Red Bull KTM and Rockstar Husqvarna at Hemet SX

By Billy Rainford

When I was a kid, we got a lot of snow in Ontario and riding had to take a backseat to winter sports like hockey and skiing. Whenever a new motocross magazine came out, I was always captivated by the photos from the top pro riders practicing somewhere in California. The names of the places were so exotic and romanticized in my brain that it almost seems surreal that I’m now driving from track to track down here for myself. If you’re old like I am, you know what I mean.

Seeing photos of Ricky Johnson, Jeff Ward, Johnny O’Mara, David Bailey, Micky Diamond, JMB and more looking like they were having so much fun on their bikes when all we could do was dream about it was something I’ll never forget.

I knew our Canadians, #500 Julien Benek and #518 Parker Eales, were heading to the track outside Hemet, CA called, oddly enough, Hemet SX on Wednesday, so that’s where I pointed the #DMXVAN this morning.

Kyle Springman had mentioned that the track was booked until around 1:30 but the Red Bull KTM and Rockstar Husqvarna teams, so I headed over to see if I could catch some of that action. I could.

Here’s a look at what I saw at Hemet SX on Wednesday.

For starters, the track got pretty gnarly. The factory guys didn’t leave it the way they found it!

I’ve also decided to take more photos from a distance, showing more of what’s going on. After looking at old photos posted by Bill Petro on his Facebook page, I realize the ones I find most interesting aren’t the close-ups but the ones that show people in the crowd or the pits or the vehicles being driven at the time. Of course, there will always be close-ups thrown it, too.

For example, 20 years from now, kids won’t believe we used to drive old pick-ups like this one or that our Sprinter vans were so archaic. Trust me, it happens.
How did we get around the tracks on old bikes like this one of Josh Hansen? OK, I’ll back it down.
OK, enough warming up, let’s get to some riding shots.

Who was there, you ask? Well, let’s have a look…

#38 Jalek Swoll.
#128 Tom Vialle.
#2 Cooper Webb.
#28 Christian Craig.
#25 Marvin Musquin.
#27 Malcolm Stewart.
#34 Max Vohland.
#24 RJ Hampshire.
#66 Casey Cochran.
#339 Talon Hawkins.
Mike Brown (left) was even there as the Baker’s Factory peeps were helping out, including Aldon Baker. I really wanted to stop him and talk some cycling, but I held back.
One thing that sucked was that Marv took an awkward fall and came up favouring his left wing. He left early, so I hope everything is OK.

Here are a few more action shots.

Well, well, well, would you look at who showed up to suss out the situation? That’s Tony Wass and Logan Karnow looking over the track before they could ride it.
Getting the angles.

They rode until about 1:30 and then the track opened to the public. Here’s a look at some of the riders who were there.

Parker Eales, Kevin Urqhart, and Kyle Springman.
Tony with the Only Fans Kawasaki of Logan Karnow.
Oliver and Julien Benek.
With that background straight out of Sanford and Son, I couldn’t resist.
#93 Jerry Robin.
I really liked this background.
#538 Addison Emory.
That’s #208 Logan Leitzel making it a baker’s Logan.
#410 Brandon Scharer.
Mark from Hemet about to do some track maintenance.
They also have a little bike track and they’d come check out the pros from time to time.
#848 Joan Cros.
I think Oliver is going to make an offer on this thing.

That was a great day at the practice track if I’ve ever seen one! Who knows what tomorrow will bring as this 2023 Supercross adventure continues. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you at the races…