NEWS \ News & Features

by Larry Lawrence

“I’ve only practiced on a supermoto bike one time. I have no idea how I’ll do.”

Fan favorite Ryan Hughes is stepping away from the motocross practice track for a moment to try his hand at supermoto racing. Hughes said he plans on racing this Saturday’s AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship race in Irwindale, Calif. Hughes is slated to ride for the powerful Red Bull HMC KTM team. We caught up with Ryno and asked him about his supermoto experience.

“I’ve only practiced on a supermoto bike one time,” he admitted. “I have no idea how I’ll do.”

Hughes plans on riding both the Supermoto and Supermoto Unlimited classes.

“I’m going to practice again on Wednesday,” Hughes added. “I don’t really expect to go out there and win you know. I just want to go out there, have some fun and see what it’s all about.”

Hughes joins a growing list of top riders from other disciplines coming in to try supermoto racing. Former AMA Motocross champ Doug Henry made his debut just a few weeks ago.

“We’ll see if I can qualify and go from there,” he says. “I think I could do well. When I practiced at this little track in Perris I was a second or two off what Jeremy (McGrath) and Wardy (Jeff Ward) were doing, but I was out there by myself, plus it was pavement only.

"When I go out there with other people then I can see what I’m doing wrong and where I’m slow. When I was out there by myself I was like, ‘OK I think this is what I’m supposed to do.’ The track in Perris is all pavement, so I think when I get on dirt I might have a little advantage on some people. It usually gets pretty hard-packed and that’s where I shine."

Hughes concluded hoping for some good luck with the Southern California wildfires. “It’s pretty bad. Hopefully it all settles down pretty soon.”