When 14-year-old James Moore gets on his 2006 Suzuki motorbike to race, he loves the feeling of the adrenaline pumping through his veins.
‘When you’re on a roll, going really fast ? it’s just so cool,? the Leonard resident said.
It’s surprising that Moore has any adrenaline left after spending all of last week at the 25th National Amateur Motocross Championship in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
The event drew thousands of motocross lovers from across the nation to the ranch of country singer Loretta Lynn, who hosts the race every year.
Moore, decked out in his red and black riding suit, spent the very hot and humid week jumping his two different motorbikes over dirt hills, turning sharp corners and leaving other riders in the dust.
In his age group, Moore placed 23rd out of 42 on his modified bike, which means he could add special parts to it, and placed 26th out of 42 on his stock bike. Moore’s average timing on his laps was 2 minutes, 10 seconds.
Although Moore said he was nervous the first couple of days of the championship, he eventually eased into the racing and thoroughly enjoyed his first time at the championship.
Moore said he even had a ‘wipe out? on his last race, but didn’t sustain any serious injuries.
‘It gets really rough,? he said. ‘There’s a lot of acceleration bumps and breaking bumps to watch out for.?
Moore even had his own ‘crew? cheering him on at the race. His mother, Diane, father and two of his four sisters, caravaned down to the race in their RV and bike trailer.
One of his sisters even made special patches on T-shirts with Moore’s American Motorcycle Association number on it.
‘It’s just a privilege and honor to be there,? his mother said. ‘A lot of these kids are very dedicated and it keeps their minds focused where they need to be.?
Moore has been riding a motorbike since he was 3?-years-old and began racing when he was nine. He can frequently be found racing on his bike around the family’s yard.
Moore recommends everyone get into motocross and said he wants to become a professional racer when he turns 16.
But will he still have his ‘crew? to cheer him on then? Of course.
‘We support him 100 percent in what he wants to do,? Diane said.