Sunday Night April 17th

Finally back on track this weekend so there’s some commentary on the race and a FEATURED RIDER.

… A big track today. Can you say L O NG--- L O N G—L O N G and FAST FAST FAST! This was a horsepower track. If you were riding a 450F or a 250 two stroke you were finally able to use all the power tucked in that fancy aluminum frame for more than a second or two. Long uphills were made for the high gears and horsepower of a 450f or a 250 and if you were standing near the uphill jump or over at the bleacher spectator area as the big bikes thundered and screamed up out of the valley you know what I’m talking about.

Early in the morning I walked the track before practice to get a look at possible vantage points for good photography and was pleased to see a real outdoor style mx layout. Lots of up hills and a few down hills and a really decent long up hill jump that almost every rider, even down to the 65’s was able to get air on without being too dangerous. Most up hill jumps are all about the momentum you carry up the hill. It becomes the riders choice as to whether they want to spend a long time in the air or stay low, land early and drive off the plateau while others soar overhead. The faster riders, the experts, started doing this while most others just enjoyed the big comfy air that this jump provided. If you were watching closely the riders doing this were on top of the rider in front of them as they came into the big 180 right turn. A lot of ground can be made up between riders if one takes the high road and the other takes the low road and puts the power back on the ground.

Talking with some of the riders, they said that even though it was a big fast track it was one of the roughest and most treacherous they’ve ridden in a long time. The “marbles” in the turns played havoc with front wheels screaming for traction to make the tight turns and chicanes that seemed to be everywhere especially at the bottoms of some steep hills.

One wicked chicane was located just off the fence post at the spectator bleachers area where the riders made their way from the rhythm section on the top and funneled in close to the fence post and dropped down into the valley. At least 2 big bikes went down in a heap of dust there as the laws of traction gave way to the laws of physics. Not to be outdone though was the left exit of the last table top of the rhythm section before heading to that down hill drop. Every few races a rider would enter the down ramp a little too hot, grab some brake lean the bike left, hit the marbles and then hit the dirt..

Racing in the 1st 250 Expert class was very exciting with the holeshot being claimed by #81 on a Yamaha. The lead changed hands as #21 and #17 picked up the wicked fast pace and soon had commanding lead on the others. Though it wasn’t a battle for 1st place the battles in the back ranks were of great interest to the spectators just as if it was for 1st place. There is something to be said for those rider who achieve “Expert Status” they don’t quit, they are always charging.

Another fantastic race and the one that had me running across the infield back and forth was the 125 AM race. This race turned out to be the one to watch as rider #202, an expert, stepped into the mix with the top of the crop from the amateurs. It turned into a 3 way battle with the lead changing hands and positions changing each lap. What a race, as these 3 young riders hung it out. If you want to see them in action go to the gallery and check out the photos titled, “Action 3 Way Battle”. It was two Hondas and one Yamaha with rider # 172 on the Honda out front for most of the race but it was no cake walk. The pressure was on and each time they crested the hill on the big uphill jump it was possible that the lead had again changed somewhere out of sight down in the valley. My thought is that the lead would have changed again had either of the two riders behind the lead rider picked up something from the 250 Experts. Staying low over that big jump lap after lap would have rewarded the rider with a 1 or 2 second margin that could have been used to do a block pass down at the right hand 180 or given them the extra lead through the rhythm section. All in all though it was a great race and after all was said and done the riders lined up and congratulated each other. That’s Racing!

A few other notables were the 50’s beginner class 1st moto that was looking to be a knock down drag out fight for the checkers with Honda mounted rider #8 chasing down KTM mounted front runner #212. They were within 3 to 15 feet of each other most of the time with the 2 stroke KTM pulling the 4stroke Honda but the Honda would catch up in the turns. It was a good race and it was just a matter of time before the Honda rider would get the chance to make his move. That opportunity faded however as another Honda rider was down and in the blind spot over the top of a hill. The KTM was able to avoid the downed rider but the Honda was not. The pictures show Honda #8 and downed Honda rider #25 meeting up the hard way. Both riders appeared to be unharmed although it’s very obvious of the damage to the forks on Honda #8.

Finally…the Dust. It was a real pain. Maybe more than usual and it’s not really worth complaining about as we all took a little home with us in our hair, clothes, bikes and lungs. Would have been good to get some water on the worst sections on the upper track. Maybe in May we'll get blessed with a little Momma Nature. See you in May!


Featured Rider: Stephen Walker


Ever since shelving my own competitive riding and returning to Kahuku to take pictures back in late 2005 I have always watched rider # 27 who became rider # 7 and eventually rider #1 in the Vet A class. I cant remember how I actually came to meet him but MX riders are the same everywhere. There’s a bond between those who ride MX and it’s pretty easy to strike up a conversation no matter where you find yourself.

So somewhere along the line I got to know Steve. We’re close in age and although he’s Suzuki mounted and I’m a Red Rider I think our riding styles were similar. Stephen is not flashy, he’s not a whipper though I dare say he could be if he wanted, he is talented. He also got started in mx late in life as surfing is his other passion. It was surfing that Hawaii by way of California became home for this Florida native. As he put it “it was all about surfing to get here” to Hawaii to live. I might also mention that he’s into Martial Arts. When asked about which he prefers MX or Surfing…well lets just say that he couldn’t really put one in front of the other.

During the mid day break I sat down with him up at his camp area on the hill and he answered some questions.

Steve lives in nearby Haleiwa and has two kids, Mina Sue Walker and Sage Harley Walker. They ride too. Mina is riding a KX 65 and Sage is JR 50 mounted. He’s in the construction business and has been working for O’Donnell Construction for about 7 years. The bike of choice as mentioned before is from Suzuki and one time I asked him…why Suzuki? He may not remember this but his answer was “I wanted to be different”.

So he’s Suzuki mounted and he’s sponsored by Montgomery Motors aka. Cycle Sport down in town off Nimitz. His sponsors are the brothers, Brett and Stafford Montgomery who own the business and support Steve in his racing efforts. Just talking to Steve about his sponsors you know how much he appreciates their support so here’s a shout out for CYCLE SPORT and Brett and Stafford!!! If you’re looking for a Suzuki they’re your dealer.

I asked him about his bike the 450F and it’s surprisingly stock with only a ProCircuit pipe and silencer and Race Tech suspension valving mods. This Suzuki is also first generation fuel injected which Steve says has a faster throttle response than his past Suzuki 4strokes. Oh and it’s Mr. Walker himself that does all the wrenching on the bikes.

He competes in the Vet A class and is the current Number 1 Champion although he usually rides with the # 7 plate. He also wicks it up with riders 10 to 15 years younger than him in the Expert 250 class and can always be found charging no matter where he’s positioned. When asked about who his competition usually is he’s quick to mention Sam Bird #3, Jimmy Lewis #119 and Kelwin Jiminez #366. I asked him about what kind of track that he likes to ride and the answer came back quickly...“Big- Fast-Air”. Guess that sums up this months race layout and his 1st moto finishes in 1st place in the Vet A and 3rd in Expert 250. (By the way the speeds he was hitting coming up from the valley to do the whoops was really fast. Check out Suz 7 in the gallery)

Wheneve we talk at the races he mentions how much free time that he doesnt have but he does get to watch mx and sx on the tube and he thinks that riding MX is the better of the two because it’s the essence and “root” of dirt bike riding and there’s nothing better than going fast on natural terrain with big hills and fast tracks. At this point as we were shooting the breeze the call for the start of the second motos came over the loud speakers and Steve had to suit up so the the final question was: What’s the best thing about riding dirtbikes? The answer was pretty easy…”hanging with friends”.

See you in May!

-scott