The Roots MX June 2014 | Page 10

14 Next in Line 16 RAW: “Thank You for Coming” 18 JS7 Freestone Spring Championship 30 Hannah Hodges gives ‘Ride Like a Girl’ a Whole New Meaning 37 Best of #JS7Freestone 38 FMF California Classic 60 Jazzmyn Canfield: Ready to do Battle 64 RAW: “Why Are Pros Racing AMs?” 67 Next Issue... SUBSCRIBE 4 YOUR FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE 10 theROOTSMX • ISSUE 2 2014 From the Editor JUNE 2014 / THE ROOTS MX It’s only Issue 2 of The Roots MX, and I’ve chosen to feature two motocross riders who are...girls? Is this career suicide? Let’s hope not. I’d like to think of it as simply a ballsy move made by this female editor. What can I say, I love a little irony. And I’ve never been one to make apologies. The fact of the matter is, I live life on the road chasing motocross races, and in my observation, the state of women’s motocross cannot go ignored. When I see a girl on a bike, I am stoked! I know that she rides not out of expectation, but out of pure passion. There’s nothing I love more than seeing people pursue the thing that drives them. I don’t have all the answers. But I am willing to propose a jumping off point to start a conversation about how we can grow women’s motocross and promote the girls who are out there kicking ass, despite the odds that are stacked against them. When I see a girl on a bike, I am stoked! I know that she rides not because of expectation, but out of pure passion. There’s nothing I love more than seeing people pursue the thing that drives them. Motocross is fueled by passion. What else would compel someone to leap off a gate packed in alongside 40 other riders at speeds of up to 85 miles per hour atop a 250 pound metal machine; to be funneled into a narrow holeshot where only one rider will come out ahead, and some might not make it through the first turn; to strain body and mind through 30 grueling minutes of extreme physical exertion; to risk all manner of horrific injuries; all for the chance to step on top of that box knowing that they triumphed? What else would compel parents to pack up their lives every weekend, to drive hundreds of miles and countless hours to some remote location, one which is usually so dusty or muddy that’s it’s impossible to keep anything clean? What else would compel fans to endure scorching heat and wicked cold, or the heartbreak of their favorite rider out for a season in a momentary mistake? My point is, motocross is all about passion, whether you’re a rider, the family member of a rider, or a fan. Anyone who has been to events at tracks like Redbud or Freestone knows that motocross fans are some of the most passionate fans in existence. This issue is about celebrating the passion of the men and women who are growing the sport of motocross. Rachel A. Witt [email protected]