To all

To: Dr. Leatt, Riders, Parents and Sponsors:



Hello, my name is Mitchell Hodges. I am writing this with a heavy heart. At the urgency of a great friend, Paul Mundt, I watched the David Bailey video. I was virtually in tears. Let me give you a brief history of myself. I grew up living next door to David and the rest of the Bailey family in Axton, VA. I was 10 years old when David was national champion, as well as a riding partner, coach and friend. I was devastated at David’s injury in 1987. I still see the film clip in my head of him in the halo squeezing a tennis ball, giving thumbs up, then his return home and seeing him for the first time in a wheel chair.



Over the next few years I went on to become David’s father, Gary ’s instructor at the Gary Bailey Motocross School in Axton VA, as well as a top pro rider riding for Kawasaki Team Green. Shortly after turning pro, I got injured at an outdoor national at Mt. Morris PA. I walked away from the sport I loved, to heal up, to get an education and to setup myself up for a future. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I had to come to the realization that I was not the next Ricky Carmichael.



Ten years later, Tim Buffaloe at BSY Yamaha gave me an opportunity to ride for them. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. My desire never died and now, more than ever, it consumes me. I am again teaching MX schools teaching kids how to ride safely and responsibly. With that being said, I cannot turn my back on all of these spinal injuries, especially after seeing my personal inspiration calling out the heaviest hitters this sport has ever known. Great job David, as if your spot in history is not already carved in stone.



I see in the magazines and on the web pages; Leatt does ride days in California. I respectfully request a ride day on the east coast, the southwest and the northwest. We all need to be a part of this growth and safety for our comrades and their loved ones, not just California. I will contact my local tracks; setup a time to have a ride day in my area. Bud’s Creek, Lake Sugar Tree, the Virginia Motorsports Park would all be receptive to this I am quite sure. I will meet with company representatives or whomever to set this up. We do not need to see anymore-unneeded injuries, cripple or kill anyone else.



As an instructor, I am obligated to teach my students, the proper techniques to make them better riders. As of today, in honor of my hero, David Bailey, I am going to insist to riders and parents that my schools purchase a Leatt brace, and hold off on the latest go fast product until they are properly dressed for the ride. Even if they don’t crash often, at least they will be better prepared when, not if they crash. I encourage other track owners and sponsors to request ride days also. Let’s keep this ball rolling before we lose someone else.



Respectfully,



Mitchell Hodges

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