In the midst of this Pandemic, racial tensions, and a strained economy, I’m always amazed at the generosities I witness at the motocross track. It’s early August, 2020 and I’m visiting my hometown track minutes from where I grew up. I am here to watch my good friend Ryan “Ryno” Weatherby race his new 2021 KTM 450 SXF.

I arrived at the track a little late and missed practice but was surprised to see so many riders there. It was as if there were no pandemic or economic stress in site. What happened next reminded me how good people (especially members of the motorcycle riding community) can be. Riders were being summoned to the starting line for the first moto’s of the day. The National Anthem began to play and what I heard was not a 6-year old singing terribly off tune, 🙂 — on the contrary, she knew all of the words and never missed a beat all the way to the end!

As she belted out the main chorus a young (maybe 5-year old) rider came skidding to a stop in front of me, shut off his engine and addressed the anthem by being respectful to his Country and all riders in attendance. In less than 5-minutes I was reminded how genuine and respectful people really are, even the very young.

Ryno was signed up to race the 40 and 45+ classes on the new Katoom which was race number 4 and 6 during the morning program. He would have very little time to get himself turned around for his next moto.

Moto #1 was the 40+ class with 8-9 riders in a staggered start with another class. Ryan’s class was first off the gate and his run to the first corner was met with a rider in front of him missing a shift, Ryan plowed into him and went down taking a nice sized strip of skin out of his back via a rather sharp footpeg. When he jumped back on the bike he was dead last. Less than 6-minutes into the race and he’s already stalking the leader, hell-bent, hurt, pissed off, and on a mission to win the moto but it was not to be. He would have to settle for second this time.

Time for moto #2, 45+ class and 13 riders as compared to the smaller 40+ class he had just finished. I (being the smart-ass that I am) asked him why he decided to take a dirt nap and spot those guys so many positions? I don’t think he heard me because it sounded like he said “Chuck Who?”

With moto #2 on the line and ready to roll the green light appears and heads drop to focus on the gate. He gets a much needed good start and is near the front without incident. From there it only took him one corner to gain the lead and stretch it out all the way to the checkers.

The rest of the day was much the same, holeshot, and gone…Ryno went 1-1 overall in both classes. I really missed being at the track, seeing familiar faces, smelling race gas and listening to the music of engines revving at max capacity. It made me feel a little like the world would be ok if not for a moment. “Hey Ryno, I brought the 3-honey and there’s a harescramble at Polka Dots on the 23rd, wanna go racing?”

MM