Smithville 7-Year-Old Gears Up for National Motocross Championship

For 7-year-old Callahan Russo, the start of a motocross race is crucial to a top finish. It’s one long horizontal line of youths ready at the starting line, approximately 150 feet across with their bikes just inches apart. They all twist their bike’s throttle handle as soon as a metal gate drops, almost like the Kentucky Derby.

"Coach told me to put my toes cradled under the bike. That helps you go straight at the start when you hit the throttle, instead of doing a big swerve of the bike," said Callahan, a student at Smithville Elementary School. "I need to have a really good start at the 'Loretta Lynn' race. You have to go super hard if you are going to get a top-10 finish."

Callahan was referring to the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., starting July 29. Callahan will race in the 7- to 9-year-old group in multiple races over several days. Coach Cody Haverfield, owner and operator of Smithville’s River Oaks Moto Park, which opened in December on Texas 304, was monitoring Callahan’s progress during a recent practice at the track.

"Callahan has a natural feel for the bike and racing," Haverfield said. "He’s also very coachable. He listens well."

Callahan qualified for the prestigious Tennessee event after strong qualifying placements at Conroe and Flores.

"I’m definitely concentrating on race starts today," Callahan said. "I need to have my knees back, my head needs to be forward, and I’m looking ahead on the track. The throttle at the start, you have it wide open."

Riders have to be alert to the electric bike’s added power over a gas bike, Callahan’s father, Joe Russo pointed out.

"With electric bikes, riders have an extra power surge when they hit the throttle at the start, and that lasts about eight seconds or so," Russo said. "They have to be careful."

Right after the start, racers converge into a narrowing of the tract. Congestion and possible wrecks can slow a racer down and affect their ultimate finishing. "The kids are only about 6 inches apart on their bikes at the start. They rub elbows, there’s definitely a little contact," Haverfield said.

Callahan said he’s prepared.

"If there’s a crash in front of me, I lean back to get my front wheel up, make it so I can go over a bike. I can do a wheelie over a bike that’s down, if I have to, and avoid the rider," Callahan said. During a break, as he drank some water, Callahan added, "I like the electric bike better than the gas bike. It’s better handling and I’ve been riding it longer."

Callahan has been riding these powerful bikes for about a year and a half, after his father asked him if he wanted to do another sport other than soccer.

Russo complimented Haverfield’s method of instructing children.

"Cody has a good balance of making sure the kids are having fun, but also holding them accountable, making sure they give their best effort," Russo said. "Cody will stress to them, 'you got to push it on the race track,' but he’s also big-time on teaching form and technique, which helps keep kids safe. That emphasis has helped Callahan to progress and stay injury-free."

During a training session the day before, Haverfield told his students, "Don’t over-ride and make mistakes today, but you are going to Tennessee, so that feeling in your belly should be: You are about to line up and go race right now."

Callahan was pumped up.

"I’m super excited for next week," Callahan said. "When I wake up on race day, I’ll go down to this little creek to fish, relax and have a fun day for the race. I love getting first place, too."