EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—Another year of Supercross has come and gone at MetLife Stadium. The motocross sport started in Anaheim, CA in January and has finally made its way to East Rutherford, NJ for the penultimate race before finishing in Las Vegas on May 2.
For the first time ever at MetLife, the event was broadcast live on Fox. Fans tuned in as riders raced through the course covered in 500 truckloads of dirt. The crowd went wild with every pass and jump. Adults and children alike were overjoyed with excitement as the riders zipped through the course.
Local rider Luke Renzland, racing for CycleTrader.com and Rock River Yamaha, has had a passion for riding from a young age. His father was a Yamaha support rider in the ‘80s and got him and his brother into the sport, giving them their own PW50s. His family was highly supportive and it eventually became a lifestyle for them.
“It’s an awesome feeling to have SX in my home state,” said Renzland. “I grew up in Hewitt, NJ, which is only about an hour from MetLife Stadium, and it’s exciting to have the opportunity to race in front of my family, friends and all the local riders that I grew up racing with.”
His racing number, 343, honors the 343 fallen firefighters of 9/11. He said it would be special to race for all the heroes of our country, and all the people that were affected by 9/11.
“Now that I have reached this level of racing, it feels surreal to be living my childhood dream,” said Renzland. “It always makes my day to sign an autograph for a little kid and see their huge smile, knowing that maybe one day they will be lining up behind a SX gate and living their dream just like I am doing now.”
Renzland has experienced a few bumps in the road this year. He says he knows as a rookie coming into a high level of competition and pressure, that obstacles are to be expected. Renzland finished in 10th place at MetLife, earning him an 11th spot overall for the year before the last race.
“For me, I know that it takes a lot of hard work and patience to climb to the top of this sport, and I have come into this season with an open mind and I am excited to be gaining so much experience. I have been improving each week and it’s been fun to learn so much racing the veterans of the sport.”
When asked what advice Renzland would give to young riders who would like to compete one day, he said, “I would tell them to have fun and not to put too much pressure on themselves. It’s all about letting yourself develop as a racer, and some kids take longer than others to learn the ropes.
“We all get into racing for one simple reason: because we love riding dirt bikes! So you should never let the pressure of racing take away the fun of it.”
