Extreme Competition

Located on the outskirts of Centerton, just off of Highway 279 North, is the playground for a new breed of extreme high school athletes. The dirt roads lead to a place where the sounds of whistles and buzzers are drowned out by the roar of pure power. Welcome, Northwest Arkansas, to the world of motocross at Challenger Park. Opening its doors in 2005, Challenger Park MX is Northwest Arkansas' only motocross park, with riders hailing from Joplin (Mo.), Rogers, Tulsa (Okla.) among others. It's a place where there are no speed limit signs and dirt is meticulously groomed. "The reason we opened the park was because of the excitement and fun," said owner Randy Smith. "I grew up on bikes, and it gets in your blood and sticks with you." What exactly is motocross? Racers are divided into different classes based on bike size, age and ability, and then each class lines up to compete in a moto (race). Typically, there are two motos, one after another. In a moto, the winner receives one point, second place gets two, third gets three and so on. The racer with the least amount of points after two motos wins. Interest in motocross is spreading like wildfire and gaining national recognition through big events like The X Games. Closer to home, high school students are trading their bats for bikes and the opportunity to compete in this extreme sport. "It's a really big rush," said Bentonville High School sophomore Zach Martin. "I have played a bunch of other sports and none really compare to this." Martin isn't the only local high school athlete who spends his extracurricular time at the motocross track. In fact, Gentry freshman Tyler Beam won over 700 motocross trophies. Having begun racing at age 10, Beam has traveled all over the United States competing in motocross. To help cover the costs of his travels, he has sponsorships from local shops like Bill Eddy's Motorsports. But, Beam's time-consuming commitment to the sport doesn't discount the "student" component of the phrase "student-athlete." "My dad and I have a deal that if I keep my grades up, then I can ride hard on the weekends," Beam said. The draw to motocross for athletes like Martin and Beam is the competitive spirit and adrenaline that comes from flying through the air while racing on a motorcycle. "It's like playing football at 35 mph with a 400 pound machine between your legs," Smith said. But, this incredible power doesn't stop Smith from allowing his son Stefan to race. Actually, he's one of the fastest racers on the track, at just 13. "Stefan took off on a bike without training wheels when he was just in diapers and we knew he had something special," said a proud Smith. Another common factor with motocross riders is the bond they build with one another while racing. They spend much of their time tuning up their bikes, walking off a hard landing or enjoying the taste of dirt and smell of gasoline. "I love the competitiveness and that it's a family sport," says Beam. "Motocross is life." Races run at Challenger Park throughout the year, and the summer series runs through the beginning of August. For information on how to get involved in this extreme sport, visit www.challengerparkmx.com. But realize this: Motocross is no walk in the park; it's a high-velocity, high-flying race around it.