Iwanaga, Norris dedicate their lives to motocross circuit
GILROY – Most parents don’t like their kids to play in the dirt. But when it comes to motocross specialists Damon Iwanaga and Wesley Norris, the more time in the dirt the better.
“I love it,” said the 17-year-old Norris, who began his motocross career six years ago. “It’s the greatest sport in the world. I wouldn’t want to do anything else. Other kids play football or baseball, that’s not for me.”
Iwanaga, 10, who attends Rod Kelly School, started up his riding career at age four as a flat-track rider – but the young dynamo switched over to motorcross four years later.
“All my friends were in motocross so I decided to start doing it since then,” said Iwanaga, who has won championships at every level he’s competed in. “It’s fun. When I get on the line, I get butterflies in my stomach. It’s always going to be fun.”
The two riders recently got together at Iwanaga’s grandparents house in San Martin for some practice runs on a home-made dirt track – built by Damon’s father, Paul Iwanaga. While it was Wesley’s first time riding on the track, Damon practices on the dirt track – complete with jumps and burns – twice a week.
“It started off real small. As Damon increased in his ability, the jumps got bigger and bigger. I built the track for Damon’s 65 and 85 cycles. It’s the perfect size,” Paul Iwanaga said. “I knew I had to mimic what a race track offers on a smaller scale with different jumps and burns.”
What started as a flat-track dirt surface to practice on has evolved into 1,000s of yards of dirt sculpted into a motorcross track.
“(My parents) always supported myself and the kids and allowed me to build this track on their property,” Paul Iwanaga said. “When I made the track, I didn’t want to make it wide enough to make it a race track. It’s only for one person to practice on.”
Norris, a senior at Gilroy High School, picked up the sport at an older age than Damon – but the two share the same passion for riding and both hope to turn professional in the near future. They practice and compete all year round.
“It’s going to take lots of training and conditioning both physically and mentally, the constant support of my parents and the strength of Jesus,” said Norris, who competes every weekend in either the Mutant Motor Sports Series or the GFI Series or sometimes both. “I started riding and I just loved it. I never planned on it.”
Iwanaga’s talents on the race track have already been recognized – drawing a full sponsorship to ride on the Power House race team for the remainder of this season and all of next season.
“It was something where they came to us and asked if Damon wanted to ride with them,” said Paul Iwanaga, who ended his 12-year racing career on the Grand National Flat-track Circuit to focus on Damon’s riding. “He started doing it and I always told myself when I turn 40 I would give it up for my kids. Since Damon got into it, I’ve supported it.”
Norris also has the support of his family. His father, Wesley Norris, bought him his first bike – a XR 80 – and the two began riding trails together.
“We’ve been riding constantly since then,” said Wesley Norris, who took his son to his first race in San Jose. “He smelled the fumes and he wanted to race… He finished the race – which was the focus of the weekend.”
Norris, sponsored by Gilroy Cycling Center and SV Bikes in Morgan Hill, has come a long way from riding trails with his father – now competing in the 125 cc intermediate class after starting on his 80 cc cycle that became too small for him at age 13.
“His whole life revolves around motocross,” said Wesley Norris, who moved with his wife and son to Gilroy from San Jose six years ago. “It’s always the same. It’s him, me, and his mom every weekend. What we like is every weekend he’s with us.”
Damon currently sits in first place after four races in the Mutant Series in the 65 novice class – winning two races and finishing second in the other two. Last season, he won the series in the 65 beginners class. When he turns 16-years old, Damon hopes to turn professional.
“I just never stopped (riding once I got on the bike). I’ve been admiring my dad since I was two,” said Damon, who competes on tracks in Hollister, Livermore and Salinas. “We’ve been building (my practice) track the last three years. It started little and my dad, cousin, and friends have helped build it up.”
The home-made track has all different types of jumps to practice on – including table tops, doubles, and whoops.
“This is the best way to get better,” said Wesley’s father, who practices with his son twice a week as well. “It’s always good to ride with somebody.”
With one common goal in mind of someday turning pro, Damon and Wesley continue to enjoy themselves riding motocross.
“The adrenaline rush is the greatest, even when you’re just out with your friends riding,” said Wesley, whose favorite pro rider is 125 Champion James ‘Bubba’ Stewart. “Nothing I’ve done has ever been able to duplicate what I do on a motorbike.”
