’s SMX Next main event on debut with Phoenix Racing Honda is another notch in his belt towards the pro ranks and in this Five Questions, 18-year-old Wood details his journey so far.

Image: Octopi Media.

Tiger, SMX Next is really good for guys like you who are making your way into the pro ranks. You get to do autograph signings and experience a full Supercross day. Was there anything that stood out to you that you weren’t maybe expecting today?

Yeah, probably just planning your day. This is only my second one, so yeah, I’m just learning how to plan your day, eat at the right times, nutrition and all that. There’s a lot of learning to be done, but I’m pretty happy with how tonight went. There’s definitely more [to give], though.

You spent this season and this last summer up in Canada racing the Triple Crown series. You told us how that experience was like jumping off into the deep end. How much do you feel like that experience prepared you for SMX Next tonight?

I think it definitely did [help]. Not racing any 250 races in the A and B classes [in America] before I went and did that was…it was a struggle up there, I’m not going to lie. But I learned a lot and I think it has helped me get ready for these SMX Next races and the future moto combines, so I think it helped me a lot.

Image: Octopi Media.

How does this podium here tonight rank out of all your current career podiums, and what kind of hope does that give you now, heading into your pro career?

Yeah, it’s a big boost of confidence for me, for sure. I haven’t been on the podium since Loretta’s in ’23, so yeah, it’s been a long time, and it’s a confidence booster moving forward.

How does this change your outlook for the future?

Probably just coming into these next races a little bit more relaxed. Just knowing that I belong up front and not worrying about anything else, just myself and how I can attack the track and learn it and put some fast laps down in qualifying. Then, have a solid main event afterward. I’m probably going to be a little bit more relaxed from now on and confident in myself.

Image: Octopi Media.

In this race, everybody was going down in front of you. Could you tell me what your mindset is? Do you get excited and ‘Okay, I’m picking up a spot,’ or is that you think ‘I need to settle down and not crash’ because this track’s biting some people?

Yeah, I think that it’s a big part of it, especially now our class, everybody learning. A lot of people went down [tonight], but there’s so much else to focus on out there that I don’t get too high or low about it. It’s just make the pass, and then instantly back to focusing on your own race, so I don’t pay too close attention to it.