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With nearly 20 years of editorial and marketing experience, Joy Burgess has worked to support youth and women riders throughout every step of her career. Now the AMA’s director of marketing & communications, Burgess continues to uplift riders of all backgrounds, and was the driving force behind the AMA’s Take a Kid Dirt Biking Month.
Working as the AMA’s marketing and communications specialist, Lauren Kropf arrived at the AMA in 2022. Although she never had experience riding motorcycles prior to her arrival, years of service to AMA members and exposure to the world of motorcycling inspired her to officially join the community and get her motorcycle license, which she secured in 2024.
Although new to the moto-journalism scene, Jack Emerson has dived headfirst into the world of motorcycles since starting at the AMA in 2023. Jack works as the AMA’s communications manager, helping spread and share the overall message and mission of the AMA.
After writing about athletes that scored touchdowns and hit home runs, Keaton started telling stories about young and old motorcyclists who claimed trophies and accomplished great feats outside the track. He arrived at the AMA in 2021 and now serves as managing editor of American Motorcyclist. He has enjoyed telling the stories of all who call the motorcycling community home.
Happy AMA Take a Kid Dirt Biking Month, and welcome to American Motorcyclist for Kids magazine! In these pages we are celebrating the young riders of the motorcycling community — like you — by providing fun and inspiring stories about and for kids.
This magazine and the entire month are about recognizing the giant impact young motorcyclists have on the AMA’s mission to promote motorcycling and preserve the motorcycle lifestyle. Ultimately, the essence of Take a Kid Dirt Biking Month is to empower and inspire the next generation, because you are the torchbearers for the future of motorcycling.
So, flip through these pages and enjoy! And once you’re done, get outside and enjoy life on two wheels!
PERMCO AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS PRESENTED BY TURN 4 DISTRIBUTION
he summer’s best motorcycle event is back in 2025!
TThere are so many awesome motorcycling opportunities, both for beginners and skilled riders, at this year ’s Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Turn 14 Distribution — which runs July 25-27 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Kids as young as 4 can race at VMD, and beginner riders can test their skills with riding courses set up by STACYC and Strider. Don’t forget to take a quick break to check out the Wall of Death and MotoMotion stunt shows and watch the pros work their moto magic. Those are just a few of the sweet events happening at VMD. Check out more at VintageMotorcycleDays.com/.
Celebrate motorcycling’s greatest contributors at AMA Hall of Fame Days!
Running Oct. 23-26 at the AMA Campus in Pickerington, Ohio, AMA Hall of Fame Days will bring together the most noteworthy motorcyclists. With a large collection of legends in town for the event, the AMA will welcome a new class of Hall of Famers on Thursday, Oct. 23.
But the fun doesn’t end there! The rest of the weekend includes an open house at the museum, a STACYC and Pit Bike exhibition and a Bike Night with plenty of food, vendors and, best of all, motorcycles!
Head over to AmericanMotorcyclist.com/events/hall-of-fame-days/ for all of the details!
Put your steel shoes on and be ready to kick up some dust!
At the 2025 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship in Du Quoin, Ill., competitors take to the dirt track in search of AMA National No. 1 plates. What’s cooler than that?
With amateur flat track racing in four disciplines — Mile, Half-Mile, Short Track and TT — the racing action will be pretty much non-stop from June 29-July 5.
Go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com/events-4/ama-flat-track-grand-championship/ for more information.
Fast bikes and big air are two of the best ways to describe the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship! Held at Loretta Lynn’s iconic ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., from July 28-Aug. 2, the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the premier amateur motocross event in the country. With many classes, there’s sure to be racing opportunities for riders of nearly all ages.
To learn more, visit mxsports.com/ event/amateur-national-motocrosschampionship.
Amateur National Motocross Championship take place?
a) Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
b) Red Bud MX in Buchannan, Mich.
c) Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Pa.
d) Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Ind. Answer on Page 25
BY LAUREN KROPF AND JACK EMERSON
Like his father before him, Cruise Texter has his sights set on becoming a professional racer.
At just 7 years old, Texter has already emerged as one of the brightest up-and-comers that flat track has to offer. But, his talents aren’t just limited to the oval track, as the rising star also has dipped his toes into a variety of disciplines — including road racing and motocross.
While Texter has become a jack-ofall-trades as a racer, his heart is still set on flat track.
“He’s a flat track kid,” Cruise’s father and former American Flat Track (AFT) pro racer Cory Texter said. “Naturally, being a Texter, he’s a flat track kid for sure.”
Cruise aims to follow in his father’s footsteps, who captured the 2019 and 2021 AFT Production Twins champi-
onships. Cruise’s family ties to AFT go far beyond just his father, however, as his aunt — Shayna Texter-Bauman — and uncle — Brair Bauman — have both claimed AFT championships as well.
“It’s helpful for him to have not only just me, but his aunt Shayna and his uncle Briar,” Cory said. “He’s got a lot of good people to learn from.”
With family ties to professional racing, Cruise is well aware of the hard work and sacrifice needed to reach the highest levels of racing while also competing for championships as an amateur.
“It’s really cool,” Cruise said. “You basically know everything.”
Those lessons are apparent in Cruise’s training schedule, as the young racer spends hours on the track perfecting his craft. Cruise also challenges himself by training with other
stars in flat track, including AFT rider Evan Renshaw, and his father — who still hops on his bike to ride with him.
“He’s so young, the best thing for him is just riding the bike,” Cory said. “Evan pretty much lives with us and trains with him.”
With the combination of hard work and championship-winning family by his side, Cruise has already accomplished plenty in the world of motorcycle competition. During the 2024 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship — which brings together the best and brightest amateur flat track racers to compete for National No. 1 plates — Cruise captured the 50cc Production Chain Drive Shifter (4-8) and 50cc Production PW Shaft Drive (4-8) national titles.
In fact, according to Cruise, his favorite racing memory is of his first year racing at the AMA Flat Track Grand
Championship, where he collected a pair of AMA National No. 1 plates.
With honors and accomplishments stacking up for the young Texter, his father has watched his son grow in front of his eyes, not only as a racer but as a person, as well.
“It obviously makes you proud watching him go out and be a successful racer,” Cory said. “But, he’s learning life lessons through racing like I did. It’s really cool seeing him communicate as he’s getting older and understanding how sponsorships work.”
“Just seeing your son or daughter work hard toward anything is really special,” he continued.
And for Cory, even he’s having trouble keeping up with Cruise’s speed.
“It makes me nervous because of how fast he’s going now,” Cory said. “It’s like, ‘Alright, dude.’ Now, I’m telling him to slow down more than I’m telling him to go fast.”
WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP-WINNING FAMILY IN HIS CORNER AND AN UNPARALLELED WORK ETHIC FOR HIS AGE, 7-YEAR-OLD CRUISE TEXTER IS BOUND TO BE ONE OF THE FIERCEST COMPETITORS ON THE TRACK ANYTIME HE RACES. BOTTOM: CRUISE AND HIS FATHER, CORY.
Cooper Webb started racing at a young age, turning AMA Pro in 2013. He’s won two AMA Supercross Championships in the 450SX class, and at the time of publication he’s currently the points leader in the 2025 450 SX Championship chase. We recently caught up with the busy racer for a few questions.
Who taught you to ride and what bike did you learn on?
My Dad taught me on a PW50.
Who was/is your moto hero?
Growing up, it was [AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer] Ricky Carmichael, and he still is to this day.
What is your favorite motorcycling memory?
My favorite would have to be winning my first AMA 450 Supercross championship in Las Vegas in 2019.
What is your favorite non-motorcycling thing to do?
Going boating with my family and friends.
What was your favorite childhood TV show? Rocket Power
What does your ideal breakfast look like?
I really enjoyed the English Breakfast while I was in England for Motocross of Nations this year. That includes bacon, sausage, poached eggs, hashbrowns, beans, sourdough toast, mushrooms, a tomato and a nice black coffee.
What are your go-to pizza toppings? I’m simple, just pepperoni.
What snacks are you getting at the movie theater? Once again, simple guy, just popcorn.
If you could go on a motorcycling trip with two people (real or fictional), whom would you go with and where would you ride?
I would go probably somewhere I’ve never been. A facility or country that would have moto track, SX track, and single-track trail riding with nice weather and awesome dirt. I would take Aaron Plessinger, who’s a good buddy and funny dude, and Daxton Bennick, my teammate and one of my training partners/good friends.
What is the greatest piece of advice you could give kids today?
Never give up on your dreams. How many AMA Supercross 450SX Championships has Cooper Webb won?
Get to know the most important thing the AMA does
BY KEATON MAISANO
There’s nothing quite like the freedom of being on two wheels.
But that freedom isn’t just given. It’s the result of more than 100 years of the AMA working on behalf of motorcyclists to protect the future of motorcycling.
Now, what exactly does it mean to protect the future of motorcycling and why is protection even necessary? Well, believe it or not, over the years different groups have tried to limit or take away the freedoms motorcyclists enjoy, and it is the responsibility of the AMA — and at times its members — to protect those freedoms.
One of the most recent examples of this came in 2008 when the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act — better known as the “Lead Law” — put dirt bikes and ATVs at risk of being banned in a movement to protect kids from swallowing lead.
Ultimately, the AMA and motorcyclists — including many kids — successfully stood up against this potential ban and protected kids’ right to enjoy dirt bikes and ATVs (you can read more about this in the 2024 issue of American Motorcyclist for Kids). However, if this ban had passed, there is no doubt that motorcycling’s future would have been damaged. Kids just like you would not have had the chance to fall in love with riding dirt bikes, and the sport of motorcycling would be all the worse for it.
While the Lead Law is just one of the more recent examples, the AMA has defended and fought on behalf of motorcyclists for
decades, and for more than 50 years a dedicated group — known as the AMA’s Government Relations Department (GRD) — has been tasked with leading this charge.
The current members of the AMA GRD team work to make sure those freedoms stay protected so motorcyclists can continue to enjoy them now and into the future. The AMA GRD team does this by talking and working with lawmakers, government officials, different organizations, motorcyclists and non-motorcyclists, and many more to help defend motorcycling.
Over the years, this defense has involved stopping a “Superbike Ban Bill” in 1987 and a long-lasting fight to keep areas and trails open to motorcyclists. These efforts are incredibly important for any young motorcyclist who enjoys riding trails with their friends and family and/or looks forward to a future where they get to take their passion for motorcycling onto the open road.
Next time you swing your leg over your bike, try not to take the freedom for granted. But also know that with the AMA defending you at different levels of government and the help of kids like you being shining examples of how great motorcycling can be, the future of motorcycling is certainly bright!
IN 2008, KIDS TOOK TO CAPITOL HILL TO PROTEST THE “LEAD LAW,” WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BAN ON DIRT BIKES AND ATVS.
In which state will you find the AMA headquarters and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame?
a) California
b) Indiana
c) Ohio
D) Illinois Answer on Page 25
Rachel Gutish is an AMA Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) racer and has represented Team USA at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) eight times! We caught up with her to get all our biggest questions answered.
Who taught you to ride, and what bike did you learn on?
My dad taught me to ride. I started off on a little ATV, and as soon as I could ride a bicycle without training wheels, I graduated to a KTM 50.
Who was/is your moto hero?
The rider I grew up admiring the most was David Knight. I watched a video of him riding the Last Man Standing hard enduro when I was still on little bikes. The next day I found a big rock pile and rode through it over and over until the pipe on my 85 was mashed flat! I also thought it was cool that he was successful at so many different disciplines of racing.
What is your favorite motorcycling memory?
Oh come on, that is not even a fair question, there’s way too many! Winning an X Games medal, the first time I was part of a world-championship-winning ISDE team, trail riding in Idaho with my dad a few years ago, how it felt the first time I made it through a matrix (type of EnduroCross obstacle) without putting a foot down, the family group rides I went on as a kid…not a fair question at all!
What is your favorite non-motorcycling thing to do?
Also not a fair question, when the world is such a cool place with so much in it! I like to do training-related things, like weightlifting and mountain biking, swimming at a lake near my house, indoor rock climbing — really anything active you can talk me into, except running. I also like games of all kinds, from Monopoly to poker to Catan to cornhole to Magic the Gathering. Anything competitive (even if I’m terrible at it), I love. I also like reading and writing. I used to get teased by my competitors at the track, because I would carry around paperback books in my cargo pockets
What is your favorite trip/vacation you have ever taken?
Any and all of the ISDEs. Getting to race my motorcycle in other countries is so cool! And the format of the races…sure, working on your own bike is stressful and you’re riding on the edge in the special tests, and eight hours is a long day on the bike…but lots of times the transfer trails feel like you’re on an epic trail ride with the eight other fastest riders in the world. There aren’t many women who can ride at the level we do, so for so many of us to all be buzzing down the same county highway or up a jeep road on the mountains is something special. We aren’t all friends, but a lot of us are, and that’s where I feel most like a part of a community.
What does your ideal meal look like?
Not exactly on the meal plan most of the time but I’m a sucker for fried ravioli, so we’ll start with that. Also add a salad because we must have balance (lol). Then probably steak, potatoes and a big glass of milk because I’m still a Midwesterner at heart, even though I’m almost never home.
What is your favorite dessert?
Homemade dark chocolate chip cookies, fresh out of the oven. Plus that big glass of milk we were just talking about.
What is the comfort show/movie you play on repeat?
So…I don’t actually have a TV most of the time, because I pretty much live in my van. But I will read a lot of the same books over and over. I like Stephen King and John Grisham, but if I really want a “comfort” book I’ll dive back into something I read when I was younger, like Redwall, the Harry Potter series, Hunger Games, A Series of Unfortunate Events, etc.
If you could go on a motorcycling trip with two people (real or fictional), whom would you go with and where would you ride?
Okay, I would pick two real people, though one of them is no longer with us. I would do a dual-sport ride in Idaho with Rick Sieman and Peter Egan. I love their writing and I’ve read lots of collections of columns they wrote back in the day. I think they’d be really fun to hang out with…and based on how their columns and my life tend to go, I bet we’d come back with some epic stories to tell.
What is the greatest piece of advice you could give kids today?
I’m going to sound like a grouchy old man, but…put the phone down and go outside. Climb trees, poke at campfires with sticks, throw rocks at each other, build forts out of construction debris, get dirty, maybe get in a little bit of trouble, but definitely go enjoy the parts of life that you can’t get from a screen or a controller.
True or False: Rachel Gutish won her X Games medal in Italy? a) True B) False Answer on Page 25
Before today’s
Y-Zingers and KLX110S there were Mini Enduros, SL70S, Trail Hoppers, Rupp Black Widows and Z50S
BY MITCH BOEHM
Back when your parents were your age, and dinosaurs roamed the earth back in the ’60s and ’70s (LOL), minibikes were a really big deal, and there were literally millions of them being ridden and raced across America.
But instead of having names like PW50, CRF50F, KLX110, DR-Z70 and others, they were called Mini Enduro…Motosport 70…Trail Hopper…Black Widow… Gaucho…Mini Trail 50…and of course all manner of tube-framed, square-tire minis powered by Briggs & Stratton and Tecumseh “lawnmower” engines.
And while we’re talking 50-to-60 years ago (that’s like “forever,” right?), they really weren’t all that different than what kids are riding today. Most were powered by durable and quiet four-stroke engines, most had front and rear suspension, and most looked just right, which helped if your new minibike had
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: RUPP’S BLACK WIDOW. SUZUKI’S TRAILHOPPER, AND THE AD THAT SPARKED CHRISTMAS-MORNING JOY. HONDA’S SL70 MOTOSPORT. AND YAMAHA’S JT1 MINI ENDURO
you vying for “coolest bike in the neighborhood” honors among your buddies.
Remember the feeling when you got your very first motorcycle? That “omg” moment that in many ways changed your life? Well, it was very much the same for your parents or grandparents back in the day, when motorcycling was new and fresh, and having a minibike unlocked neverbefore-experienced adventure on a (sometimes) daily basis.
So the next time you’re out sliding around in the back fields or on the trails behind your house, or even at your local motocross track, remember this: That smile you’ll bring home to Mom and Dad (or Uncle or Aunt, or Grandma or Grandpa) later in the day is one many of them know all too well…
So thank them for turning you into a motorcyclist! And remember, these were the motorcycles many of them learned on and rode back in the good ol’ days.
And boy were they good!
BY KEATON MAISANO
Before the 2023 racing season, the three oldest Schade boys — Jedediah, Malachi and Ezekiel — set goals for themselves, providing a “why” for all the hard work they were putting into racing.
The same racing goal was named by all three brothers: Win the overall youth district championships, which are won by scoring the most points across multiple racing disciplines.
While their goals aligned, the boys are unique in how they go about their business. Gary Schade, father of the boys, described 11-year-old Jedediah, the oldest of the brothers, as methodical when it comes to his racing craft. Jedediah’s thoughtful approach to riding stems from his training and early exposure to racing, which he started
training for before he turned 4 years old.
Unlike his older brother, 9-year-old Malachi — known as “Wild Guy Chi” — is the wild card of the bunch, and is fueled by years of him chasing Jedediah.
The balance of Jedediah and Malachi helped shape 7-year-old Ezekiel, who Gary said is a blend of the two oldest boys.
Despite a difference in approaches and temperaments, the boys reached their goals, and the Schade family name won three of the nine youth overall championships in the District 37 desert series.
Gary stressed that the boys’ success is a testament that motorcycling
does not have to be restricted to those who can afford the newest and best equipment, citing that the boys accomplished their goals on older, 2018-spec bikes.
“A lot of people ask, ‘How do you do it with so many kids?’” Gary said. “Just show up. Come race and have a good time…It’s doable on a budget. You can go out and have fun. Support the sport and the sport will support you back.”
With a strong brotherly bond, plenty of determination and 4-year-old Jericho waiting in the wings, there appears to be no end in sight to the success the Schade family finds out in the desert on their bikes.
BY JACK EMERSON
The fastest up-and-comer on the track at the 2024 AMA Road Race Grand Championship has his sights set on something much bigger.
Derek Sanchez King — the winner of the 2024 Nicky Hayden AMA Road Race Horizon Award — emerged as the best racer during the amateur event, winning two classes and landing on the podium two more times. Now, his focus has shifted to the professional level of racing and becoming the first Dominican rider to compete in the Red Bull Rookie Cup.
“Right now, I am planning to ride the Moto America Talent Cup on the new Kramer bike. We still have lots of planning going on but that is the plan,” Derek said. “I would love to finish in a good spot at the end of 2025 so that I can go to the Red Bull Rookie Cup and try out and hopefully get selected and become the first Dominican rider to ride in that series.”
Derek’s outstanding performance came as a result of years of hard work, with some of his first memories coming at the racetrack.
“When I was a just a few years old, I was always at the racetrack with my dad watching him and his friends race and I wanted to do the same,” he told us. “Every time I get on a bike, I’m always excited as I always think of being a kid and wanting to race.”
which year was the first AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days? a) 1999 b) 1992 c) 2001 D) 1996 Answer on Page 25
Vowing to race eight disciplines in 2024, 11-yearold Kirra Holland enjoyed a jam-packed year of motorcycle discovery
BY KEATON MAISANO
irra Holland knew she didn’t like trees.
KBut what the 11-year-old motorcyclist didn’t know was what she did like, so she dedicated the 2024 racing season to finding that out. And the best way to do that? Sample each discipline by racing all genres her district had to offer.
With a grandfather who was an Expert-level open-class motocross rider in the 1980s and a father that races in District 23 Amateur Riders Motorcycle Association (ARMCA) off-road competitions, Kirra was destined for the motorcycle lifestyle. But while she found her way onto two wheels — learning to ride a peewee around 4 years old — she did not follow in her father’s tire tracks.
Instead, Kirra decided to blaze her own trail, and by the end of 2024, Kirra rode in motocross, flat track, enduro, supercross, hillclimb, hare scrambles, road ride and dual-sport events.
“[Riding all the disciplines] was like a challenge to find what I wanted to do most,” Kirra said. “At the start of the summer, I really wanted to do flat track, and then at the end I changed and wanted to do moto.”
With no trees in sight, Kirra will turn her focus to motocross and supercross racing in 2025. For her dad, Brandon, Kirra’s journey of discovery contains a lesson for all motorcyclists.
“I think the biggest takeaway, not just looking at her specifically but at our whole family lineage, is that you don’t know what you want to do until you try it,” Brandon said. “Like, my dad was a motocross rider, but I didn’t want to ride motocross. Then I found my niche in enduros and off-road.”
“Then when it was Kirra’s time…she tried flat track and decided it wasn’t for her. She maybe would have stuck with flat track if that’s all we ever tried or if that’s all she ever knew, but after she got a chance to try them all, now she knows she definitely likes motocross and supercross.”
BY LAUREN KROPF
From a very young age, dancing was my passion. Whether it was tap dancing or ballet, you could always find me at the studio. Motorcycling wasn’t something that those close to me took part in, so I was never familiar with it growing up.
I was finally introduced to the world of motorcycling three years ago when I started working at the American Motorcyclist Association. Not only have I learned a lot career-wise, but I also gained an interest in motorcycles which evolved from speaking with motorcyclists and AMA members at various events. Hearing their stories of how they got started and what it is like in the motorcycle community made me curious, and over time I knew I wanted to learn for myself to get my motorcycle license.
The process begins with getting a temporary permit. In early June of 2024, I started studying all things motorcycles by reading the Ohio
Motorcycle Operator’s Manual and taking practice tests. That same week, I made the trip to the Bureau of Motorcycle Vehicles (BMV) to take the written test and passed on my first attempt, which was really exciting. The following week I already enrolled in the Basic Riding Skills class through Motorcycle Ohio, which was less than two weeks later.
The first day of class was in a classroom setting. Then, the next two classes were on the range, with the skill evaluation test taking place at the end of the second class. I spent the entire weekend learning how to ride on a Kawasaki KLX 230 S. There were some exercises that were challenging, and the weather did not help. Saturday’s class had extreme heat
with temperatures in the 90s, and during the Sunday class, it rained…a lot. After getting through the class portion, I passed the skill evaluation test on my first try!
Although I didn’t start riding when I was a kid, it’s never too late to pick up new interests! I will forever be grateful for the dance performances with different choreography and costumes, but I look forward to each day that I learn something new about motorcycling!
How many magazines does the American Motorcyclisstaff publish
TPAGE 9:
Where does the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship take place?
A) Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
PAGE 13:
How many AMA Supercross 450SX Championships has Cooper Webb won?
C) 2
PAGE 15:
In which state will you find the AMA headquarters and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame?
C) Ohio
PAGE 17:
True or False: Rachel Gutish won her X Games medal in Italy?
False: Rachel Gutish won her X Games medal in Austin, Texas, in 2014. Italy was the site of her first of three ISDE wins, which
came in 2021 with the U.S. Women’s World Trophy Team.
PAGE 21:
Which year was the first AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days?
b) 1992
PAGE 23:
How many magazines does the staff publish each year?
B) 13
Last year we asked you to send in photos of how you celebrated AMA Take a Kid Dirt Biking Month, and we’ve featured as many as possible here in the second edition of Motorcyclist for Kids.
Don’t forget to send in your photos and videos again this year to be featured in our next issue of the magazine and on social media, and to be entered to win a STACYC bike and other prizes.
Also, if you have a great story to share, send it in to submissions@ama-cycle.org. Happy riding!
Share your photos with us for a chance to win a STACYC bike and other prizes!