Fourteen-year-old Owen Payne (#42) leads 11-year old Benny Royer (20) over one of the jumps at the High Fly MX Park south of Crothersville. The facility had a well attended practice day last Saturday. A full race program is scheduled for this Sunday, Aug. 22, with additional races planned for Sept. 12, 26 and Oct. 10.
A new motorcycle park being developed just south of Crothersville is being geared toward youthful motorcycle riders and their families.
Scott Woolls, who is developing High Fly MX Park just south of the I-65 & US 31 interchange, said his goal is to “make the track kid and family friendly and affordable fun.”
While other tracks charge $25-$30 for a day of riding motorcycles over jumps, bumps and sharp hairpin turns, just $15 will buy youthful riders a day of thrills and sometimes an occasional spill.
“The sport has been losing young riders and I want to try to change that by making is affordable and family friendly,” said Woolls.
MX is an abbreviation of Moto Cross, a version of dirt bike racing over a circuitous track with a variety of challenging turns, dips and hills which send motorcycle and rider airborne.
While construction continues at some of the spectator areas, the riders on the track, particularly the youthful crowd, are giving the fledgling track a thumbs up.
“It’s really cool,” said 14-year-old Owen Payne of Bedford. Payne has been riding for eight years but Saturday was his first visit to the new Crothersville track. “I really like it.”
Fellow MXer, 11-year-old Benny Royer of Springville, agreed. “The track is really wide open which gives us more room to maneuver around other racers.”
A special spectator tower has been built to allow race fans (and perhaps concerned parents) a better view of nearly all of the track and its challenges.
A variety of classes from mini & peewee up to adult bike classes are run at the facility.
Spectator admission is $5 for this Sunday’s racing program.
Moto Cross riders interested in practicing and getting the feel of the new track can practice every Tuesday and Thursday for $10 from 3 p.m. to dusk.
