Against the Odds: The Kevin Moranz Journey

Kevin Moranz has never been handed anything. Not a factory ride, not a shortcut, and certainly not a silver spoon. But what he has had since day one is grit, hustle, and a level of self-awareness you just don’t see often in this sport.

Let’s rewind to the beginning. 

Kevin started riding at the age of four, right alongside his older brother who was six at the time. That little detail might seem like nothing, but it stuck. The “4” and the “6” in his race number? That’s where it comes from. Kind of cool when you realize he’s carried his brother with him—literally—his entire racing career.

Born in Manhattan, Kansas, and raised in Topeka, Kevin was never just a dirt bike kid. He was an all-around athlete—public school through and through. He wrestled. He played football. He didn’t grow up in the moto bubble where every weekend is a gate drop and every weekday is motos and gym time. Motocross was just one piece of the puzzle. His family focused on Loretta’s, and even then it was a once-a-year kind of thing. His best finish came in Supermini 2 (13–16), where he landed P8—not bad for a “part-time” racer.

But after high school, the switch flipped. No more football. No more wrestling. Just moto.

He went back to Loretta’s in 2016 and went P9 in 250B. Then again in 2017, same deal: P9 in 250A. That would be his last trip to the ranch before stepping into the deep end.

2018: Go Time

Kevin turned pro and jumped into Amsoil Arenacross like a dude who had something to prove. Turns out, he did. He thrived in the tight stuff—technical rhythms, timing, bar-banging chaos. He grabbed a few podiums in the Lights class and proved he could run with the best of ‘em. Still, no one was handing out golden tickets, so he took the long way. Ten of 12 rounds of Pro Motocross that summer, making every one but the gnarly mudder at Ironman.

That grind got him noticed by Custom Power Sports, who backed him for a few rounds. That partnership rolled into his 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross debut. He trained at the GOAT Farm, working under the watchful eye of Ricky Carmichael himself. The debut? Well, an injury delayed it, but when he finally rolled into Daytona, you knew it meant something. The next week in Indy, Kevin made his first night show. The dream was real.

But let’s be honest: dreams don’t pay the bills.

Kevin figured that out early. He knew the 250s were ticking time bombs—expensive ones at that. So in 2022, after dabbling on a 450 the year before, he made the switch full-time. Why? Reliability. Cost. Simplicity. Kevin’s been fully self-funded since high school. His family did what they could, but it wasn’t enough to go racing full tilt. So Kevin hustled. Hard. He’s a businessman just as much as he’s a racer. He understands ROI. He knows every sponsor is investing, and he makes sure they see value in return.

By 2024, he was ready for more. Enough of the piecemeal programs, relying on haulers like TPJ. Kevin wanted to build his own thing. Enter: Champion Tool Storage. They loaned him a full-blown rig, and with that, Kevin Moranz Racing became a factory-level privateer program. The presence? Next-level. The results? Well… 2024 was rough. A string of concussions derailed a lot of what Kevin had built. But it didn’t break him.

2025: All-In

This year, Kevin’s put more pressure on himself than ever before—not just to perform, but to deliver value to the people supporting him. He’s got a crew now. Noah, his full-time videographer, helps keep his YouTube channel (24k subs and counting) consistent. Jackson, a young mechanic learning the ropes. Justin, the guy behind the wheel of the rig and at the gate. And then there’s Rachel—his girlfriend and secret weapon—reading lap times, relaying messages for the pit board, and basically being the team strategist. She’s the glue.

But here’s the thing: it costs a lot to run this program. We’re talking just for the crew alone, 4 grand a weekend easy—flights, food, hotels. So when Kevin lined up for the Yamaha PulpMX LCQ Challenge last week, there was more than just pride on the line.

After what some may deem a greasy move off the second moto start—but well within the rules—he rode his way to the overall win. He won $25k. A sigh of relief? Sure. But if you know Kevin, you know it’s not about pocketing the cash, it’s about investing it in the future. He’s already talking about fixing up his training track, spending more time at the Dog Pound, and—finally—taking Rachel on a well-earned vacation.

Still, Kevin’s not slowing down. He may be a Supercross guy through and through, but don’t be surprised to see him sneak into a couple rounds of Pro Motocross this summer. Currently P24 overall in the SMX points with one round of Supercross left, Kevin will need to recoup some points this summer to make it into the SMX Playoffs. While he’s not in love with the outdoors, there is real money on the table for SMX. And if he can just get there, he will surely battle for a solid result. The same discipline that built a race team from scratch, that earned the trust of major sponsors without a middleman, is the same discipline he’s bringing into motos. He’s not just hanging on—he’s building something that lasts.

Because Kevin doesn’t wait for opportunity. He creates it. He funds it. He manages it. He races it. Every inch of his program has his fingerprint on it—from the graphics kit to the YouTube thumbnails. And when people ask, “How does he do it?” The answer is simple.

He just does the work. Because Kevin doesn’t wait for opportunity. He builds it.

And just like his program, his success is built—not bought.