Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

Members of the Bush family in Overton including, from left, Jake, Damon, Brent and Derrick, all won high Motorcycle Racing Association of Nevada (MRAN) honors for 2011.

Motorcycles are a family affair for Moapa Valley’s Brent Bush and family.

Brent, 42, of Overton, and his three sons, Derrick, 17, Damon, 15, and Jake, 7, this year all won or placed near the top in their respective Grand Prix divisions of the Motorcycle Racing Association of Nevada (MRAN). And while mom Linda doesn’t compete, Brent says the males of the family couldn’t have done it without her wholehearted support

That Brent and three sons would all bring home high MRAN honors in the same year is an impressive feat. MRAN has 16 motorcycle classes, all loaded with riders ranging from novice to expert and all vying to take home the gold.

Just one misstep at any one of MRAN’s seven Gran Prix races could mean the end of championship contention, not to mention the possibility of a serious injury or worse.

For the 2011 season, 42-year-old Brent took the championship trophy for the over 40 class; Derrick brought home the top trophy in the open class; Damon won for the 85cc division and high points mini rider, and 7-year-old Jake took last year’s third place trophy for racers riding 50cc bikes.

“I’ve been racing for 32 years,” Brent said. “The older boys have about five years racing and last year was Jake’s first full year.”

All of the boys are justifiably proud of their accomplishments on the track but it also takes attention to detail and hard work off the track for a successful race.

Each off-road motorcycle has to be maintained in top condition which also means rebuilding the engines at least once a year, Brent said.

“The boys pretty much take care of their own bikes and I help out where I have to,” he said.

MRAN racing is an expensive hobby. The cost for top motorcycles can hit more than $8,300 each, with smaller bikes costing less. Riding gear that includes helmets, boots, goggles and leatt braces (neck braces) and clothing can run more than $1,000 per rider.

“We have several sponsors who pay for a lot of our gear,” Brent said. “In some cases sponsors save us more than half the cost of the equipment.”

Among others, the family’s sponsors include Spy Goggles, One Industries, Factory Backing, and Sixsixone (661) Protection for the boots wear.

Damon said it’s great bringing home a trophy, “but my favorite part is just getting out and having fun riding.”

In the Gran Prix series riders must first ride a designated enclosed track and then follow a desert off-road trail that may run for miles over a circuitous route. Race winners are determined by the number of laps of the entire course riders are able to finish in one hour.

As fun and exciting as racing is, Brent, who has won the championship trophy three times in the last four years, said he has decided to quit competing.

“I’ve traveled all over including Canada for the Fire and Police World Games in 2005 (in which he took a gold medal) and I’m ready to quit,” he said. “It’s still a lot of fun but it really takes a lot out of your body.”