Los Banos Copp headed to motocross national championship

At an age where most kids are figuring out the mechanics of a tricycle, Colby Copp was winning his first motocross championship.

Ten years later, the 13-year-old Los Banos Middle School student is ready to make a name for himself at the biggest amateur motocross race in the country.

A year after missing out on qualifying for the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch by a single place, Copp will make his debut against the best riders the country has to offer.

“It means a lot to finally race at Loretta,” Copp said. “I’ve been trying for five years and I finally made it.

“I’ve seen lots of videos of the course. It usually rains every year, and the turns get rutted up. It’s probably one of the gnarliest tracks ever. I’m getting pretty excited because it’s just a few days away. The nerves usually come once I get there.”

The Loretta Lynn, as it’s affectionately called in the racing world, will take place July 26-Aug. 1 in Hurricane Mills, TN. Copp earned his place in the field by fighting through a number of qualifying races, with only the top 42 riders in his class from around the nation earning invitations. Copp will race on Tuesday, participating in the 250 C Class. The race is eight laps around the course, averaging between 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per lap.

Due to a major growth spurt in the last half year, Copp was forced to move up to a 125cc bike. He’s smoothly handled the transition over the last three months, but will be squaring off against competitors as old as 16 as a result.

“It’s cool and, at the same time, pretty hard because they have the experience on the bigger bikes,” Copp said. “A lot of them will have been here before and know what to expect.

“I’ve got a place in my mind that will make this trip a success, but mostly I’m just hoping to ride well and get a major sponsorship.”

Copp said the race is a culmination of 10 years of hard work as he embraced the family sport.

With his grandfather, Jack Copp, a former flat track pro rider and his older siblings, Patrick and Karissa, both former amateurs, Copp has been around the sport all his life. His mom, Kim Copp, said he was a natural when he first jumped on a bike at three years old.

“Colby plays football and baseball also, so he keeps pretty busy, but motocross is the sport he really loves,” Kim Copp said. “He says he wants to go pro with it and he’s put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get where he is. We even hired a professional trainer to help him get prepared for the Loretta Lynn.

“We just try and support him as best we can.”

It’s fitting that motocross has been the family sport, because it takes a family to make it happen.

With no course in Los Banos to practice on and Copp still three years away from driving, his parents are an essential part of the team. Kim Copp said the closest tracks are in Tulare and Hollister, meaning just practicing turns into an excursion. Copp said they family makes those trips two to three days a week based off of his dad’s work schedule, and that doesn’t include if he has a race on the weekend.

“Most of his races are down in Southern California,” Kim Copp said. “It does take a family effort, because it’s very expensive, it’s competitive and takes a lot of time and travel. But we want to support and help our kids pursue their dreams.”

One of those dreams comes to fruition on Tuesday as Copp reaches the pinnacle of his amateur career for the first time.

“This is a race where everybody is watching and you can get yourself noticed,” Copp said. “I’ve put in a lot of work with my training to work on my endurance and durability. I feel prepared and I’m excited to get there and experience it all.”

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Los Banos Copp headed to motocross national championship."