State motocross puts sport’s strong family ties on display

The strong family ties that bind motocross racing were on display at the Alaska State Motocross Races 3 and 4 on Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15, at Twin City Raceway in Kenai.

Back in 2002, Rick Bailey, the charter president of the Kenai Peninsula Racing Lions – Motocross Division, spent about five hectic days building the motocross track at the raceway.

According to Clarion files, in July 1996 the Alaska Motorcycle Racing Association had its first state points race on the Kenai Peninsula in 10 years at Twin City Raceway.

That location didn’t work out, and state motocross moved to the Soldotna airport for 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Bailey said the Motocross Division learned shortly before the state race of 2002 they could no longer race in Soldotna.

“We didn’t have a track and we got permission to come out here and build this track,” he said. “So I spent about five days getting this ready for the state race.”

Bailey’s son, Ricky Bailey, and his friends — Cory Davis, Aaron Loyer and Jesse Kelly — were all ardent riders. So the four would ride around and critique Rick Bailey’s work.

“They were my guinea pigs,” Rick Bailey said. “‘No, that’s too big, dad. That’s not big enough.’”

About 2010, with Ricky Bailey struggling with a shoulder injury, Rick Bailey decided to take a step back from motocross.

“It was pretty consuming,” Rick Bailey said. “I was like, ‘Maybe I just want to go fishing.’”

That was until this year.

“Ricky decided it would be a good idea to be the track maintenance guy this year, but he lives in Wasilla,” said Rick Bailey, who now lives in Ninilchik. “I’m like, ‘I’ve got enough going on. We lost our house when it burned down in February.’

“But he’s like, ‘Dad, can you come help me with the track?’”

Suddenly, the group that played such a big role in molding the track was all back together again, particularly appropriate for the celebration of Father’s Day on Sunday.

At the state race, Ricky Bailey was racing in the pro class. His kids, Blaise and Pace, raced 50 novice, while Banks Bailey would have been racing if not for health issues.

Rick Bailey has a grandson on the other side of the family, Clydon Meyer, who raced 50 novice this weekend.

Loyer now lives in Palmer and raced pro class and vet expert over the weekend. He also had the next generation on the track, with Davis Loyer racing 50 intermediate and Benny Loyer racing 65 intermediate.

“(Ricky are Aaron) are both in their mid- to late 30s, right?” Rick Bailey said. “They’re riding a pro class with these 18- to 20-year-old kids.”

While Cory Davis isn’t racing motocross, his daughter, Josie, is racing, but didn’t race this weekend.

Kelly hasn’t raced since being paralyzed in a motocross accident in 2020 at the track, but his kids Camryn and Conner were racing 50 intermediate this weekend.

Kelly’s wife, Lacie, has been president or vice president of the Motocross Division for the last 13 years.

“They were the fast guys,” Lacie said of her husband and three childhood friends. “Now all of our kids race together, so it’s super cute.”

The state event drew 126 racers and 178 entries on Sunday, and 127 racers and 184 entries on Saturday. Though down just a bit from last year, Kelly said the numbers are strong and the Motocross Division is strong.

“Lots of Red Bull, and honestly the board members,” Kelly said when asked how she has lasted for 13 years. “Even the people that race and aren’t board members. It’s just a really good community.”

Kelly said it takes a ton of work to put on a state race. She said the only people that are paid are the 12 to 13 flaggers. They can be hard to find, but Kelly the flaggers have been easier to find this year.

Then there is all the grooming and watering that must be done to prep the track.

Practice at the track was shut down at 1 p.m. Friday. The hotter weather meant a combination of watering and grooming was taking place until about midnight.

Kelly thanked Airport Equipment Rentals for the use of a second dozer. That meant Rick Bailey and Homer’s Corbin Arno, filling in for Ricky Bailey, could both work on grooming the track.

Watering is a whole other animal.

“It takes seven people just to water,” Kelly said. “So we’re trying to find seven people to volunteer their time when they’re trying to race.”

Kelly thanked Daniel Chase of the Anchorage Racing Lions for stepping up and running the water this weekend, but she said the Motocross Division is looking for a better solution.

They’d like to install a big cannon that could get the track watered at the flip of the switch. Kelly said the system would likely cost about $15,000, which is a lot for a nonprofit, but she’s hoping some sponsors come through.

She said the goal is to have the system in place by the end of the season, because the ground doesn’t thaw in time to get the system in place in spring before the season begins.