Where Are They Now: Jeff Ward

So are you ready for this? Its pretty gnarly from what I hear!
Yeah, I think so. I am certainly up for challenges. I’ve done a few 12-hour mountain bike races as well as some long distance solo stuff. It’s just a matter of putting in more miles and seat time to get ready, and then making sure you have enough fuel to eat, and then just do it day in and day out for seven to eight days. As it is, I ride every day now already. But the outside elements will be our biggest obstacles, including weather and other things you can’t predict. But I feel confident about it. But honestly, I don’t have any reason to complain, with David and Doug doing the handcycles. The things they have to contend with make it much harder for them. So I have no excuses.

Micky Dymond asked me if I had done anything for 24 hours, to which I said yes. He then said to then multiply that effort times eight or nine (days), and that is what RAAM is like. Knowing how I felt after staying up for 24 hours, I could not imagine how hard it is.
Well, if you sit and think about it, it does scare you. And I know how far it is to ride from Newport Beach to Corona, and that’s hard—let alone to go from Oceanside to Annapolis! But the way we have it set up, and riding in segments and whatnot, there is a method behind it. Hopefully that program is doable. I can’t imagine doing it solo, that is a gnarly deal. I have driven 30 hours straight, but you do get tired and you can take a catnap. There will be times where we can rest and times where we can’t. Hopefully we don’t get sick, but that happens as well. Micky said there will be times when you are asleep and someone knocks on the door and says, “Hey, someone is sick or a bike is broken, you need to be ready in 20 minutes.” I do know that Micky and I will be doing some of the climbing, we are maybe three times quicker that way, but the schedule can always change in the mountains. It will be a tough battle, but David has done the Ironman and he knows what it takes. We have all been friends forever, so that part of it will be great. It’s certainly a once in lifetime experience. And even though he has not done a ton of events like this, Doug is Doug and he will push through whatever it takes. He is one of a kind, and always trying to find something better in himself.

All of your efforts are to raise money for the Road 2 Recovery. Tell me a little about that.
With Jimmy Button, as well as some of the guys that I have raced against and that have gotten hurt, raising money for them is one of the main reasons I’m doing this. We certainly are not getting paid for this, but it hopefully is going to bring in some more money for the guys who get hurt in our sport. And they are not just motocross; they also help all extreme sport athletes. Plus, we can show people that have been hurt that you can still challenge yourself and do stuff like this. For me, motocross is family, and that this is what it’s all about. The sport has been my family, and knowing what Doug and David have to go through, anything I can do to give back, I want to do.

Changing gears here, what are you up to besides riding your bicycle?
Well, I am still working and coaching Cole Seely. He is doing pretty well, but has recently had a bad few races. We were in third for the points, but then we had some bad races. It is kind of a mid-season slump that set us back. But overall, we are in a good position. Now it’s time to transition to the outdoors, which is hard while you still have to race supercross. Personally, I think this part of season is hard for guys to find motivation, and mainly due to fact that you are riding outdoors and testing for that, and then you have to focus on supercross. But Cole has really improved this year, and is much further ahead than last year. But you know, it’s tough once you move up to the 450. Look at guys like Marvin [Musquin] and [Jason] Anderson, it can take years to put it together. Although, [Eli] Tomac seems to be the exception. But next year I think you will certainly see a few more guys in the hunt.

What is your opinion on what Ken Roczen is facing?
Man, I don’t know. That was a bad deal, but it could have been way worse. I don’t know how bad his injury is, I am not really close with his group, but he is going to be coming back. It is just unfortunate for him, unfortunate for Honda, and even the fans and supercross in general. Kenny is such a great personality and racer, so everyone lost a little with him being out. It’s always tough to see that happen and with such an effort being put into it. Time will tell how he bounces back. Assuming everything heals, I think he will be fine and be back on top of his game.

How is your family doing?
They are doing well. We have four kids and my wife Candice and I are still living in Newport Beach. My oldest son, Brandon, is in the Army. He is serving in the intelligence division, and has been to Afghanistan a few times. He is going on two years in the Army, and he is all about the computers and intel around them. He was on the base where those guys sneaked on and blew themselves up just recently. Being over there is a pretty gnarly deal. He is doing really well, though. My son Ayerton, he is 19 and is into the racing. He is riding the B class and trying to make it to Loretta’s, which is not easy. Some of those kids are so fast, it’s crazy. But he is good rider and has made some great friends. He is also going to college locally while racing. He also has a twin brother Alain, but he is not that into riding. Maybe just for fun, but he never had a passion to race as a pro. He is going to college as well. And then my daughter Seinna, she is 17, and is off to college in Ohio.