“When I first started  motocross I was around 7 years old and I didn’t really have a passion for it. I would go out and fall down constantly, that really made me want to quit. However, I stuck with it and practiced everyday. With my stepdad as my mentor it helped build my technique and confidence soaring through the air; Little-by-little my standings in the races got better. Riding my bike was my favorite thing to do and I started to ride faster and faster and faster. Being cocky is not a good thing to do in a sport like motocross. When I started getting a feel for my bike, I started to ride a bit riskier with the jumps and speed. I was riding a little bit over my head one day when I missed a gear and ‘Cased’ the jump, basically I just fell short of hitting the jump. I was very lucky I knew technique and stayed on the track. It turned out all I got from the experience was a bruised vertebrae and fear of missing another jump. I would ride a lot slower than I usually would. My uncle has always been someone I looked up to in dirt track racing. He would meet with me every once in a while and taught me the proper way to maneuver through turns and jumps. He would tell me to ‘Giv’er all she’s got,’ on jumps and really just boost my confidence for upcoming races. I would start to consistently hit those jumps I used to be so afraid of. I came to learn Motocross is a dangerous sport if not done correctly, but it is super fun with a great community backing it up. I thought things would only go up from there but, unfortunately my uncle passed away at our last race of the season and it made me think about the sport a whole lot differently; what was once a fun little hobby, is now a sport I strive to be the best in for myself and Uncle Jody.”