"Success is what comes after you stop making excuses"- Tom Ward
The psychology of motorsport is a complex concept and an individual's mindset is the one factor that determines a winner. A winner is someone who wants it more that anyone else around them. I caught up with National Superstock rider Tom Ward to understand a riders mentality.
Tom Ward rides with IN Competition Aprilia in the National Superstock 1000 Championship. He is also the current “Lord” of Lydden after multiple new lap records and wins.
Tom Began racing at a young age due to his desire for competition. “I remember really enjoying the speed and exhilaration of riding and being a really competitive person, the competition aspect drew me in”. However the necessity for a strong mindset became apparent when a decision of continuing to race had to be made, “I did genuinely enjoy it but I never saw it getting anywhere and I never thought I was a good rider. I had a total lack of confidence so I always thought ‘all these riders are better than me”.
Despite a confidence knock and a year out of racing in 2013, Tom was still hungry for competition and to be on the podium. Tom came to the realisation of what he wanted on a ski trip with his friends, watching ski professionals do triple backflips and they were all in sheer amazement and it wasn't until one of Toms friends turned to him and told him “When we go to a race meeting, people look at you in the same way".
So in 2014 Tom knuckled down in training and focused his mind on what he wanted and by 2015 he had established many top ten finishes, and in 2016 Tom secured his first win in Superstock 600. 2016 proved to show that Tom is capable of running at the front and being a championship contender due to hard work, resilience and focus.
In the 2022 Superstock 1000 championship, Wardy wowed everyone with one of his best seasons yet, with consistently running in the top 5 and multiple podiums.
Tom proved that putting in the graft and grabbing each opportunity with both hands, pays off.
As we know motorsport comes with a number of cons, due to the danger of it which can be seen at the notorious Isle of Man TT which raises many questions such as, “why do it?”, “is it worth it?” and all the riders will tell you it is worth it.
Racing is an addiction, as strong as any other common addiction such as smoking. The brain registers pleasure, in the same way, no matter what the cause. When pleasure is received in the brain, in this case, speed and exhilaration, dopamine is released. Chemicals whether artificial or natural, in this case, adrenaline, causes a powerful surge in dopamine and it is that feeling that leads to addiction. So when riders are hitting the apex at incredible speeds and spraying champagne from the top step, they can become addicted to the feeling.
Tom acknowledges the addictive side of the sport as he says “I am a really competitive person but I do it more for the feeling you get more than outright winning, so when you get that adrenaline and genuine satisfaction like when you get your knee down, you just want to keep going”.
Many find it difficult to break away from the sport, for example, Valentino Rossi with his Ranch as well as Colin Edwards and his Ranch. And in the UK, Peter Hickman “Hicky”, created PHR Performance which allows him to be constantly involved with bikes. When on the podcast Chasin The Racin, Hicky explains as to why he set up PHRP and takes part in running the Ohvale Championship “I can't race forever, as much as I’d like to I can't, so this means I can stay around bikes and work on bikes after racing”. This is a prime example that riders do not want to leave the industry as their life has revolved around it for so many years. If they were to cut that life off for good, they would have ‘withdrawal symptoms’ as it were or they would fill their time with more adrenaline-fuelled ventures such as skydiving.
This just shows how powerful life within motorsport, especially superbike racing, is on an individual. Riders struggle to take breaks or find something new to do as they are so consumed by the love and passion they have for their feelings when they race. Many riders, like Tom, are still young and at the beginning of their journey in the superbike world but they understand maybe more so than ever how vital a strong mindset is and how far up the grid it will get you.
Comments