Frid’Eh Update #2 | Tanner Ward | Brought to You by Dirt Care
By Billy Rainford
Welcome to Week #2 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update brought to you by Dirt Care. I’m currently sitting in the Media Room at International Centre in Toronto, Ontario, for rounds 4 and 5 of the 2026 AMA FIM Arenacross Championship. The track looks pretty good. I’ve been told there was a building being built somewhere nearby, so they had them truck all the dirt over from that for the track here. Doing the track is Vision Built Tracks. I saw Brandon Dean and Trever Hall in the skidstears.
It’s nice to be at a race in January here in Canada! Daryl Murphy is here with his CMA/FIM collared shirt on. Scott Tokley is also here, of course. I even saw Taylor Ciampicini helping out! He said he’s working like 3 jobs these days.
We’ve also now crossed into the 3rd generation of Thompsons working for Triple Crown/Jetwerx. Jax Thompson is Jay Thompson‘s son and I’m not sure I’d say he’s thrilled to be here, but he’s here.
All the regular media types are in the building as well, so it feels like home here!
This is the first double-header of the AX series. After heading to Memphis on January 24th, the series crossed back north of the border for the 2nd double-header in Calgary, Alberta, on January 30,31.
AX Lites is open to any Pro on a 250 not currently in the AX Pro top 5.
Be sure to watch all the action live on RydeTV where I think Ryan Gauld may be announcing solo again this week. Racing begins at 7:30pm Eastern.
I feel like we’ve forgotten about Tanner Ward for these Frid’Eh Update interviews, but it’s not my fault.; career numbers are to blame. Tanner finished 2nd in the 450 class in 2025 but runs #84 as his career number. He came very close to taking the title from eventual winner Phil Nicoletti at the final round at Walton Raceway, but came up a little short. He had one of the nastiest crashes of the summer and finished 2nd. We talk about the crash.
Tanner also got the chance to represent Team Canada MXON at Ironman MX this past fall where, unfortunately, we came up a little short of making the A Mains.
Tanner is another one of those riders who we’ve all been paying attention to since he was on the smallest bikes out there. I remember doing an interview with him by the headlights of my 1989 Buick Electra Estate Wagon at the end of the Mini O’s at Gatorback many years ago.
Let’s get to our interview to hear what he had to say:
Direct Motocross: Hello, Tanner. With these new career numbers, we haven’t done one of these with you in a while. It sounds crazy to say, but you’re now one of the veteran pro riders, so I think we may need to back up again for just a second. For the younger crowd out there, can you tell us how you got started in racing in the first place. What year would that have been and were you playing any other sports at the same time?
Tanner Ward: Hey, Billy! Yes, unfortunately I am considered a veteran of the sport now. Haha. All jokes aside, I got into racing when I was 3 years old. I had 3 older brothers that were all racing by the time I was born, so it was inevitable that I’d be a racer. That was back in 2002 and I would have just been getting into hockey as well at that time.
Let’s get your numbers. How old are you and what’s your height and weight?
I’m 26 years old, I’m about 5’8 and weighing about 165 pounds.
You came up through the ranks and raced all the big American amateur nationals along the way. You were on the Orange Brigade with KTM Canada and then turned Pro. What year was you rookie Pro year and how did it go?
My first full year pro was 2018, after doing the east coast in 2017 as an Intermediate. 2018 was full of ups and downs, got a few podiums but also had some horrific races.
Fast-forward to this past season and you came as close as can be to winning a 450 title here in Canada. I think enough time has passed now that we can talk about it. Lol. First off, that pass on Lars Van Berkel at Deschambault. Can you sum that up for us and do you think maybe you’re forced them to mark the course batter moving forward?
Yea.. that was an interesting day to say the least. It was the last corner and I fought the entire moto to come from behind after a bad start then going down trying to pass Lars, who was riding a very wide bike, so at that point I knew I had to go for it around the outside and Lars decided to hop the inside berm and punt me. I didn’t let off and in my eyes still stayed on the track. As for going forward, yes, I think they’ll be more focused a properly marking the track but I also think the tracks need to take some responsibility and not make the track a dozer blade wide. It’s guaranteed to have situations like this happen.
You appealed the penalty and got you points back, which meant you were 8 points down on Phil Nicoletti heading into Walton. You got by him in the first moto and it looked like you could have gone after Jess Pettis to maybe gain valuable points going into moto 2. Tell us about that.
My goal going into Walton was bring it down to the last moto. The only other time I’ve ever been in a championship fight at the last round, I took myself out the first lap of moto 1 and it was over from there. So once I got by Phil, Dylan and Jess had a pretty big lead, I tried making a push and Jess and I just matched each other till the checkers.
And then it all ended in moto 2 with that very scary crash. Tell us about that crash and what it all meant to you.
That crash haunts me still but at the end of the day I can hang my hat on that I didn’t leave anything on the table. I was catching Jess and I could see behind me that Phil was slowly going backwards. I knew if I made the pass on Jess that it could only help my chances. Unfortunately, just hit a hole leading into the rollers and it was all over from there. It’s unfortunate and I feel like that was the best riding of my career and it’s not like I was having to hang it out to ride that pace, so I know it’s in there!
So, you still finished 2nd overall but it was a pretty unique situation with Jess and Dylan Wright both being out of the conversation with crashes. Has all of this motivated you to work that much harder for this upcoming 2026 season? Are you doing anything differently?
100%! Those who know me know I want to win more than I want to breathe! Sometimes, I think it actually hinders me how badly I want to win and to come so close to it and not achieve pisses me off, to be honest. I’ll be doing everything in my power to put myself in a position at Walton again to achieve that goal!
I don’t have children but I wonder if having one would make me ride more cautiously or harder to earn more money. Which one is it for you with your young one?
That’s a good question. I can’t say either. I’d say the biggest thing is that it has brought a lot of perspective to my life and helps me separate my daily riding from my home life. Diapers are expensive, so it’s definitely motivation to make more money. Lol.
You’re also the one behind the Ride with Me charity ride at Walton Raceway every year. We always end it with a sprint and you took the W this year, so congratulations on that. With this new schedule change for the TransCan in 2026 have you got the timing of the event figured out yet?
That’s been a conversation between Montanna and me as of late. We’re not 100% sure what it’s going to look like for 2026 with the changes. Typically, we’re there all week selling raffle tickets, t shirts, hats, etc., then do the ride on the Saturday prior to our race, but with how it’s looking this year we’re not exactly sure what makes most sense. We’ll have all the details out on the that soon.
I just checked out your Instagram page and I noticed a couple things. First off, let’s talk about this winter 10K running race you did. What was that all about and was that pass at the end of it for the win? Dario Zecca asks you about it. What was your time?
It’s just a fun little race Dario and I have done for the last two years now. It’s a 10k race through some MTB trails, so it’s pretty tough! No, I didn’t not win. Lol I believe I got 9th or something like that, but I did beat Dario, so that’s a win in my books. Lol. I had to look back on Strava and it was 11k total and I did it in an hour and one minute. Running has always been a weakness of mine, so no records being broke over here!
And how about your history with Todd Schumlick at Perform X? How’s all that going for you?
I’ve been working with Todd since 2021 and it’s been really good. Todd’s been involved with some serious talent and tons of champions; it’s hard not to listen to what he has to say. We’re at the point now where he really understands me and we’re able to communicate really well, which allows us to really focus on getting better!
And you’re down in Tampa, Florida? Where are you based for the winter and what’s the racing/training plan for the winter?
I’m in Dade City right now and mainly riding at Futures MX. I’m renting a room and shop off of Tyson Johnson. I’m currently racing all the Winter Ams. Once they’re done on February 1st, I’ll be heading home for 3 weeks to help Montanna transition back to work and Hudson starting daycare! I’ll come back down here to Dade until March 12th. The team’s coming down to do some testing around then as well. Then from March 15-April 15, Quinn (Amyotte), Cole (Pranger) and I will be going to Club MX before heading home.
Are you an HVAC guy now too?
I am not. I was working for Priority Mechanical last year just as a shop guy before I had a big crash at Vision Built in November. The plan is to start the apprenticeship within the next couple of years. Peter Knoop and I sat down after MXoN and that’s where we came up with the plan to come down here and race the Winter Ams. I feel it’s really important to continue to race. I’ve expressed it quite a bit over the last few years, but sitting around from the end of August until February/March wasn’t doing me any good as a racer. I’m 26 right now and don’t want to leave anything on the table when my racing career comes to an end!
Will you line up at a few pre-season races here in Ontario before we head west for the start of the Triple Crown Series?
Yes for sure, I’ll do Gopher Dunes and Auburn MX for sure!
OK, maybe you’re glad we haven’t done one of these in a while! Lol. Good luck with your preparation and we’ll see you soon. Who would you like to thank?
Thanks Billy, looking forward to it! A big thank you to the entire Priority MX, Thor, GasGas team. All the sponsors that support the team that allow us to go racing and to live my childhood dream! Most importantly Wendy, Peter, Justin, Jadon & Montanna.
The action is coming at us non-stop now here in Toronto. Amateurs on little bikes have just hit the track, so I need to get back out there. Have a great weekend, everyone, and enjoy Arenacross on RydeTV Friday and Saturday, and Round 1 of Supercross on Saturday.
We’ve got Tyler Gibbs, Blake Davies, and Preston Masciangelo, to cheer for out in California.
Here’s a lap of the Toronto track with Ryan Breece in qualifying.
Let’s go watch Thompson and Breece have some fun…
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