By Sarah Doty
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
Ask Brent Mason about his first Moto X race nearly 15 years ago, and he can tell you every detail.
He was 16 years old — his dad wouldn’t let him race until he was 16 — and he spent the morning helping his dad on the farm milking cows, before they "high-tailed it to the track."
They were late and had missed the practice run, but Mason got to the starting gate just in time for the race, only to realize that his front tire was flat.
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He was devastated.
But he put a new tube in and made it out for the second race, and although he finished towards last, he has been hooked ever since.
"My dirt bike is kin‘d of like a drug to me," Mason said. "I have to have it."
Now at age 30, racing is still his passion, he just has a few more people to enjoy it with, mainly his wife and two-and-a-half year old son.
And there sure were things to celebrate this year.
Mason, who had never won a championship in his 14 years of racing, made up for that drought and won not only one, but two championships this season at the Spring Creek Super Series in Millville. He took first place in the 25 + A, and 30 + Vet A class series, on his 450 Yamaha. The A class is just one step below pro, and consists of mostly retired pro riders.
While he had wanted the titles much sooner, he is thankful in a way that he had to wait.
"I’m glad it too me so long to win a championship because I really respect it," he said, "and I learned how to be patient. But I would have liked to have it sooner."
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It took hard work for Mason to come out on top. He has a rigorous training schedule of running three miles each day, eating "mostly" healthy and getting in as much "seat time" on the bike as he can.
The rider, who is sponsored by River Valley Power and Sport of Red Wing, even travels to Oklahoma and New Richmond, Wis., during the off-season to practice.
"I am an adrenaline junkie," said Mason. "(Racing) is something that is mine, I can just go out and do it and it is something that I really love to do."
It doesn’t come without a price, and Mason has had his share of injuries: a broken leg, collarbone, several toes, concussions and blood clots in his back, but that hasn’t stopped him.
"I just try not to think about it," he said.
As for his wife, she knew what she was getting into when they met at a track several years ago.
"I told her either you deal with the racing, or we aren’t together," Mason said. "I told her she can’t ever ask me to quit, can’t ever expect me to quit. Now, I couldn’t do it without her. She helps me in every possible way, she is at every race with Cole (son). I couldn’t do it without them."
Mason is passing on his passion to Cole, who just got his very first bike, a 50 Yamaha.
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"It’s awesome," said Mason of sharing his hobby with his son. "Words can’t explain how cool it is to have him on his new dirt bike. We have it all decked out with graphics just like mine. I am just enjoying it."
And he is looking forward to many years of racing together.
He said, "(Racing) is in my blood, it’s my life, I will do it until I die."
Weblinks
Spring Creek Motocross
http://www.springcreekmx.com/
