I had been trying to talk a new rider into hitting a double at Hurricane Hills Motocross in Mazeppa, Minnesota. In return, I said I’d go for this large uphill jump in the valley. Well, you know how this goes. After several laps around, my buddy finally went for it and made it. It was a highlight of his day. And mine too!
And of course, now was the time to pay the piper. Thankfully, after a few encouragement laps from Rod Bolstad, I finally went for it and (almost) cleared it. Tapped the rear tires on the very top of the landing, but any landing you can walk away from is a good one!
I miss those days of unorganized practice and all the speed that comes with a true motocross track. This video was from September of 2018, and that day seems like it only happened a year ago.
Here’s a lap around Rick’s Pine Island Motocross track nearly 10 years ago to the date…June 8, 2016. This is me, all of a Vet C rider, on a not-stock carbureted Yamaha YFZ450.
Fourth gear and nearly all the beans on that big downhill jump and the subsequent jumps. The sound of the wind actually overwhelms the exhaust note!
This has always been an awesome example, in my mind, of the motocross community coming together when most needed.
Back in May 2012, Motokazie had a benefit for a family in Jordan that lost five in a terrible accident on the way back from a Texas motocross race the month before.
My small role, among dozens of other volunteers, was to handle the online promotion of a fundraiser event that could at least help with the financial implications of this tragedy.
The benefit was held at the Scott County Fairgrounds and raised $144,953 for the family. We drew in 200 riders and 1,900 spectators, the most people I’ve ever seen at Jordan, coming together for a necessary cause.
Here is the Kerber Family memorial lap.
Remember, always say “yes” to things that are fundamentally important. You’ll find a way to fit it into your life.
Even by May of 2009, it was fairly rare to find any two stroke big quads on a motocross track.
Enjoy this chase between my 2007 Yamaha YFZ450 and my friend David’s Honda 250R at Arkansaw Cycle Park in Arkansaw, Wisconsin back 17 years ago. This was in the days before the GoPro was even high definition!
What a great time to own a quad if you enjoyed motocross!
It’s always a pleasure to have Matt Wellumson from MXMatt.com Motocross Photography taking pictures at the races, and he took some fantastic shots! Here’s a short slideshow of all the crew doing what they love.
As long as the weather holds out, this coming Friday night, we’re back at the Scott County Fairgrounds again. $10 to get in. Bring your own chair or use their bleachers, very open atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to ask me questions if you’re interested in watching or racing!
We had a pretty scary crash in the main event at the Jordan Motokazie Supercross race last night between Kyle Lundin and Christian Wimmer, in the whoop-de-doo section. Thankfully, Kyle’s machine (and him ) were both OK.
Everybody showed concern right away about it and you could tell didn’t really have the heart to race after that. It might not have been the “smartest” racing strategy for everybody, but the respect for a fellow rider and friend sure made me feel good.
Christian, what can I say? You were back out on the track again not knowing if the wrist would hold together, but it did, and turned out to be a great night.
Congratulations to Ian Hastings on his first podium and trophy, and congratulations to Gavin Goche on his first supercross win.
Here’s a look at some AMA District 23 ATV Motocross action from Saturday’s round at the Kato Cycle Club. You’re looking at footage of Mini Production, and Open B/C races.
Congratulations to Andrew Schroetter for going 1-1 in Open B, and Gavin Goche for going 1-1 in Open C!
It was fun coming back to Mankato and seeing old friends and being able to put a few new faces to some names!
No flurries this time. Thankfully, we finally saw some sun and warmth for Saturday’s Motokazie Round 4 at Jordan!
I was on the backup machine for practice Saturday morning, and remembered just how different of a chassis the carbureted YFZ models have than the later fuel injected models. I finally figured things out well into the first session, and I ended up having four full sessions of great riding!
The racing team had several highlights. Christian Wimmer pulled a massive holeshot in the heat race (in the starting video below), coming out first place all the way through the step-up…even in front of the separate “A” class that dropped together. It was definitely something that Christian had in him, and as usual, the guy quietly plans his strategy and then goes out and surprises us in the actual race. Sadly, he thinks he might have injured his wrist a bit and sat out the main event. But something tells me this kid will be back soon and once again planning a strategy to surprise us all.
Also, it was Alex’s son Zaphrey’s first time riding on a track! He has a 90cc DRR machine which was just recently acquired, and besides some last minute butterflies, he was absolutely sold on the idea of motocross from the first lap. He loved the practice sessions, and opted to race in Mini Quad 90 Semi Stock/Rec class that night! The kick starter snapped off right after the heat race, but thanks to some help from fellow DRR riders, Alex had Zaphrey going again with a fresh one before the main event. Zaphrey took 8th place.
Kyle Lundin was just flying out there. The kid has grown so much since I watched him try to navigate a Raptor 660 around the Litchfield track during his 1st race. He took 2nd place in the main event on a Kawasaki machine he built and maintains himself.
I’m proud of our whole group. I very much look forward to every weekend of riding and friendship!
Next practice is Thursday afternoon, May 28th 4-8pm at Jordan. Next race is Friday afternoon, May 29th 3:30-10pm.
Photos: Brian Klier, Bethany Schweisthal; Videos: Brian Klier, Aidan Heath
Both the #134 machines visited Jordan on Saturday, April 25th for the 3rd round of the Motokazie Supercross Championship. We saw the best quad numbers in a few years, with 8 total riders in Quad Open B class alone, and 11 total big quads.
I went for the morning practice experience, where I got one solid session in before engine problems struck during the second. However, there was still plenty of action to come. I had brought along an old riding friend to ride my carb’d machine, and he would go on to race the main event of the evening for his first time in seven years.
Andrew Schroetter and Gavin Goche took first and second, respectively, while Christian Wimmer finished a very respectable third for his first ever podium and trophy. Congratulations to that guy!
I have to take just a brief moment to say how incredibly proud I am of our riding group. While I think I’ve said previously how watching these guys learn and take passion in this same sport that I’ve loved for almost 20 years has immensely motivated me in a renewed interest to ride, I’m not sure if I’ve touched on just how fun this group is, and what a genuinely great group of guys we really have here. Days at the track are the highlight of the week, and the topic of much discussion, laughs, and camaraderie during the week. You guys are the absolute best.
The next open practice and race is at the Scott County Fairgrounds on May 9th. We’d love to have you join us!
📸 Creative Captures by Kayla, Andrew Schroetter and Company, Brian Klier, and others!
Weatherwise, it was a rather cold and windy repeat of just a few weeks ago, but the track at the Jordan Motokazie Supercross on Saturday was perfect, and the first practice and second race of the year went off without a hitch!
Our quad crew is growing, and it’s nice to see so many riders here in southern Minnesota! We’ve roughly doubled the number of big quad riders this year, and if you have a sport ATV and have always wanted to give this a shot, by all means reach out to me and I’ll be sure to guide you through the whole process.
Can’t wait until next Saturday when we do it all over again!
THANKS for the awesome photographs! Creative Captures by Kayla, Nicole Oerlline, Natasha Gritsenko, and yours truly.
Despite the frigid cold weather and days of rain leading up to Saturday’s 1st Jordan Supercross race of the year, the track was perfect, and with several heated trailers, a base layer and a winter coat on, we certainly made the best of it. It was a fun day to see the crew again, and even introduce a few new riders to the fun!
In late August of 2007, my Yamaha YZ250 was stolen from the back of my trailer at my residence. This forced me to do something I wasn’t really sure of… doing motocross on a quad. So in early September of 2007, along with Tim Oliver, Don ST Martin, David and Joe Niederer, Robby Bethea, and Dmitriy Uyutnov, I took my Yamaha YFZ450 to The Compound. After just a few jumps, I knew this quad was more capable than its rider, but who knew 2007 was the start of something that would refocus my direction on life for years to come.
Later that year, I hit my very first public motocross tracks. Thanks to Jerry Benson showing all of his and Haylie’s Arkansaw pictures to Dave, Joe, and I at Tri-County ATV Park, we had to make the trek out to Arkansaw Cycle Park, which was a complete blast.
That track ended up becoming one of my favorite tracks, and we spent years and years riding there. Today, the track no longer exists, blending into the countryside like so many others. Relics of the past.
Thankfully, within the last couple years, ATV motocross has made a revival here in Southern Minnesota, and while the faces are new, the love for the sport is eternal.
(Incidentally, my dirt bike was recovered a few weeks after it was stolen, in good condition.. it was used as the getaway vehicle in a bank robbery in Alpha, MN, in Jackson County. Since Jesse James, the famous bank robber, was 34 years old when he was killed, I added a “1” to the beginning of the number, and “134” became the motocross racing number I still use to this day).
Judging has been completed for the FIVE $200 AWARDS for ATV Motocross racers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Iowa, that represent the spirit of the sport. This panel of 10 reviewers selected are a diverse group of riders in local, regional, and national-level Motocross, as well as a group of dirt bike motocross riders, and a few non-riders, in order to have the most fair judging opportunity possible.
The racers selected for the award exhibit exemplary sportsmanship on and off the track, provide assistance and support for their fellow riders in the pits, and show exceptional dedication to the sport.
The TOP 5 WINNERS ARE, in the order of votes received:
NOAH ABRAHAM, Age 8, from Norwood, Minnesota. Noah is always cheering on his fellow riders and telling them good luck every race, and whether he wins or places last, he’s always telling his competitors “Awesome Race” and “Good Job” and offering a fist bump. He hopes to improve in his skills and keep learning every race.
MILES JENSEN, Age 13, from Medford, Wisconsin. Miles offered a competitor one of his machines to ride after he experienced an engine problem, just so he could continue to race. You can find him at the starting gate offering friends tips and techniques. He also serves as a role model for younger riders. Miles hopes to continue improving in the 250 class, take back the D23 state championship, and do more training with pros this year.
KEEGAN BREITBACH, Age 9, from Brainerd, Minnesota. Keegan’s brother Brayden was battling for points in the 50 Semi stock class, and even though Keegan was winning the race at Brookston, he pulled off in the last corner as to not affect the championship series for the other riders. Keegan is a 3-time District 23 state champion, and hopes to win SuperMini class this year, as well as place top 5 in 70CVT and Open in Nationals.
WILLOW ABRAHAM, Age 6, from Norwood, Minnesota. Willow believes that cheering for everyone no matter the circumstances, and telling everyone that they do a good job whether they win or not is important. Everyone is here to have fun! Willow’s goals for 2026 include getting faster and beating all the boys, and continuing the fun being with all of their race families.
ALEX DECOURSEY, Age 18, from Wahkon, Minnesota. Alex believes that sportsmanship in motocross means respecting everyone on the track no matter how fast they are or what place they finish in. It’s about racing hard and being competitive but yet still caring about the people around you. Winning feels good but it should never come at the cost of hurting someone or being disrespectful to them. Alex hopes to improve his racing skills and fitness this year, and to podium at all his races.
I will be reaching out to your parents shortly (except you, Alex, I’ll reach out to you directly) so we can determine the best payment method to get you your award.
I’d like to thank ALL RIDERS that sent in an application for this sponsorship opportunity. Each one of you could have been selected, as there was not a single bad entry. I would also like to thank ALL THE JUDGES for helping keep the selection of these awards fair, and for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read through many applications.
This has been a pleasure for me to contribute in a small way to the future of ATV Motocross in this region, and I hope to be able to offer this opportunity again next year. Stay tuned!
CONGRATULATIONS NOAH, MILES, KEEGAN, WILLOW, and ALEX!
This last weekend, I had the unique pleasure of attending my first Midwest Ice Racing Association “King of the Quads” ice race, and Bethany and I made a weekend of it up on Barker’s Island in Superior, Wisconsin for the 10th anniversary of the Lake Superior Ice Festival. I am usually very cold weather adverse, so this was definitely a new experience for me being outside for an entire day in below zero to teens above zero temperatures. However, it was all for good reasons, as it allowed me to spend an entire relaxing weekend with Bethany in addition to helping support a good riding friend.
There was everything from pit bikes, utility quads, side-by-sides, and even a jet ski on wheels out there racing! Both with studs in the tires for more traction, and without. There was definitely something for everyone.
Carter Pollock ended up taking third place in the Quad “C” Studded Open class!
I really loved the vibe MIRA has with its riders, their families, and their friends. It was very much like being in the Motokazie pits during summer. It was a great time to meet new people and learn about a whole new motorsports discipline.
The Motokazie banquet last night was an excellent time with dinner, drinks, socializing with riding friends, and celebrating the accomplishments of the entire season with year-end awards. First through third place winners also received a custom-printed sweatshirt with their name, rider number, class, and standing. Top notch recognition for these riders that dedicated their time and effort to the series.
Carter also designed a collage for Jacob and presented it to him in thanks for all the assistance and coaching he’s given him and the rest of the group. He’s truly a shining star in the quad motocross world!
Congratulations to our quad honors this season:
Quad Sport 1st Place – Trenton Borning, Litchfield, MN 2nd Place – Kyra Hassler, Faribault, MN
Quad Open B 1st Place – Jacob Schilling, Mondovi, WI 2nd Place – Logan Herker, Darwin, MN 3rd Place – Carter Pollock, Litchfield, MN
Mini Quad 90 Semi Stock/Rec 1st Place – Landon Coons and Richard Schilling, Mondovi, WI
Mini Quad 50 Semi Stock/Rec 1st Place – Noah Abraham, Norwood Young America, MN 2nd Place – Willow Abraham, Norwood Young America, MN 3rd Place – Bristal Paulson, Darwin, MN
Mini Quad Production 1st Place – Mason Giller, Dayton, MN 2nd Place – Maverick Smith, Baldwin, WI
) were both OK.
