For novice riders, a new motocross track of their own;

September 6, 2005

David Bailey watched intently as his 9-year-old son, Dylan, navigated his way around the twisting turns and rolling jumps of the new Brooksville Motocross track.

Although new to his 65cc Suzuki dirt bike, the youngster zipped through the course, displaying the kind of talent his father believes will one day make him an expert motocross rider.

"This is going to be a good place for kids like him to learn the ropes," said Bailey, a longtime rider himself. "And there's going to be a lot of them out here."

Giving novice riders an opportunity to hone their skills was one of the primary reasons behind Tracy Price's vision to build a first- rate motocross facility at the Hernando County Fairgrounds.

The track, which opens Sunday with racing beginning at noon, will be geared toward providing amateurs and up-and-coming pros a place to develop their technique and dexterity in a competitive atmosphere.

Price, who runs a construction company, began building the facility in June. He brought in heavy equipment to mix and shape approximately 800 cubic yards of sand and clay into a course that includes six jumps and eight banked turns. He then added bleachers, protective spectator fencing and safety barriers to complete the project.

Though not a motocross rider himself, Price enlisted a number of area amateur and professional riders for advice in the track's construction, including up-and-coming American Motorcycle Association 125cc Supercross series pro Troy Adams, who lives in Brooksville.

Last week, Adams was among several riders to take a spin on the new track.

"It's a fun little track," said Adams, 22. "It's pretty fast and has some challenging turns. But it's not too difficult for less experienced guys. People are going to enjoy it."

Adams, who is currently a factory rider for Team Honda, grew up riding dirt bikes at the nearby Croom riding trail east of Brooksville. He predicts the facility will be a boon for the area's burgeoning dirt bike community.

"When I was coming up, there weren't that many places close by to race," said Adams, who became a professional motocross rider in 2003. "There's a track in Dade City and one in Ocala, and that's about it."

Price said weekly races will cater to both novice and experienced classes, ranging from small 50cc bikes to powerful 250cc machines, with special events for four-wheel ATV or "quad" machines. Racers will compete in events that are appropriate to their age and experience level, with winners receiving trophies or plaques.

Aside from the thrilling nature of the sport Price believes the main attraction to weekly racing at Brooksville Motocross will be the family atmosphere of the sport.

"The great thing about motocross is that it offers something for everyone," Price said. "Even if just starting out, you can come out here and get involved and have fun."

Logan Neill can be reached at lneill@sptimes.com or (352) 848- 1435.

IF YOU GO

Brooksville Motocross opens Sunday at the Hernando County Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St., on the south side of Brooksville. Practice will be from 8 to 11 a.m., with racing starting at noon. Participant admission is $25. Spectator admission is $10. For information, call (352) 279-8399 or (352) 279-2038.

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