TOM WARD

Burnell Switchgear & Control is proud to be sponsoring Tom Ward in the Superstock category of the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship – It is a series that takes certain stamina in competing up to 24 hours and having sponsored Tom in his motorsport since 2020, we know Tom has what it takes to go the distance and to travel fast! Tom joins Thomas Oliver, Michael Dunlop and Ben Luxton to form the SST team for TRT Racing. The Endurance World Cup Superstock circuits include 24 Heures Motos Le Mans on 20.04.24 – 21.04.24, the 8H SPA EWC Motos Belgium on 08.06.24, the Suzuka 8 Hours, Japan on 21.07.24 and the 24Hr Bol D’Or, Circuit Paul Ricard on 14.09.24. We wish Tom and all of his TRT Racing team all the best!

Click here to see the SST TRT27 AZ MOTO team for 2024

At the age of 30, Tom has 23 years of motorcycle racing experience and skills under his lid, having raced his first minimoto race at the age of seven years old, and won! Tom accelerated from the 50cc’s to compete in the GP70cc British Winter Series, the 125cc Aprilia Superteens and in 2010 Tom was named British Motorcycle Racing Club’s Young Rider of the Year in recognition of his performance in the EDI Asia 400 Championship. Tom was challenged by exceptionally experienced riders and successfully beat off stiff competition to finish fourth. In 2011 at the age of sweet sixteen Tom was studying for AS levels in art and photography at Archbishop’s School, Canterbury and English at St Anselm’s. Supported by his father and mechanic Clive, mother Jane and brother Sam, his head teacher at the time Michael Liddicoat and his sponsors, Tom also made his debut in the Triumph Triple Challenge that year. At a cost of £10,000 for all nine rounds, great joy was bestowed upon all that made the magic happen when Tom came in second at the qualifying round at Brands Hatch, in front of 60,000 people. Tom went on to finish 9th overall. In recent years Tom Ward has continued with his crowd pleasing accolade of winning; delivering podium finishes in the Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship between 2014 and 2017, at the British Supersport Championship in 2017 and the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship between 2018 and 2022.

Between 2001 and 2022 Tom Ward has proven himself to be one of the most talented motorcycle racers in the country, having delivered podium finishes at every competitive level ventured to date.

Q: Outside being one of the fastest on two wheels, what do you do for work?

A: I am a test rider for Royal Enfield. On a day to day basis my main task is to ride and test a bike for 250 miles a day. My official job title is Development Test Rider and I really enjoy our developing work. In the past my work has involved a one week and two month stay in Spain, travelling around Europe and on special tracks, testing certain parts on bikes. I am lucky to spend time on massive test tracks that have been designed and developed for major manufacturers of cars and bikes to carry out their secret testing. The average mileage stacks up to 1250 miles per week and I do love being on a bike for most of my minutes every day. Although I must add the weather does make a difference. In a car 250 miles a day is always great, but when you are on a bike for a long journey and it’s 4°c, it’s not so nice. Overall though, it’s really good to work for Royal Enfield and I am proud to work for them. After sixth form I did work for Dad in his car body repair shop for 3 – 4 years, I learnt the trade and have recently sprayed the bumpers of Alex Olsen’s van. A few years ago I had the joy of working with Bradley Ray, my friend had a car valeting business and we had a laugh cleaning cars.

Q: In the knowledge you and Bradley Ray are best friends, can you remember where you and Brad met for the first time?

A: Yes, we first met at the Lydd go-kart track.

Q: How long have you been friends with Bradley Ray?

A: For 22 years, I met Brad in 2001 when I was 7 years old.

Q: Are you able to pinpoint your funniest moment in Brad’s company?

A: Oh gosh, there are so many, can’t single one out, we have had lots of laughs over the years.

Q: Please could you share the story behind you being crowned Lord of Lydden?

A: Yes, of course. Lydden Hill is one of the oldest motorcycle racing events in the UK. In 2019 I entered to win the “Lord of Lydden” title at Lydden Hill, this being Lydden’s most prestigious trophy, awarded to the racer that achieves the fastest 41 second lap. Won by six-time British Superbike Champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and former Isle of Man TT rider Steve Mercer in the past, it was amazing to beat a 17-year-old lap record, coming over the finish line 6 – 7 seconds quicker! It has been an honour to be known as “Lord Ward, Lord of Lydden” and it was great to receive my trophy from Phil Read, one of the most decorated racers in our sport.

In your motorcycle racing career you have been lucky to compete in the UK and abroad:

Q: Do you have a favourite circuit in the UK and if so, why?

A: My favourite is Brands GP because it is my local one and I really enjoy the track. It is one where I generally do well.

Q: Do you have a favourite circuit abroad and if so, why?

A: It has got to be Assen in Holland. When the weather is good, it is an amazing, fast track and I have had good results there, it was great to get a podium finish at The Cathedral of Speed.

Q: If you could pick your most exciting weekend in the sport to date, which one would it be and why?

A: The Superstock 600 at Snetterton in 2016 because it is a track and race that I really liked. We started a little bit on the back foot as we had no time to carry out any dry practice. But I felt confident that day, I went out, developed a good pace and I beat everyone fair and square, it was a great result after all the effort we had put in.

Burnell Switchgear & Control is proud to sponsor Tom Ward; a star from our home-ground Kent.