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Was he always riding at tracks/practicing until 20? or was he fresh to it?
Jeff Matasevich started riding at 12, and was the west coast champ at 17.
Jeremy McGrath was a 125 novice in 1987 and won his first main in 89.
If you have talent and drive, you have a chance. There is a ton of these production line kids doing laps at some facility that will never sniff a podium because they don’t have the talent.
Jeff Matiasevich didn’t even start riding until he was 12 and was a Factory Kawasaki guy at 17.
Jeremy McGrath didn’t start racing until he was 15 years old.
Weston Piek is another one…
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https://motocrossactionmag.com/amp/mxa-interview-joel-smets/
"It's so easy to be social
It's so easy to be cool
it's so easy to be hungry when you aint got s#!t to lose"
The problem with being 30yrs old is having a job and responsibilities, possibly a family. Its much easier to hit send when your body actually heals and someone else is paying your way providing safety and security
He was only getting started, though. The next year, I got lapped by Damon Bradshaw at the regional qualifier and he went around me like I wasn't even in his way. Trust me, he was a lot faster than MC was 8 months prior.
Somehow MC made the leap to being the fastest SX racer in the world and it was only because of his God-given talent. Otherwise, he would have ended up like me, commenting on Vital in my PJs. Talent finds a way to the top.
Can't simulate riding a dirt bike.
in the case of Ryder D. many guys who are racing pro, already had the speed and skill years before they were old enough to race pro.
but to make it, It comes down to quality time spent on the bike and a willingness to go faster. there are many guys, in all sports who try to make it, put in the time and effort and will never have 'it'
Asking for a friend.
If you start at age 20, by the time you have some major injuries and crashes you are going to back in down, or in some cases just pack it up entirely.
There are always exceptions to the rule obviously.
But generally dirt bike racing at the highest levels is a young mans sport.
If you want to start something at age 20 then go play golf.
Pit Row
1. Money
2. Money
3. Money
it’s the only thing that matters in this sport, it opens every door, every opportunity, and even if you don’t have the speed.. you can go around to enough pro-ams, get your pro points, and qualify dead last at every supercross/outdoor you can get to.
I would portion it up like this grouping every rider. 65% D class/roll around the track, 30% C class/instagram warriors, 4% National B class/local A, 1% Pro capable of winning. Im sure you could argue, but to me that seems realistic. Fear seems to keep people in the 65%
But having a brand fund you like kawi did to Ryder is not likely. So you would need a Fucken huge pot of money
Watching adults who clearly never played sport, threw a ball, went skiing or rode bikes getting into it later is either funny or scary most of the time!
Post a reply to: If Ryder D can get to pro level speed in 12 years of racing, can a 20 year old get to pro level speed by 32?