Fallbrook resident Corey Freeman, 13, loaded up his #421 Yamaha YZ 250 F Panolin High Tech Lubricants motorcycle with his family and entered his first AMA District 38 race held in Plaster City last weekend.

"Starting out in desert racing is pretty hardcore," said Corey’s mom, Christy. "It’s not like a little track at the MX park where you can see them the whole time. It was nerve-wracking to see him disappear into the desert!"

Off-roading runs in the family. Corey’s father, Troy, pits for his brother-in-law Allen Hickerson, the co-driver for DanZio Racing, a class-one racecar team co-owned by DanZio Performance in Lake Elsinore.

"Corey really looks up to his uncle Allen for support Advertisement

[ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] and sportsmanship," Troy shared with me. "Allen is a pretty cool dude, but another person who took a liking to Corey because of his riding skills and passion is J.J. [Johnny Jenson]. J.J. is Corey’s riding mentor."

Alan Ransbury, a Potter Junior High schoolmate of Corey’s, joined the Freeman family for the beautiful spring day in the desert.

Out of curiosity, I asked Troy who taught Corey to ride.

"Well, Corey’s been riding since he was 3½ - about 10 years now," Troy responded. "Of course, I taught him to ride. I’ve been riding all my life. Dirt biking is the life."

Disclosure: Christy Freeman is an advertising and marketing representative for the Valley/Village News.