By J. Kyle Bryan

Smelling the cool, fresh dirt from a motocross event, watching the best rider out there, you notice that it's someone you know. In fact it's a motocross rider from KHHS.

Motocross is the fastest growing sport in Florida with motocross and hare scramble tracks setup in some local cities. A hare scramble track is a relatively flat racecourse cut through wooded areas with few jumps. Four students from KHHS, seniors Kyle Bryan (no relation to writer) and Ryan McMeekin and sophomores Shawn Gann and Megan McMeekin, race on these tracks.

These four motocross riders were interviewed to find out a little about their racing career.

Ryan McMeekin has been racing for three years and every year has been a different experience for him. He has raced motocross for two years and hare scrambles for three years. He has a Suzuki 250cc motorcycle and wears Thor motocross gear. "I like motocross better than hare scrambles because you get to jump jumps and fly high in the air," said McMeekin. He has won one award by coming in first at Hardrock Cycle Park in Ocala. Showtime Motorsports, Amgil and Pit Stop racing sponsor Ryan McMeekin.

Bryan has been racing for three years. He rides a Yamaha 125cc dirt bike. He races motocross and cross-country motocross. "I race closed course motocross and cross country events," said Bryan. He has not won any events, but he said, "I pulled a killer holeshot at the last race and that to me is better than the race itself." Bryan has two nicknames, "Flip" or "Sunshine". Bryan is sponsored by Performance South, Applied Technology, Management Inc., Pit Stop Racing. Streits Motorsports and Showtime Waldo Motorsports Park.

Megan McMeekin has been racing for one year. She rides a Honda XR 200cc bike and wears Fox racing gear. She races in beginners one class for Florida Trail Riders. McMeekin has not won a race, but she came in second place in the over-all point standings last year. Her biggest influence has been her big brother, Ryan, because he is the one who really got her started. Megan McMeekin is sponsored by Showtime Waldo Motorsports Park.

Gann has been racing for one and a half years. He races motocross. He rides a Yamaha 125 cc bike and rides in 125c and 125 12-15 youth leagues. He has not won a race, but he placed second in his last race at Waldo Motocross Park. Gann's nickname is "Gann The Man." Shawn Gann is sponsored by Showtime Waldo Motorsports Park.

These students had to go through training to get where they are today. They learned special techniques like getting full control of their bike in the air, turning on a dime, good balance and good positioning on the bike in different turning situations. "Being in the motocross business requires a lot of time and motivation," said Ryan McMeekin, and these student know what it's like to be. a motocross rider.