Young Master Of Motocross
By GEOFF FOX The Tampa Tribune
Published: Aug 14, 2006
Adam Bestafka would go to great lengths to race his dirt bike.
In a thunderstorm?
Just let him out of the car.
The 6-year-old from Hudson is so serious about his sport that he recently traveled 770 miles with his parents and infant brother to compete in the 25th annual Air Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
Attended by potential sponsors and the sport's biggest names, the event is held at a ranch owned by country music star Loretta Lynn. This year's championships were from July 31 to Aug. 5.
Adam and his parents, Billy and Jackie Bestafka, are regulars at Dade City Motocross, where Adam's dad is also his mechanic.
Frequent practice and experience - Adam has been riding motorcycles since he was 3 - helped him race before crowds of about 4,000 in Tennessee, his mother said.
"He was a little nervous, but it was a great experience, for sure," she said. "He came out in the [middle of the pack] overall, but we were happy. He didn't do too bad."
Of 20,000 riders from across the country who vied for a spot in the tournament, Adam was one of 1,386 who qualified, according to event officials.
At the nationals, the Hudson Elementary School first-grader finished 22nd in a field of 42 in the 4- to 6-year-old age group.
Adam raced three times at the event, with 42 riders racing at once.
He said the national race was tougher than other contests because there were more riders, and he wasn't as familiar with the track.
"Next year, I'll go faster," he said.
The races in Tennessee were 15 minutes, plus two laps. This year, racers came from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii, Jackie Bestafka said.
On his Yamaha PW 50, Adam qualified for the national event by placing well at races in Florida, Virginia and New York.
If his zeal for practice is any indication, Adam should continue to improve. Before leaving for Tennessee, the family went to the Dade City track for a run.
Unfortunately, sheets of rain - accompanied by loud thunder and hair-raising lightning - made mud of the track, canceling that day's practice.
Hanging his curly blond hair out the window of his father's vehicle, Adam's face embodied disappointment.
His frustration waned as the national event neared.
It took the family, including 8-month-old Andrew, about 15 hours to tow a trailer to Tennessee, Jackie Bestafka said.
They won't hesitate to go again next year - if Adam qualifies for the championships.
"It's one of the biggest events," his mom said. "They can turn pro at 16, so there are a lot of people there looking for sponsors.
"We had a great time. It was very exciting."
Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 948-4217