Image: Foremost Media.

Australian prospect Tiger Wood has outlined his primary plan for the 2026 season, targeting an AUSX Supercross SX2 Championship as he continues to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sustained at the AUSX Open last November.

Wood, 18, incurred the injury during the pre-event build-up inside Marvel Stadium, tearing his ACL and medial meniscus – among other things – during a cross to Channel 7’s Sunrise program on Saturday morning.

The Queenslander explained that the injury wasn’t the result of a crash, instead giving out as he wheel-tapped through the three rollers next to the start straight.

“Yeah, so it was a bit of a shock, right?” Wood told MotoOnline. “It happened before the day even started, really. I was doing some riding for Sunrise, and yeah, just a freak thing, I didn’t crash, didn’t really do anything crazy, I just guess that was my time. I tore my ACL, tore my medial meniscus, and some other things, and was pretty bummed obviously.

“My knee just popped over that little wheel tap triple thing after the start straight, going backwards on the start straight. I did the wheel tap thing, and just on the landing of that, it just gave out.

“I waited a few weeks to get surgery because of the swelling, and yeah, we’re about a month post-surgery now. So yeah, still doing physical therapy and strengthening it. Everything’s been going well so far – I’m pretty optimistic that I’ll be back soon. I should be strong and healed and ready to go for whatever I get myself into.”

After contesting the SMX Next division at select AMA Supercross rounds as well as the SMX Playoffs – in addition to the Scouting Moto Combines at Hangtown, Red Bud, and Ironman Pro Motocross Nationals – Wood returned to Australia to contest the AUSX Supercross series with Honda Racing in SX2.

He recorded podium finishes at Redcliffe 1 and Cronulla before the injury occurred at round four in Melbourne. For 2026, he is targeting a return to the AUSX series, while also not ruling out appearances in the national motocross ProMX championship.

“The goal is to be ready for round one of AUSX Supercross,” he continued. “That’s the goal, to be ready for whenever that is. The injury has thrown a bit of a spanner into my ‘26 plans, but, um, yeah, I’m definitely planning on coming back for AUSX Supercross, and maybe a few races before then, but nothing, I don’t think, is too certain at the moment.

“I’m honestly not sure [about ProMX]. I’m not going to rule it out at all, but the main goal for now is to be 100 percent ready for Supercross.”

As for expectations, Wood is targeting race wins and a title challenge in 2026, building on the podium form he displayed last season.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I wanted to win [Supercross]. I got a few SX2 podiums last year, but I would say that I was kind of given those podiums, almost. I mean, you’re never given anything, but I feel like I wasn’t really fighting for wins, but kind of… fell on the podium sort of thing.

“But I think with the path that I’ve got set for myself this year, I think that I can truly be fighting for wins and potentially a championship by the end of 2026.”

It remains unclear whether Wood will line up with an official Australian team, following a successful initial pairing with Yarrive Konsky’s Honda Racing organisation during last year’s indoor campaign.