WEATHERFORD —
Greg Webb
sports@weatherforddemocrat.com
Weatherford teenager Matt Bisceglia has already built quite a few notable memories in his young fifteen years, but admits there is one birthday that far outshines all the other.
“I can still remember my third birthday really well,” Bisceglia said. “It was one the best day’s of my life, because I walked outside my house and there was a bike sitting there.”
The “bike” was his first motorcycle.
Though he took to riding right away, Matt had to wait a bit before he could measure his skills against other kids.
“It was about a year later when started racing,” he said, “because you have to be at least 4-years-old to compete.
“I’m happy about being able to start riding so early, because I have more experience than a lot of the other riders my age.”
The experience and talent for motocross has bode well for Bisceglia, as he has become one of the top junior riders in the country. Well enough, in fact, to be chosen to represent the United States as a member of the junior team who will race against an international field in France. Matt and his father, Don, board the plane on Monday and head to Europe.
“We’ll fly into Paris, and the racing site is about three hours south of there,” Bisceglia said.
The young racer and his dad will end up in Dardon Gueugnon, the site of the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship. The event takes place Aug. 22-24, and will be held at the Circuit de Gueugnon. Matt goes as a member of the American Motorcyclist Association’s (AMA) junior amateur team.
“ There are six of us going as part of the USA team,” he said. “There are three classes, two of us in each, a 65cc and 85cc class, and I will be one of the riders in the 125cc class.”
Kip Bigelow, of the AMA, headed up a panel to select the team from among the top amateur riders, to represent the USA at the international event. Bisceglia’s track record was impressive enough to be one of the choices.
Bisceglia will be in France for more than a week, which will allow some down time before and after he takes to the track.
“We have some friends from Oregon going with us,” he said. “I think we will have some time to kick around Tuesday and Wednesday, so we should be able to take in some sites.
“The guy managing the USA team reserved a track for us to ride on Thursday. We start qualifying at the track on Saturday, then we’ll race on Sunday.”
Before returning home, the group plans to hang out with friends who live just outside Paris, before heading back home on Tuesday.
Upon returning home, Matt will shed his riding gloves for a while, get off the bike and hit the books. Bisceglia is home schooled, which begins soon after the summer off.
“We have a good home-school program, fortunately,” he said. “I know school comes first, but I’m also trying to [eventually] make a living riding, so you have to find time whenever you can.
“But I usually have the summer’s off. I’ll start back to school here in another couple of weeks.”
Just as with any other sport, practice is essential to hone skills needed to stay abreast of, and rise above the competition. It is no different with motocross, and Bisceglia has a consistent regimen of riding time.
“We usually take Monday’s and Friday’s off, but we buckle down and try to ride all the other days of the week,” he said. “A couple of my friends and I all have tracks, but we don’t ride those too much. “One of the tracks we liked just shut down and we were pretty bummed, but we have several tracks we ride during the course of a week.”
As one might expect, the sport runs in the family. Matt’s mom, Joanie, races, as does dad.
“My dad was a professional rider and we ride together quite a bit, now,” Matt said. “Of course, they are the biggest reasons I got into the sport to start with.
“Dad owns a company that makes aftermarket accessories for motorcycles.”
Red Bull Jams is a showcase program for junior amateur motocross racers aspiring for the pro ranks, and Bisceglia is its newest member. One of the reasons he was chosen for the international team can be attested to his showing at the Mini-O’s competition in Florida recently, taking three titles as a member of the Jams.
“The Red Bull team is a really good deal for us, and they are helping us go over [to France]. Without their help, we probably could not be able to go.”
Matt has already decided at least one path for his future, but will bide his time, while winning some more amateur races, before taking the plunge.
“You have to be 17 before you can turn professional,” he said. “My plan is to go pro after I reach 17, but a big thing about that is getting factory rides.
“In the next couple of years I would like to sign a deal with a decent team to get started.”
But for now, his attention is turned across the Atlantic and he acknowledges the rare opportunity.
“It’s going to be super cool to be able to ride in France,” he said, “and I am just really excited about doing this. But, I know I need to go and just ride like I know I can ride.
“It should just be a good experience. Not many kids get to do this. It’s an honor to be picked for this and to get to go over there.”
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