AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST FEBRUARY 2020
Six questions with Bryce Ford
12-Time AMA ATV Motocross Champion Ready To Move To Pros
Bryce Ford has had a stellar amateur ATV motocross racing career, and the Springtown, Texas, resident is getting ready to make the jump to Pro Class for 2020.
The 17-year-old has 12 AMA ATV motocross titles to his credit, including the 2019 Pro-Am and Open Pro Sport class titles.
Here’s Ford’s take on what he’s accomplished and where he plans to take his racing career next.
American Motorcyclist: Tell us how you got into ATV riding and racing.
Bryce Ford: My parents bought me and my brother, Cody, battery-operated quads. But we rode them everywhere, and the batteries never lasted. So, when I was 4 years old, Santa gave [Cody and me] each a Polaris 90 Predator. We rode them like crazy. One day, we went to a local track, and a guy at the track told us we should race. We went online, signed up, and raced.
AM: Tell us about your first race.
BF: I really don’t remember much about it. I was 5 years old, and it was a local Texoma Quad Racing Series event at a nearby track in Nocona, Texas. I crashed with another kid in the start, and we stopped to help each other. Coincidentally, Nocona was the track where I trained for my Pro Am championship.
AM: Tell us about your racing accomplishments. Which mean the most to you?
BF: Winning a Pro-Am championship has definitely been the highlight of my racing career so far. It means a lot to me and the people who support me. In 2017, I had a serious crash and broke both of my pelvic sockets. I’ve fought hard to recover and get back on the track.
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AM: What’s your favorite track?
BF: My favorite track is Underground MX. Luckily, it’s right here in Texas. It has huge jumps and is just a great layout in general. The guy who built the track, Randy Poulter, also built my practice track. So, I’m comfortable with the flow of the track and the big jumps.
AM: Are you strictly an ATV rider, or do you ride motorcycles as well?
BF: I am now strictly ATV. I raced a few times on a dirt bike and did all right, but my passion is quads.
AM: What’s next?
BF: I’m focusing on my transition into the Pro Class. I know it won’t be easy. There are guys who have been racing in the Pro Class for as long as I have been racing in general. They have experience that I will need to gain in order to be at the top level. But, I’m ready to move forward and become a pro racer.
