’ve been on two wheels for as long as I can remember. There’s something about the balance, focus, and coordination it takes to ride a bicycle or motorcycle that transports me to another place, both physically and mentally. I started riding a Honda Kick ‘N Go scooter when I was two, and that was the start of my passion for all things two-wheeled. That turned into a Redline BMX bike the following year and a Yamaha YZinger when I was four. We started racing a year or so later, and my passion for riding has really never stopped. Sure, I got a little burned out after years of racing at the professional level and grinding out motos at Glen Helen on Thursdays in August. After motocross and supercross, I dabbled in off-road, NAHA hillclimbing, Supermoto, pit bike racing, and even the odd road-course track day, which I still really enjoy. There’s no question that I love two-wheeled toys the same way, to quote 50 cent, a fat kid loves cake.

his was about the last race anyone should be taking seriously. Off-season supercrosses are designed around a low-stress environment, as most American riders get paid simply for showing up. Purse money is rare, the races don’t count for points, and teams and sponsors don’t care about the results. Basic competitive instincts kick in when the gate drops, but an off-season event will never define a career.

Multiply this 1,000 times for the Hawaiian Supercross at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. One of the hallmarks of off-season races is camaraderie among the riders. They travel in packs, pit together instead of in team trucks, and exchanges jokes, handshakes, and stories all weekend. In Hawaii, this took place inside the locker room of Aloha Stadium, which hosted the NFL’s Pro Bowl game for decades. In there, outspoken personalities Adam Enticknap, Alex Ray, and Jimmy Decotis held court, laughing and joking for hours. In the back, Tyler Bowers, never short on words, hung out, and one locker was even reserved for Ronnie Mac. In the corner, the racers’ wives created a makeshift nursery—immediate family members aren’t about to skip a trip to Hawaii. It was all very laid back, fun, and loud.