Seven-year-old Ryder Reinhart is one of 15 young racers hand-selected from all of Canada, Michigan, New York and New Jersey to participate in the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge at Rogers Centre in Toronto on March 22.
“This year will be the big transition, from a little boy track to the big boy track,” Ryder’s mother Linda Reinhart said in an interview at the family’s Ariss home. “For him to be hand-selected at such a young age is incredible.”
The 15 riders will participate in the race using KTM 50 SXS motorcycles that have been identically prepared for the race.
Linda and Todd Reinhart, parents of Ryder and owners of Zdeno Cycle in Kitchener, said they wanted to get Ryder involved in something a little less traditional than hockey.
“I guess after you give him the name Ryder, you gotta let him ride something,” Linda quipped.
Racing has been a family tradition for many years.
Linda is the niece of former 1969 and 1970 Canadian Motocross Champion Zdeno Syrovy, and Todd has an uncle who was a go-kart racer in the U.S.
“I like the tracks. It’s like one big family,” Todd said. “Everyone gets along all the time.”
Ryder started riding at just two and a half years old, on a motorcycle with training wheels, and has been competing for three years now.
In 2013, Ryder competed in three motocross race series: AMA, CMRC and CMX.
He races almost every weekend between spring and fall, and practices two to three times a week.
“We try and have him as active as possible,” Linda said.
After the anthem at every event, Ryder and his uncle shout Darrell Waltrip’s famous phrase “Boogity, boogity, boogity, let’s go racing!”
It started in Nascar years ago and stuck with his uncle, and has now become their tradition.
Ryder told the Advertiser he wants to keep racing forever. He loves riding, winning, having fun, and because it’s a family sport.
He also noted that one of the challenges that come along with riding occurs when he visits a new track.
“We want him to keep going as long as he doesn’t get injured too badly,” Linda said.
