By Stephanie Bunker
Moapa Valley Progress
The Southern Nevada JackRabbits hosted the annual race, “Return of The Heartbreaker” last weekend near the Ute exit of I-15. The race was a two day event. Saturday was reserved for kids and Sunday was the big 80 miles race for adults.
It was a great turnout for the Jack Rabbits this year. Combining all of the racing events the organization had 216 racers participate.
On Saturday there were five races which took place throughout the day. The first race was for kids ages 5 and up riding 50 cc motorcycles around a 1.3 mile loop for 50 minutes. The next race consisted of a division for 65cc motorcycles on a 2.6 mile loop for 50 minutes. The third race was for all the quads riding a 20 mile loop. Race number 4 was for 65cc expert riders, 85cc’s and all Junior Women riding the 20 mile loop.
Early on Saturday morning, parents and kids prepared for the kid race. The kids were all geared up and ready to begin the race, revving their engines loud during warm up. For several of the kids it was their very first ever motorcycle bike race.
This was true for 8 year old Alex Danoski from Las Vegas, Alex started riding at 2 years old with training wheels on his motorcycle.
Alex and his brother Erik said that they love to jump their motorcycles.
The boys’ father, Shawn Danoski has been riding in this race for the past 10 years.
“Out here is the greatest course and terrain,” Shawn Danoski said. “The Jack Rabbits put on a well organized event.”
On Sunday morning the adult races got off to a start near the I-15 Byron exit. The race consisted of two loops, the first was 45 miles and second 40 miles. The Novice, or beginning riders, ran only the first loop while Amateurs and Advanced raced both loops.
Las Vegas resident, Teddy Osborne had competed in the adult race last year and came out again to participate this year.
Last year he thought that it was a tough race. Osborne commented that the hills were the most challenging part of the race.
Osborne also had two young daughters who raced the day before in the 50cc race. He said that he encourages his kids to begin riding young because it teaches them more respect and value for the machines.
“Teenagers think they are experts on it and hurt themselves,” he said.
Motorcycle Desert racing is a family based sport said Kelly Roe, member of the Jack Rabbits.
“We do it for the kids,” she said. “It gets them out here to show them there is more to life.”
Roe also commented that it’s something the family can do together and create strong bonds with one another.
