With high jumps and sharp turns taken at high speeds, motocross racing is definitely an extreme sport. Motocross racing is a special type of motorcycle race that happens on a closed, outdoor track in all kinds of weather. Originating in the United Kingdom, the sport has made its way to America, and into the hearts of St. Paul Academy and Summit School students.

Junior Nicolas Koch has been racing for about a year and a half. Koch was introduced to the sport by a friend. “A invited me to come try it one day and let me borrow his bike, and I got hooked on it,” Koch said.

Motocross tracks have open practice time in addition to hosting competitions and team practices. Tracks Koch frequents are Spring Creek in Milville, Minnesota, Arkansaw cycle park in Arkansaw, Wisconsin, Hurricane Hills in Mazeppa, Minnesota, and Meadow Valley in Milville, Minnesota. Prices range from $25-$30 per person per day. All of these tracks host weekend races in which Koch recently started participating. “I just started racing,” Koch said.

Eighth grader Harry Stephenson started doing motocross when he was five. “My dad bought a bike for my brother. He put me on it and sent me racing off. I hit a tree, broke the bike, broke my left arm, and was riding ever since,” Stephenson said. Despite his years of experience, Stephenson doesn’t race competitively. “I just do it because it is a lot of fun,” Stephenson said, adding that he sometimes races with friends.

Despite their enthusiasm, neither Koch nor Stephenson sees more SPA students participating in the future. “No way is it ever going to gain popularity,” Koch said, and Stephenson echoes this sentiment saying, “I can’t see anyone else getting into it.”