Michael Hicks

Honestly guys like him and BRay make decent money in the cash races, there is a local fast guy in my area that hits the Washougal pro national every few years and has qualified for a few night shows in SX but I think he still makes better cash racing the smaller ax/fair races. 

I could be wrong but I think that's why a lot of those dudes do it, sx is a whole different animal as far as talent pool and payouts. 

I think he's basically making money winning fair races and losing money racing a handful of 250SX races battling for the top15.

Stark is his main money earner and they let him race his Yamaha wherever he can. No doubt he would be overjoyed if he was allowed to race his Varg in AMA SX.

He's also a lot into BMX, pit bikes, he's riding anything he can, really, and appears to have a lot of fun.

Sad when a pro as fast as him can’t make a living but amateur prospects make 6 figure “expense” accounts to only disappear a year or two after turning pro

Yeah he’s sonic fast at ax & fair racing but he definitely doesn’t seem to be able to throw down the same for a true ama sx main. I’ve seen him out there multiple times just rolling around. He’s insanely talented & fast but something just hasn’t quite clicked for him. Riding around in 19 - 22nd far too much for where I think almost everybody thinks he should be much better. 

Talked to him for a bit at a fair race just a few weeks ago and doesn't sound like he plans on racing supercross unless its a paid ride, i raced against him a few times that week at a fee different fairs and of course he won them all, and if I had to guess he probably made around 3k in price money just in that week, i raced him on a Monday night and that Friday night and I think he raced some other fairs between those 2 so probably made even more than that

Didn’t he win grays lake sx in 250 then crash & injure his ankle in 450.  Pack up & leave 1 night.  2-3 weeks ago , he’s probably injured yet.  The last 2 yrs on a Honda in GT ax. He rode amazing .  He rode alot of indoor bmx in kc for yrs.  Small tracks R his specialty. He rips on a 125 at Arch view track . 

You're right, not sure if that was on the WSX broadcast or in an interview with Tortelli but they did mention that he had a bum ankle.

He gets straight smacked around in sx. Sometimes barely making mains. Phil has commented on pulp that hicks doesn’t put in the work or something like that. 

Also at one of those fairs I had a really cool battle with him in the pitbike race, it was $300 to win so of course he got a pitbike to borrow and raced it, we probably passed each other for the lead 4 or 5 times, he did end up winning and I definitely had the advantage on him bike wise but being able to battle someone like that as a 35 fat out of shape guy that barely rides was really cool. Haven't had that much fun on a bike in a long time

Yeah he's probably the only rider whose prep for WSX includes racing pit bikes against Vitards (no offense) 

I guess he could have dedicated his podium to you 😆

Dude absolutely shreds jumps on a dj (Mtb). Looks like he just rips anything with wheels. Has such good style. 

Ive always heard he doesn't like to train. He can win ax and fair races on talent alone but wont put in the work for sx.

He has all the talent in the world but does no training. 

In Arenacross I think he would have Jett Lawrence covered. I've never seen someone be able to pivot in tight turns like he can; insanely talented. I think if he was on a Star bike and a serious training program, he could top 5 in 250 SX, but from the looks of it he just likes to ride anything with two wheels, see different parts of the world, and make memories with his dog and GF, and I think that's cool. People find enjoyment in different aspects of the sport; some love the grind, others love the "freeride," and he seems to have found his niche. Fan for sure!