Professional motocross rider Cole Thompson will race at Miller Coliseum this weekend. Photo submitted
|
|
|
This Saturday night, some of the best local amateur dirt bike racers of all ages get a chance to ride in front of friends and family during the Arenacross Tour event at MTSU’s Miller Coliseum.
It is the fourth stop in a series that will feature some of the best professional riders in Southeast. Three riders in particular are in different stages in their career and want to use this race as a chance to gain valuable experience.
Noah Walters is not your typical 12-year-old.
Like most kids his age, he goes to school, but unlike most of his classmates when he gets off the bus, Walters heads straight to his backyard and his dirt bike. His backyard is much bigger than most kids and includes a motocross track that rivals some of the top courses in the sport.
“It’s pretty cool to have a track and it makes it pretty easy to train for a race,” Walters said.
His mom, Tara Finney, added he rides about four days a week.
He is getting back to riding regularly after suffering a broken arm last year, forcing him to miss a lot of races.
“It was really boring because my friends got to go riding, and I had to stay home and watch TV,” he said.
Last weekend, he raced for the first time since his injury in Shelbyville. In the 85cc D Beginner division race, he was riding well until he collided with a lapped rider, Walters said. He ended up finishing third, but he is looking for a better performance in front of his family and friends this weekend.
“I’m really excited to ride in front of my friends and family,” he said. “I’m just happy to ride.”
Walters, who rides a Suzuki and is a Travis Pastrana fan, is continuing a family tradition in a sport as both his father and brother race. With such a great family influence, he started racing early; he has been riding dirt bikes since he was 5 years old and BMX bikes since he was 3 years old.
Cason Lane second grader Caden Hill, 8, is one of the best BMX racers in the nation.
He was ranked No. 1 in the nation as a 5-year-old, and his performance has gained him notice around campus.
Now, he and his dad are working on making the transition to dirt bikes. Last week, Hill along with his father, Brian, also went to Shelbyville to watch the races and get him familiar with the sport.
This week, Caden will hit the track on his 50cc Honda XR 50 in front of his classmates and family, trying to gain experience and see if he wants to make a total commitment to the sport.
“We are looking to finish the race and have a good time,” Brian said. (His son was still in school and could not take part in the interview.)
Also, Caden’s grandmother will be spending her birthday cheering for him in the stands Saturday, along with many members of his family.
“He is extremely excited about racing,” Brian said.
Besides those two local racers making the next step in their career as amateurs, some of the top professional Arenacross racers in the Southeast are racing for a series championship.
The man to beat is point-leader Cole Thompson, who is coming off three race victories last week in Jackson, Miss., including the two motos and the special Clash for Cash race.
For Thompson, who before this season had never raced on the tracks that make up the tour, the strategy has remained the same.
“I just try to stay smooth and get out in front,” he said.
At the same time, Thompson like all of the riders is ready to bring the fast-paced action to Murfreesboro this weekend.
“I’m pretty excited about the track and the huge crowd that always comes out and watches us,” Thompson said.
The doors open at 6 p.m., and the main event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. |
Email
Print
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!