Any pro riders that started riding late? Like 10-14 years old.

Argaudas
Profile picture for user Argaudas
Posts
80
Joined
3/8/2016
Location
Birza, Lietuv LT
Argaudas
Me and a friend had a disscussion about if there are/were any pro riders that started racing late. Since everyone starts at like 5.
|
SmokinJoe439 9/27/2018 10:06am
9/27/2018 10:06am
John dowd started at 18.
5
Moto96
Profile picture for user Moto96
Posts
668
Joined
8/9/2018
Location
CA
Moto96 9/27/2018 10:07am
9/27/2018 10:07am
MC started racing at around 14. He's still the King. Dowd at like 18 I think.
1
crusty_xx 9/27/2018 10:08am
9/27/2018 10:08am
Joel Smets, 4 time World Champion.
Didn't start racing until 17 y/o.
2
Squirrelings 9/27/2018 10:09am
9/27/2018 10:09am
Not recently. The most famous of guys who started late would probably be John Dowd. It doesn't really happen anymore. Gautier Paulin also started late, but was a BMX world champion as a kid.
3

The Shop

See All »
Gebken40
Profile picture for user Gebken40
Posts
204
Joined
3/25/2013
Location
Grain Valley, MO US
Gebken40 9/27/2018 10:11am
9/27/2018 10:11am
I started riding when I was young but didn't start racing until I was 12.

I just tried my first couple Outdoor Nationals this summer at the age of 29. (Colorado, High Point, Muddy Creek)

Looking to give it another shot in 2019 if my recovery goes as planned after shoulder surgery.
14
Racer111
Profile picture for user Racer111
Posts
2767
Joined
5/23/2009
Location
Concord, NC US
Racer111 9/27/2018 10:21am
9/27/2018 10:21am
Weston Peick started pretty late as well I think. I know MC was around 14 and Dowd started riding after high school.
Payup_199
Profile picture for user Payup_199
Posts
439
Joined
8/7/2018
Location
Grafton, WI US
Payup_199 9/27/2018 10:22am
9/27/2018 10:22am
I think brayton was a late guy too
imoto34
Profile picture for user imoto34
Posts
3780
Joined
1/28/2010
Location
TN US
imoto34 9/27/2018 10:23am
9/27/2018 10:23am
Didn't AP switch from gncc to moto late?
JkopMx
Profile picture for user JkopMx
Posts
372
Joined
1/22/2015
Location
houston, TX US
JkopMx 9/27/2018 10:56am
9/27/2018 10:56am
plenty of pros who started late just depends on their success level .

Lane Shaw started at 13. He’s now 21 made sx main and night shows all year on his rookie attempt
3
JOE_SPROCKETS#1 9/27/2018 11:16am
9/27/2018 11:16am
Didn't seely start kind of late?
agn5009
Profile picture for user agn5009
Posts
6753
Joined
6/8/2012
Location
State College, PA US
agn5009 9/27/2018 11:19am
9/27/2018 11:19am
imoto34 wrote:
Didn't AP switch from gncc to moto late?
AP rode/raced MX all his life. He raced both offroad and MX. Definitely didn't start late.
TSCHAM101
Profile picture for user TSCHAM101
Posts
1064
Joined
12/7/2015
Location
Norco, CA US
TSCHAM101 9/27/2018 11:21am
9/27/2018 11:21am
JOE_SPROCKETS#1 wrote:
Didn't seely start kind of late?
no, he was a Suzuki kid growing up. quit at 16, and picked it up again about a year later.
RichieW13
Profile picture for user RichieW13
Posts
2412
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Thousand Oaks, CA US
RichieW13 9/27/2018 11:28am
9/27/2018 11:28am
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
John dowd started at 18.
Did he begin RACING at 18 or RIDING at 18?
RichieW13
Profile picture for user RichieW13
Posts
2412
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Thousand Oaks, CA US
RichieW13 9/27/2018 11:29am
9/27/2018 11:29am
JOE_SPROCKETS#1 wrote:
Didn't seely start kind of late?
I don't think so. A year or two ago I was looking through an old Cycle News and found Seely's name in the results of a 50cc race at Hungry Valley MX.
1
JOE_SPROCKETS#1 9/27/2018 11:31am
9/27/2018 11:31am
JOE_SPROCKETS#1 wrote:
Didn't seely start kind of late?
TSCHAM101 wrote:
no, he was a Suzuki kid growing up. quit at 16, and picked it up again about a year later.
Thanks, I thought I saw he did bmx for a while but I was wrong..
mark_swart
Profile picture for user mark_swart
Posts
2524
Joined
11/2/2011
Location
Chapin, SC US
mark_swart 9/27/2018 12:48pm
9/27/2018 12:48pm
Moto96 wrote:
MC started racing at around 14. He's still the King. Dowd at like 18 I think.
I was listening to a podcast with MC a few weeks back, he did start racing late but he had been riding most of his younger years. He was also an expert-level BMX rider before he switched to moto. Not to take anything away from him of course!

Dowd was the true anomaly I think.
devindavisphoto 9/27/2018 12:52pm
9/27/2018 12:52pm Edited Date/Time 9/27/2018 12:54pm
JOE_SPROCKETS#1 wrote:
Didn't seely start kind of late?
RichieW13 wrote:
I don't think so. A year or two ago I was looking through an old Cycle News and found Seely's name in the results of a...
I don't think so. A year or two ago I was looking through an old Cycle News and found Seely's name in the results of a 50cc race at Hungry Valley MX.
Cole was a top prospect as a young kid, but took a break when he was around 15 or 16 and got back into it around the time he was 17 or 18.
1
1
Holigan
Profile picture for user Holigan
Posts
1448
Joined
6/18/2008
Location
Dallas, TX US
Holigan 9/27/2018 1:04pm
9/27/2018 1:04pm
I believe Hannah's first race he was 16 or 17.

Pit Row

See All »
shaffstall721 9/27/2018 1:28pm
9/27/2018 1:28pm
didnt Paulin start late?
mx_563
Profile picture for user mx_563
Posts
2174
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
CA US
mx_563 9/27/2018 1:40pm
9/27/2018 1:40pm Edited Date/Time 9/27/2018 1:41pm
Damon Smith was a pro that started late.
#dontstoptheswagger

https://youtu.be/fhCkqD9fXdg
2
Baton Rouge 9/27/2018 1:43pm
9/27/2018 1:43pm
shaffstall721 wrote:
didnt Paulin start late?
Yep, around 14 years old but he was a world BMX Champ before that.
BroFoSho
Profile picture for user BroFoSho
Posts
739
Joined
9/26/2013
Location
Tucson, AZ US
BroFoSho 9/27/2018 1:45pm
9/27/2018 1:45pm
I didn't start until 16... and look at me now. 28 and getting lapped at Glen Helen by the A class in a 5 lap race Cool
5
quadzrulebro 9/27/2018 2:08pm
9/27/2018 2:08pm
Racer111 wrote:
Weston Peick started pretty late as well I think. I know MC was around 14 and Dowd started riding after high school.
Not Peick. I remember him and his brother racing Perris Hot Summer Nights on PWs way back in the day. Perris Hot Summer Nights in the 90s were a damn good time. Gordon Ward throwing heel clickers over the finish line, Factory Suzuki rider Jeff Matiasevich getting beat by Donald Upton and getting pissed about it, Randy Danylo’s trackside hot tub and his “Stripper Bitch”...good times.
1
Kevin852
Profile picture for user Kevin852
Posts
427
Joined
9/27/2018
Location
Apple Valley, CA US
Fantasy
1828th
Kevin852 9/27/2018 2:40pm
9/27/2018 2:40pm
quadzrulebro wrote:
Not Peick. I remember him and his brother racing Perris Hot Summer Nights on PWs way back in the day. Perris Hot Summer Nights in the...
Not Peick. I remember him and his brother racing Perris Hot Summer Nights on PWs way back in the day. Perris Hot Summer Nights in the 90s were a damn good time. Gordon Ward throwing heel clickers over the finish line, Factory Suzuki rider Jeff Matiasevich getting beat by Donald Upton and getting pissed about it, Randy Danylo’s trackside hot tub and his “Stripper Bitch”...good times.
I remember some of those nights. Hell Randy was the rider that I collided with when I broke my back in 1986 (I think that was it).

Also, I did not start racing until I was 18 as well. I rode as kid but not very often. I did race BMX at an expert level though so that helped for sure. And I climbed all the way to unknown local pro in SoCal Smile
fullysicmate 9/27/2018 2:58pm
9/27/2018 2:58pm
My best mate is having his first race at 36 this weekend, after a few beers he thinks he's a pro. He is in for a very rude shock though Laughing

My old man had his first race at 45....no pro but could wheelie like one.
1
Torco1
Profile picture for user Torco1
Posts
6585
Joined
4/27/2007
Location
Corona, CA US
Torco1 9/27/2018 3:19pm
9/27/2018 3:19pm
Racer111 wrote:
Weston Peick started pretty late as well I think. I know MC was around 14 and Dowd started riding after high school.
quadzrulebro wrote:
Not Peick. I remember him and his brother racing Perris Hot Summer Nights on PWs way back in the day. Perris Hot Summer Nights in the...
Not Peick. I remember him and his brother racing Perris Hot Summer Nights on PWs way back in the day. Perris Hot Summer Nights in the 90s were a damn good time. Gordon Ward throwing heel clickers over the finish line, Factory Suzuki rider Jeff Matiasevich getting beat by Donald Upton and getting pissed about it, Randy Danylo’s trackside hot tub and his “Stripper Bitch”...good times.
Upton was almost unbeatable at Perris back in the 90's. Perris Hot Summer Nights were awesome, I still have some trophies from back then.
inthebadboycorner 9/27/2018 4:26pm
9/27/2018 4:26pm
crusty_xx wrote:
Joel Smets, 4 time World Champion.
Didn't start racing until 17 y/o.
George's Jobe 18, I think.
deanwhite51
Profile picture for user deanwhite51
Posts
2692
Joined
10/5/2017
Location
Sydney AU
deanwhite51 9/27/2018 5:52pm
9/27/2018 5:52pm
from memory on an interview.
Metcalf was 16 and thought he would give racing a go.. 1 year of racing he won an aussie tittle. hit 18 and thought he would give it a go doing it full time.
could say it worked out well for him
sparker245
Profile picture for user sparker245
Posts
344
Joined
10/11/2011
Location
NorCal, CA US
sparker245 9/27/2018 6:18pm
9/27/2018 6:18pm
mx_563 wrote:
Damon Smith was a pro that started late.
#dontstoptheswagger

https://youtu.be/fhCkqD9fXdg
Was just talking with him at E-St. in Marysville a few weeks ago. Nice guy. Still rides well.

Post a reply to: Any pro riders that started riding late? Like 10-14 years old.