As Keith Johnson sits tensely on his lime green motorcycle, feet firm on the ground, fingers clutching the ignition and eyes locked waiting for the starting gate to drop, his mind isn’t just focused on the race ahead of him.
The 40-year-old Carver resident has been riding motocross since he was 6 years old and spent more than 20 years on the professional circuit racing on two continents. But, as his career began to enter its twilight, Johnson realized it was all about the kids.
Now, the retired rider attempts to pass on his craft to aspiring youngsters, much like himself, at the his own Motocross academy.
“When I was young, I had to learn by myself, a lot of trial and error, and I really wanted give these kids a place to come, learn and have fun.”
It was a great new venture for Johnson but, as he tells it, the career transition didn’t come without a struggle.
“At first I really didn’t want to do the academy, I was still racing and traveling all the time and just didn’t want to commit” Johnson said with a smile spreading across his face. Johnson still says that nothing quite compares to digging into a sharp turn or flying over the finish line, but he has embraced his newfound role as a mentor.
“I’ve been riding all my life and nothing quite comes to the adrenaline and excitement of a race,” Johnson added. This week, in addition to competing on his own, Johnson had the opportunity to watch many of his students compete at the 12th annual Marshfield Fair Supercross.
The experience was so gratifying for the father of two, that Johnson even compared the joy to that of fatherhood.
“It's like being a proud dad,” a giddy Johnson said of watching his students succeed.
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