Has there been or could a 15 year old learn to ride then win an AMA Mx race ?

MotoMalyDad
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MotoMalyDad
Edited Date/Time 6/5/2014 1:18pm
Could let's say a very fit , smart and driven teenager learn to ride and win in let's say 2 to 3 years at a national level ? Most pro's start racing at 5 or 6 and that is what they are groomed to do. You hear about the kid that picked up his first football at 15 then he goes onto the pros. Could it happen in MX ? I know you wouldn't have the connections and track knowledge. Maybe it happens more then we know. There would be no bad habits to correct ..
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Darryl916
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Darryl916 6/4/2014 7:36pm
6/4/2014 7:36pm Edited Date/Time 6/4/2014 7:38pm
From what I understand John Dowd was a late starter. Not sure what age though.

I think Cole Seely too. He was a BMX guy before moto I'm pretty sure....
OW38B
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OW38B 6/4/2014 8:03pm
6/4/2014 8:03pm
"The King" Jeremy McGrath started somewhat late.... though he did race BMX.
scott_nz 6/4/2014 8:06pm
6/4/2014 8:06pm
Darryl916 wrote:
From what I understand John Dowd was a late starter. Not sure what age though. I think Cole Seely too. He was a BMX guy before...
From what I understand John Dowd was a late starter. Not sure what age though.

I think Cole Seely too. He was a BMX guy before moto I'm pretty sure....
I think John Dowd was 17- or 18 when he started, and it was on a 500 two stroke,
mom241
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mom241 6/4/2014 8:18pm
6/4/2014 8:18pm
Darryl916 wrote:
From what I understand John Dowd was a late starter. Not sure what age though. I think Cole Seely too. He was a BMX guy before...
From what I understand John Dowd was a late starter. Not sure what age though.

I think Cole Seely too. He was a BMX guy before moto I'm pretty sure....
We raced Cole on Peewees. He was factory Action.

Good people.

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Jarid332
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Jarid332 6/4/2014 8:21pm
6/4/2014 8:21pm
Ya Cole started when he was younger. I don't think he did too many Am Nats though.

I like Honda's line up for next year two of my favorite riders under one tent.

MotoMalyDad
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MotoMalyDad 6/4/2014 9:32pm
6/4/2014 9:32pm
scott_nz wrote:
I think John Dowd was 17- or 18 when he started, and it was on a 500 two stroke,
Maybe that is why he lasted so long
RexBackman
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RexBackman 6/4/2014 9:41pm
6/4/2014 9:41pm
John Dowd for sure.

In Europe the late Adolph Weil did pretty good to.
WhipMeister
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WhipMeister 6/4/2014 9:47pm
6/4/2014 9:47pm
Dowd and McGrath.
xnationalwrench 6/4/2014 9:55pm
6/4/2014 9:55pm
Jim Gibson was another one that moved up quickly.
hillbilly
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hillbilly 6/4/2014 10:00pm
6/4/2014 10:00pm
Not in 2 or 3 yrs, 10 yrs more realistic.
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 6/4/2014 10:04pm
6/4/2014 10:04pm
No, in 3 years he'd be 18, not 15..
eurofighter69 6/4/2014 10:54pm
6/4/2014 10:54pm
It's not an american but belgian Joel Smets started at the age of 17.He became a 4 time Worldchamp in the 500 ccm GP class.Wink
Socket946
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Socket946 6/4/2014 10:57pm
6/4/2014 10:57pm
His dad posts here.


#231 AARON OKRZESIK

According to his old man, this kid will smoke any pro.
enketchum
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enketchum 6/4/2014 11:36pm
6/4/2014 11:36pm
McGrath was 14, I believe
frita
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frita 6/5/2014 1:05am
6/5/2014 1:05am
Didn't Brayton start late? and Gautier Paulin?
Fearo
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Fearo 6/5/2014 1:10am
6/5/2014 1:10am
Joel Smets started at 16 or 17 and was doing the world championship a few years later I believe. He went on to become a 5 time world champ. Gauthier Paulin also started late but was already a BMX champion in his teens, which shows in his riding style.
jamma10
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jamma10 6/5/2014 1:33am
6/5/2014 1:33am Edited Date/Time 6/5/2014 1:35am
Gautier Paulin started riding when he was 12, had his first race in 2003 aged 13 and by 2009 he was winning MXdN races.

He didn't start all that late but still pretty impressive.
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mac3-d 6/5/2014 1:56am
6/5/2014 1:56am
I think it was Heikki Mikkola was part of the Finish ice hockey team, being frustrated with the amount of (non) dedication from some team mates he went to mx being a sport where it was down to the individual's efforts. What age he was then ? Or maybe Hakan Carlquist

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hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 6/5/2014 3:54am
6/5/2014 3:54am
I remember grant saying he started pretty late, don't remember an exact age. That's pretty impressive though for someone who is so stylish on the bike.
Crush
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Crush 6/5/2014 4:00am
6/5/2014 4:00am
Grant didn't start racing till he was 13 I think but I've def seen photos of him riding younger than that in that profile vid...
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DonM 6/5/2014 4:13am
6/5/2014 4:13am
Alan King started late, 3yrs from his first race he raced his first national and won Hangtown 3-4yrs after that.
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 6/5/2014 4:41am
6/5/2014 4:41am
Crush wrote:
Grant didn't start racing till he was 13 I think but I've def seen photos of him riding younger than that in that profile vid...
Gotcha, that sounds more accurate.
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IWreckALot 6/5/2014 4:49am
6/5/2014 4:49am
frita wrote:
Didn't Brayton start late? and Gautier Paulin?
I had the RacerX with Brayton on the cover and they called him the Nowhere man. It had to be back in 09 or 2010 They were just talking about how he started late and didn't have much of a racing background but he was able to qualify and finish respectably in the races. So I could see that.
Jakes Dad
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Jakes Dad 6/5/2014 4:49am
6/5/2014 4:49am
Not to say it couldn't happen, but there are many kids as young as 12 living full time at training facilities.
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 6/5/2014 4:58am
6/5/2014 4:58am
Jakes Dad wrote:
Not to say it couldn't happen, but there are many kids as young as 12 living full time at training facilities.
I'm sure I'll get hammered for this, but 12 year olds living full time at training facilities is a microcosm of how off the rails amateur moto has gone
Spagina767
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Spagina767 6/5/2014 5:22am
6/5/2014 5:22am
Most examples are 10+ years ago, which was around the start of 4strokes (good ones), training facilities, and scrubbing. seriously, think about it. I think the sport has evolved a ton in the last 10 years, which would make it much harder than before. As the pace gets faster, and technique evolves, it gets harder to be fast... especially when you start late.

So, yes it has happened. And yes it still can, but i think its becoming harder than ever.

Also, i dont know how long Jimmy Albertson raced before this, but he won a C class championship at Lorettas... couldnt have been serious for too long or he never would have been in C.

Crisp BRAAAP! 6/5/2014 5:27am
6/5/2014 5:27am
To be fair, though, John Dowd is half man, half machine. Normal humans just don't do that.
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SKIDLID 6/5/2014 5:32am
6/5/2014 5:32am
frita wrote:
Didn't Brayton start late? and Gautier Paulin?
I can remember him passing me racing 125b on his 85!
TooOldToPlay
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TooOldToPlay 6/5/2014 6:14am
6/5/2014 6:14am Edited Date/Time 6/5/2014 6:15am
Jakes Dad wrote:
Not to say it couldn't happen, but there are many kids as young as 12 living full time at training facilities.
hvaughn88 wrote:
I'm sure I'll get hammered for this, but 12 year olds living full time at training facilities is a microcosm of how off the rails amateur...
I'm sure I'll get hammered for this, but 12 year olds living full time at training facilities is a microcosm of how off the rails amateur moto has gone
Not going to hammer you on that....because I know of families from my area that have 8 and 9 year old kids playing hockey. Their families have quit their jobs and packed up and moved the family to live next to a year-round hockey facility because they see "pro potential" in their 8 or 9 year old kids. Not just MX families that go off the deep end.
harrowguy 6/5/2014 6:46am
6/5/2014 6:46am
Yes some hockey parents are bat$shit crazy especially up here!

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