At Home –

Over the years I have seemed to drift apart from my local motocross scene that I was once very involved in. The reasoning is simple, I’m on the road a lot and finding time is getting harder with every passing year. Back in April I was talking to Justin Buckelew while in staging at the World Mini and we began drift down a history filled New Mexican memory lane that inspired me to write this blog.

A few weeks later, I was picking thorns out of my socks as the subject behind my lens was the annual area qualifier in Moriarty, New Mexico. The wind came barreling down on us in a World Mini like manner, my camera was getting hagged, and I was at home once again. The little kids of yesterday were now on big bikes; the next generation was alive in the form of Brandon Smith, Johnny Garcia, and grip of other 65 and 50 kids from within the region that were demanding notice. Jason Anderson was making his A class debut in his backyard, marking an end of an era and etching the first lines into the long awaited chapter of what promises to a historic pro career. Eli Tomac was in picture perfect form as he railed the blue grooved corners of the track that has become an icon to New Mexican motocross as he has done since way back in his mini days. Friends and faces that I haven’t seen in a long while littered the fence lines, while dreams of reaching Loretta’s were being chased on track. I was only miles from my front door and living the sport to the fullest, a rather refreshing change from long and windy road.

We all have personal goals and over the last year I have told myself that I’m going to get back to my New Mexican motocross roots. I’m going to do so through the experience of becoming a mini dad and supporting my daughters desire to race. Don’t worry, you wont ever see me screaming and yelling at my little one, it’s not in my person and I happen to know a little secret that I would like to share with those who do make racing miserable for their kids. It’s a simple observation that I have found within the Anderson camp over the years that is key to a kid ridding to his or her full potential. If a kid rides without pressure and actually has "fun" riding their bike, they will be faster and they will find flow. I stand behind this and will always use Jason as my example. If a kid lines the gate with a head full of pressure mixed with the fear of pulling of the track to an irate parent, then they have that much more to battle with throughout the moto and you might as well have stayed at home.

Last Friday evening my daughter Ella Rose asked if we could go to Fisher’s house on Saturday morning to ride. Dave Fisher, one of the coolest people on the planet, has promised to build Ella her own PW track and asked her to build a track map of what she wantes. She mapped it out that night, packed her gear bag, hammered down all her dinner and drank a giant glass of water in attempt to hydrate for the next day before jumping into bed early to assure she was rested. I got on the phone with Mikey Chiudioni and lined out a photo shoot at Fisher’s with the boys from Las Cruces and I was once again headed into weekend of New Mexican motocross.

Ella Rose Campo

Saturday morning was upon us and we were greeted by threatening skies and recently prepped track that had a few of the first timers from Las Cruces wide eyed and eager to ride. Mikey has long been one of my favorite photo subjects and as the day progressed he reminded why time and time again by offering up a mix of flat whips and railed corners.

Mikey Chiudioni

Ella fired up the PW and did her best to impress the boys, which consisted of about two hundred passes through whoops. She slept like a baby on the drive home and I waited eagerly to get back to my laptop and check out my photos from the day.

My attention has now turned the New Mexican Mototocross Championships and Pro Challenge that goes down this weekend. I will be at Glen Helen, but Vurb will be there in the form of contributor Mitch Elson and the edit piece has great promise. Mikey Chiudioni will face off against the Johnson’s, Bradley Graham, Corey Dry, Brian Edwards, Zach Gurley, and possibly Justin Buckelew in what promises to be the race of the year in Good Ole New Mexico.


Until then enjoy these photos…

Campo

Mikey Chiudioni #752

Zach Baker #575

Darren Edgar #223

Wes Patton #450