Jeff Ward

Jeffrey Ward (born 22 June 1961) is a British-American former professional motocross racer, auto racing driver and off-road racer. He won the AMA Motocross Championship five times and the AMA Supercross Championship twice and the Motocross des Nations seven times.

Motocross racing career Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Ward moved to the United States with his family when he was four years old. He competed in both the 250cc and 500cc national championships in 1986, finishing fourth in the 250cc series and third in the 500cc championship. Ward won his second AMA Supercross championship in 1987 over Ricky Johnson however, he finished second to Johnson in the 250cc national championship. The rivalry with Johnson continued in the 1988 250cc motocross national championship with both Ward and Johnson winning three races, but Ward prevailed by seven points to claim the championship over Johnson.

In 1989, Ward finished second to Jeff Stanton in the 250cc national championship but, defeated Stanton in the 500cc championship thus, becoming the first rider to win AMA motocross national championships in the 125, 250 and 500cc classes. He successfully defended his 500cc crown in 1990 then, finished second in the 1991 500cc championship, nine points behind Jean-Michel Bayle. Ward retired from professional motocross competition after finishing in third place in the 1992 500cc national championship.

In fifteen seasons, Ward won a total of 56 national races placing him third on the all-time AMA motocross/Supercross win list at the time of his retirement.

At the 1997 Indianapolis 500 while competing for the Cheever Racing team, Ward qualified on the third row and led the race for 49 laps before finishing the race in third place. He improved to a sixth place finish in the 1998 Indy Racing League season while competing for the ISM Racing team. Ward also won the Moto X category at the 2006 X Games, becoming the oldest male gold medalist and the oldest Moto X medalist in X Games history. In 2008, he repeated as the winner of the Moto X category of the 2008 X Games.

Off-road racing

From IndyCar racing, Ward progressed to off-road truck racing, competing in the 2009 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series for the Speed Technologies team. He also competed in the 2013 Stadium Super Trucks, finishing tenth in the inaugural race at University of Phoenix Stadium. Ward competed in the Global RallyCross Championship for the Chip Ganassi Racing team in 2015, serving as a replacement driver for former motocross racer Brian Deegan.

Awards and championships

Awards Ward was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

Championships

AMA Motocross / Supermoto 1984—Won AMA 125cc national motocross title. 1985—Won AMA national 250cc motocross and Supercross titles. 1987—Won second AMA national 250cc Supercross championship. 1988—Captured second AMA national 250cc motocross title. 1989—Won AMA national 500cc motocross championship to become first rider in history to win every major AMA national motocross title. 1990—Won second consecutive AMA national 500cc motocross championship. 2004—Won AMA Supermoto Championship at 43 years of age. 2006—Won X-Games Supermoto Championship at 45 years of age. 2006—Won AMA Supermoto Championship (second title) 2008—Won X-Games Supermoto Championship at 47 years of age (second title).

Indy Racing League 1997—Finished third at Indianapolis 500 in maiden effort, finished 30th in IRL season point standings. 1998—Earned career-first pole position at Phoenix IRL race, four top five finishes, finished career-best 6th in IRL season point standings. 1999—Finished career-best second at Indianapolis 500, three top five finishes, finished 11th in IRL season point standings. 2000—Finished fourth at Indianapolis 500, two top five finishes, finished 11th in IRL season point standings. 2001—Two top five finishes, finished 11th in IRL season point standings. 2002—Winner of Boomtown 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, finished ninth at Indianapolis 500, two top five finishes, finished 11th in IRL season point standings.

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series 2009—Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Rookie of the Year 2009—Dirt Sports Rookie of the Year 2009—2nd Place in Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Championship, behind by 1 point

Racing record

Complete American Open Wheel Racing results (key)

IRL IndyCar Series

Winston West Series

Complete Global RallyCross Championship results Supercar Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 GRC Points 2015 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST FTA DAY1 DAY2 MCAS DET1 DET2 DC LA1 LA2 BAR1 BAR2 LV NC - 2016 SH Rallycross Ford Fiesta ST PHO1 PHO2 DAL DAY1 DAY2 MCAS1 MCAS2 DC AC SEA LA1 LA2 9th 134 Race cancelled.

Stadium Super Trucks (key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest qualifier. * – Most laps led.) Stadium Super Trucks results Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pts Ref 2013 PHO10 LBH8 LAN12 SDG8 SDG STL TOR TOR CRA CRA OCF OCF OCF CPL 16th 69 2021 STP STP MOH MOH MOH MOH NSH6 NSH7 LBH6 LBH7 12th 59