We’re gearing up for our annual Vurbmoto Classic at NXT LVL 101 in South Carolina on September 13-15. It’s our biggest race of the year. If you don’t believe us, just ask riders like Jo Shimoda, Haiden Deegan, Adam Cianciarulo, Justin Barcia, Justin Cooper, Cooper Webb, among others what this race meant to them. They will tell you that it completely changed the trajectory of their careers. We took them to the top baby! Now we will take you to the top. Sign up for your classes today and see if you can become King of the Classic.
For the second year in a row, the 65cc World All-Stars returned to the zMax Dragway to compete against the best 9-11 year olds in the world on what could be the biggest stage any of these riders have ever been on. If you’re not familiar, at each round of the SuperMotocross Playoffs, there will be a race between Motos where the top amateurs in the world will compete on the same track the pros are racing. These classes being 65cc’s, Superminis at Texas, and the 250 class will be at Las Vegas for the championship round. This series couldn’t have started off any better and even created a little drama, let’s check it out.
The Weege said it best at Loretta Lynn’s this year when he called Carter Gray “Airtime” for some of the lines he was taking. Carter put on a show this weekend and was hitting multiple big lines during qualifying that were just absolute mental for a 65cc to be doing. If Carter could hit some of these lines during a race, he would be hard to beat.
Well, race time came and the race officials had made the decision that it was in the riders best interest and safety that they would not be allowed to hit the finish line jump. *Queue the drama.*
Gray would get off to a great start and find himself in the lead quickly with Chase Brennan on his back fender for the whole race. These two dudes were duking it out until Gray decided to bust out the finish line jump with a few laps to go. But wait, didn’t we just say they were told they CAN’T jump the finish line?
Gray would go on to win the race and would ghost ride his bike and the fans were going crazy. I’ve seen some people comment on how this was the loudest race of the night and the fans were eating it up. Gray would give his podium speech and then I saw the post on social media.
Gray made a post on his Instagram saying how he was docked two positions for jumping the finish line. The Gray’s were upset with how they were allowed to jump it all weekend and ten minutes before race time they are told they cannot. The post went on to say that he and his trainer discussed that he would jump what he felt comfortable with. While Gray was upset with only getting the 3rd place trophy, I think he made it clear to all of us he was the fastest guy on the track and the winner.
Do you agree with the decision to not let the kids hit certain jumps?
Safety for these kids has to be the number one rule and if race officials determined it could become a hazard and potential danger for them, I have to agree with the decision. While it sucks for Gray and his team, when the rule is broken you have to expect the consequences. Now I’m not taking anything away from Grayor his Coach and I think they expected this to happen. Gray should keep his head high, as this summer he has proved he is one of the best 65cc riders in the world right now and is quickly making a name for himself. I think this is a kid we will watch grow into a superstar over the next 6-7 years.
Main Image: Carter Gray’s Instagram
Nobody will ever remember what place they decided to give him in a 65cc race in the future, but they will never forget him sending a 65cc over those jumps. He proved he is the fastest rider AND got the most publicity. I think he wins, regardless of what a results sheet says……he wins in many more ways than that.