'It's a tough race'

Makail Saltus has long dreamt of competing in professional motocross racing.

And earlier this spring the 250cc stock class rider took a giant leap towards realizing his athletic ambitions after qualifying for August’s Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Motocross Championships to be held in Tennessee.

The event is widely regarded as the pinnacle of amateur motocross racing. Saltus made the grade after placing fourth in a formidable field of 22 riders during regional qualifiers at the 1.5 mile Hillbilly Hills Race Track in Roberta, Georgia.

Saltus, 17, led the field out of the starting gate into the first turn in both qualifying heats before falling slightly off the pace.

He finished sixth in the first race and fourth in the second to cap a memorable debut on US soil.

“That was a very big accomplishment for me,” Saltus told the Bermuda Sun.

The promising athlete now intends to make his presence felt at August’s national amateur championships where he will come up against some of the best talent the US has to offer at this level.

 “That’s a very tough race. But I’m hoping to get a top ten place overall and working hard towards achieving my goal.”

Saltus’ father Bray is confident his son will continue to do the island proud competing in his chosen sport.

He said: “Makail is definitely showing that he can hold his own. He is doing so well out there.”

It was Saltus’ father who actually introduced him to the sport at a young age.

Makail said: “When I was little my daddy took me to Coney Island and I have been hooked ever since then.

Improving

“I wanted a bike and I got one when I was eight and started racing.”

Since then the promising rider has come on strong, steadily improving each season.

After being on the waiting list for three-years, Saltus enrolled at the Millsap Training Facility in Georgia, where he intends to further enhance his skills.

Since his arrival in the US Saltus has also had to acclimatize to competing on larger racetracks.

He said: “The racetracks out here are five times bigger than what we have in Bermuda. In Bermuda your average lap times maybe around a minute while out here you have three minute lap times. The tracks are more challenging as well.”