The American Motorcyclist Association is proud to announce that the second annual Take A Kid Dirt Biking Day is happening on Saturday, May 21. This nationwide campaign aims to cultivate the next generation of passionate riders by giving them a chance to learn skills, boost confidence and appreciation for the sport. And of course, it is a great reason to spend some quality time with family and friends as spring leads into the summer riding season.
Whether it’s taking the kids out to trails, riding on a dirt track or just tooling around in the backyard, AMA Deputy Director of Racing Mike Burkeen said it is important to provide steady mentorship to build confident and capable riders. “It’s important that experienced riders help bring new kids into the sport and continue as mentors,” Burkeen said. “If you just tell a kid to put on a helmet and go ride around a field, that is nowhere near as impactful as an experienced rider teaching a kid the right way to ride so that they don’t have to unlearn bad practices.”
Throughout Burkeen’s career, he has seen the importance of family in fostering new riders, whether that is out in the woods or on the racetrack. “Two-time AMA Supercross 450SX Champion Cooper Webb is a great example,” he said. “He started riding when he was four and started racing when he was five. It was really a family thing with his mom taking him riding every afternoon and dad when he was off work. Their dedication has paid off with Cooper’s countless wins.”
Our own Gonzo Rider got the holeshot on the taking a kid out on a dirt bike in the March issue:
https://issuu.com/dealernews/docs/issue_3_march/76