Motocross invades valley
Competitors in the Open Junior class bottleneck at turn one following the start of their Mountain Madness Motocross race at Hungry Horse Motocross Track on Saturday. Craig Moore/Daily Inter Lake
HCMA race continues today in Hungry Horse
HUNGRY HORSE - Montana's only authentic motocross track commenced its lone event of the year Saturday.
Hungry Horse Motocross Track is hosting Mountain Madness Motocross this weekend - the Kiwanis Club of Columbia Falls' annual primary fundraiser. The High Country Motocross Associations points series race continues today at 8 a.m.
According to race chairman Don Bennett, Mountain Madness - in its 26th year - is Montana's longest continuously running motocross race.
About 500 athletes of various ages and skill levels are expected to race motorcycles and all terrain vehicles during the weekend's 42 motos, with professionals aiming for cash prizes, as well as series points.
HCMA is Montana's only sanctioned motocross circuit, running from the middle of April through the end of July.
Pro class racers typically claim about $225 per moto victory, depending on the number of entries at an event. About eight percent of HCMA's athletes compete in the Pro class.
Mountain Madness is the second of 10 circuit events this season. Other stops include Anaconda, Butte, Great Falls, Lewistown, Dillon, Nirada, Livingston, Bozeman and Helena.
Most of HCMA's race sites include man-made loops, jumps and table tops built upon flat ground. Hungry Horse - HCMA's oldest track - is groomed on the surface, but little more.
"This is the only true motocross track in the circuit," HCMA events clerk Chris Schleining said. "True motocross is when you follow the natural terrain of the landscaping. That means it follows up the hills, the gullies, all that.
"This is some of the people's favorite track. Everybody has their favorite track. It's hard to find just one track that is the most favorite because everybody has their liking."
Luke Schultz, a 16-year-old Pro from Helena, is a five year HCMA veteran.
"This one is really rough," Schultz said. "It gets really rough because it's pure sand. All the other ones are just like regular dirt, so they just stay more groomed. This one's really gnarly. It definitely makes it harder."
Schultz travels to almost every circuit race. His family spends about $400 per race weekend on entry fees, fuel and groceries - not to mention equipment costs. Like many HCMA athletes, Schultz' expenses are partially offset by sponsorships.
Accordng to Schultz, Hungry Horse's natural layout makes for an exhausting ride.
"The other ones are way jumpier, so you don't get near as tired," he said. "This one has no jumps - definitely harder. This one - you don't get a break in the air. You're just always on it."
Schultz maneuvered Hungry Horse's craggy terrain well Saturday, taking second in the 125 Pro first moto and winning the 125 Pro second moto. Today he will race in the 250 Pro and Open Pro motos.
Schultz finished second in HCMA's 125 Pro and Open Pro season standings last year. He took third in 250 Pro.
"I want this to be my job," Schultz said. "I ride all week long and train - like run and do cycling classes. I take it pretty serious.
"People think motocross is easy just because it has a motor. But it definitely takes endurance and talent."
According to Bennett, the Flathead Valley is one of few areas in the state without a motocross club. Still, Mountain Madness typically draws a large crowd and entry field.
"There are a lot of riders from Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Missoula," Schleining said. "So even from Anaconda up to this end of the state, there's a lot of riders."
One standout local rider is Bigfork's Justin Lopez. Lopez, 18, is in his seventh HCMA season. He rides at Hungry Horse about once a week - usually when the track is at its most rugged.
"I think it's an advantage to me just because you ride it when it's a lot rougher, and that helps a lot," he said. "It's fun to ride on a true motocross track."
His experience showed as Lopez placed fourth in the 125 Intermediate moto Saturday afternoon.
"I was happy with it," Lopez said. "I just got tired really quick. It's just rough all over."
Bennett said Mountain Madness usually raises between $5,000 and $8,000. Net proceeds remain in the community, funding ongoing Kiwanis projects to benefit area youth, families and businesses.