Tim Ferry is quite possibly one of the most versatile racers ever. The 33-year-old longtime veteran out of Florida has raced on several different teams throughout his career, including Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, and currently the Monster Energy Kawasaki squad.

Ferry turned pro in 1991 and earned his first national points at the Binghamton, New York, circuit. By 1992, Ferry started to establish himself, and earned the coveted AMA Rookie of the Year Award. The following two years would see Ferry ride for the Rossini Racing team, first aboard a Yamaha, then, in 1993, the team switched to Hondas. He showed enough promise in his early years to earn a ride with Suzuki in 1995, and it was here that he earned the 1997 East Coast Lites Championship. Interestingly, Ferry earned his title over the infamous Ricky Carmichael. Carmichael won more races, but Ferry’s consistency (despite winning no races) aided in his bid for the championship.

After being dropped from Suzuki at the end of that year, Ferry was picked up by the Noleen Yamaha team, and then the Chaparral Yamaha squad. He rode there until 2000 and earned numerous top-ten finishes along the way. The two-year stint on satellite Yamaha teams opened the door for Ferry, and he was moved to the factory rig for the 2001 season. The new factory Yamaha rider would win the opening round of the outdoor nationals, proving that his factory ride was no fluke. The 2001 season looked promising, as did the following two seasons, which saw Ferry earn second overall in the outdoor national standings in 2002, while 2003 contained four supercross podiums and eight top fives in the outdoor nationals. That same year, he earned fourth overall in the outdoors, and fifth overall in supercross. Unfortunately, Ferry’s luck would turn for the worse, and the 2004 and 2005 seasons were riddled with knee and wrist injuries that forced him to the sidelines. The untimely health problems would cause Ferry to lose his factory status for the 2006 season.

Ferry could’ve just quit, but instead, he decided – for his own benefit – that he would give it another run. In 2006 he did just that with the Moto XXX racing team. Aboard a Honda CRF450R, Ferry blasted to numerous top-five and top-ten finishes. Although another injury saw him miss the last two rounds of supercross, and the first two of motocross, Ferry still garnered eleventh overall indoors, and tenth overall during the outdoor nationals.

Having proved his health and worthiness on a privateer machine, he was rewarded with another factory ride, this time with the Monster Energy Kawasaki team. The 2007 season was definitely a highlight in Ferry’s apparently still blossoming career. In supercross, he earned third overall in the final standings, with thirteen top fives and six podiums. The outdoor season saw him win his first overall in six years at the forest-shaded track in Washougal, Washington. Ferry also competed in the Motocross of Nations, where he won the MX3 class and helped Ryan Villopoto and Ricky Carmichael take the prestigious overall championship for Team USA.

For 2008, Ferry continues to ride for Kawasaki alongside teammate James Stewart, and although a minor injury complicated his quest for a title, Ferry still finished the Monster Energy Supercross Series in sixth overall. Outdoors, he’s fighting it out for second.

Amateur Career

Tim Ferry’s Amateur career was definitely busy. The young rider out of West Palm Beach, Florida, started racing at age seven, and would win titles into the early ‘90s. Ferry’s father bought him a bike in 1982, and from then on, Ferry would earn a ride with the amateur powerhouse that is Team Green Kawasaki. The up-and-coming racer would compete at many races, but notably, he won seven titles at the infamous Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, one of the most popular and coveted races on the amateur circuit.

Ferry won his first Loretta Lynn’s Championship in 1988 with a win in the 85cc Stock (12-13) class. Two years later, in 1990, he won the 125 Stock (12-15) title and the 125 Modified (12-15) title. The year 1991 saw two more titles with the 125 A Stock class and the 125 A Modified Championship, although 1992 was the last year Ferry won amateur titles, with wins in the 125 A Modified and 250 Open A Modified classes.

Personal

Born on March 18, 1975, Tim Ferry was brought up in West Palm Beach, Florida. After moving his way through the amateur ranks, and achieving success in the Pro classes, Ferry has stayed true to his Floridian roots, and now currently resides in Dade City.

Ferry lives with his wife Evie, and his son Evan who was born in 2004. After living in California, Ferry returned to Florida and built his own supercross track on his property. A hard worker, he has been known to be up early, getting started on his training routine.

Definitely an active individual, Ferry enjoys Mountain Biking and weight lifting, which double as good cross-training opportunities. He also enjoys surfing and an occasional round of golf. Most of all, however, Ferry covets his time with his wife and son. John Leonard

Contributors: Alissa Gilligan , Bad Billy