The rider
Max Wood — #94
Max has been hooked on racing since he started Minikhana in 2014. He raced the Dirt X series for years, and from 2026 Povo Racing has gone multi-club — a new bike, and races spread across several NSW clubs instead. He also plays Colts rugby for Gordon, so racing has to fit in around that.
He may not be out there racing every weekend, but he gives it everything he’s got when he does.
Why “Povo”?
A joke at our own expense
It’s a joke at our own expense. Parked up one day next to a huge motorhome towing an awesome race trailer, we were suffering in the heat while these guys were enjoying air-conditioned luxury between races. For some inexplicable reason we only took one chair and didn’t even have a gazebo. Our box trailer was too hot to touch, so one of us had to stand.
We concluded our efforts were povo, and then decided we were the Povo Racing Team.
Minimum viable product
A bike, a Commodore, a box trailer and a chair
You couldn’t call our racing setup “showy.” In a paddock of purpose-built trailers, Base Station caravans and motorhomes, we were easy enough to find — just look for the blue Commodore towing a box trailer and two sad-looking blokes sharing a single chair.
Old school cool
Our paddock setup is unique. We are truly camping and use all the same stuff as when we go camping. We miss out on nothing except a quick set-up and pack-up.
Best catering in the paddock
We compensate for our minimal capital investment with the best catering department in the paddock. Each race is a precious father-and-son weekend away, so we make it count. Max’s mates have clocked on to the fun and often join us.
Upgraded, slightly
The Commodore has been replaced by a Land Cruiser, but we still sleep in a tent or swags. Every now and then we treat ourselves to a local BnB.
Race weekends
It’s about having fun
We’re not racing for sheep stations. It’s about having fun. But make no mistake, on race day no fear gets left unchallenged. It’s about setting goals and pushing hard.
“Go fucking faster.” That’s the whole strategy.
The days of Dad coaching Max are long gone. At one point Max asked for advice, but all Dad could offer was “go fucking faster.” So that has become our universal strategy.
The bike
Maintained, not replaced
We don’t buy a new bike every year, or even every three years. We believe a well set-up and maintained bike is more important than the latest and greatest. All our bikes have their suspension rebuilt to suit Max, braided lines, etc, and get a full service after every race weekend.
2026 brought a new bike, still carrying #94 into every moto.
