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By Doug PaceThe Spokesman-Review
Airway X Motocross begins its final two Cyber Optics night races of the season this weekend, with the finale set for Aug. 28-29 and a $10,000 purse for professional riders. The night series features racing for riders of all ages and skill levels.
“We’ve got exciting racing that ranges in riders’ size and skill from 5-year-olds to people over the age of 60. The experiences of those riders go from the beginner to up to our pro level. It’s an action-packed place that brings the intensity our fans come to see at our races,” said Airway X President Josh Hitchens. “We believe we have the most exciting venue in the Spokane ORV complex.”
During a typical race weekend, Airway X has more than 200 riders in its divisions, competing on the challenging motocross layout. While younger riders may not fly like the track’s pros, every race offers something for everyone.
“Riders enjoy the track and overall it’s built with everyone in mind. Beginners in a 50cc class, brand new riders and those who can even handle the bigger jumps all find the fun factor in our races. Of course, the fast guys can connect the jumps together and get some serious hangtime,” Hitchens said.
During the finale, the rider count grows to 300 or more, with entries from across the region coming to claim a part of the $10,000 purse in the professional classes.
“Once you put up the money, the pros will come from all over the place. They want to travel around and hit the tracks that have a good-paying purse and run some races and do well. It can be chaotic for sure (during the night series finale) but it’s adrenaline pumping and kind of squirrely. By lap 3 though everyone is getting around the track just fine and putting on a great show,” Hitchens said.
The track has received strong support from sponsors, helping grow racing at Airway X, Hitchens said.
“Our big pro race wouldn’t be possible without Northwest Steel Fab. They’ve come in and built a purse that is attracting the top riders. For our success each year a lot of local businesses support the facility, with many of their owners and employees also out here competing.”
Plenty of the region’s top professional riders will be out to claim a portion of the $10,000 purse. For Hitchens and his track team, one rider stands out as the rider to watch during the professional finale on Aug. 28.
“Ryan Breece is the guy right now that has the big race down. He’s won it multiple times and is the defending race winner, so he’ll be hard to beat,” Hitchens said.
Breece, who calls Athol, Idaho, home, is the reigning AMA Arenacross champion and has raced around the world. He started racing at the Airway X facility as a young boy, developing the skills that eventually led to a successful professional career. Championships and big payouts were hardly on his radar when he started.
“When I was a kid, I went to my neighbor’s house and asked to ride his bike. I came back and was grinning ear to ear. We went to watch him race at the Post Falls Greyhound Park and the next day I’m asking my dad for a motorcycle. Off we went to the dealership, bought one and we took off from there. It was a fun thing to do as we ventured into a different type of sport (instead of stick and ball teams). Racing locally and regionally at first was a great way for my dad (Ryan Sr.) and I to go have one-on-one time when I got started,” Breece said.
Returning to Airway X is special for Breece at this point in his career. Giving back to the local racing scene, interacting with fans and putting on a show without the pressure of the big stage makes the weekend fun, he said.
“I like to come to the local races because you come back to your roots. The people supported you when you were a kid. You feel welcome and go run the town where you came from.”
Breece expects the competition to be tough when he takes to the track. A championship résumé does not guarantee a win.
“You got some local legends who have already done their racing and now they have a job in the daytime. When they come to race in the Airway events and it’s not a freebie by any means.”
Running in the Cyber Optics finale gives Breece another chance to meet race fans and share his career story, regardless of the night’s results.
“I love it when kids come up and want to know more about racing and how I got started. The first thing I always tell them is to make sure you’re working hard. You want to do the best you can to work hard, do your chores, help the people around you who have done so much to get things going for your climb in anything you do in life whether it’s racing or something else that you’re excited about.”
