Forkner nearing Motocross professional debut

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

With his spectacular amateur Motocross career nearly complete, Austin Forkner is now gearing up for his professional debut.

In early-August the young motorcycle phenom from Richards inked a multi-year deal with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, and is slated to make his pro debut in the spring of 2016.

Forkner, who has been to the amateur Motocross mountain top and back, winning back-to-back Supermini championships at the prestigious Las Vegas Monster Energy Cup in 2012 and 2013, again won the top prize earlier this month.

According to an Oct. 17 press release on Monsterenergycup.com, "Forkner won the main event and Amateur All-Star Championship. He remains undefeated in his Monster Energy Cup races, winning all six of the main events he has entered (dating back to 2012), and is the only rider to accomplish this feat."

In addtion, Forkner won the 2015 AMA Motocross Amateur Rider of the Year award.

"I was super-pumped when I won, especially this year," Forkner told the Daily Mail. "Because there were a lot of fast guys in the class. And it was my first time I've won that event on a big bike (250-CC) in the All-Star class. It was super-cool to do that and be able to race in front off all those people and win."

Forkner said his top priority entering the race for the final time of his amateur career was to keep his record unblemished.

Ivy Witt-Cole/Special to the Daily Mail Motocross star Austin Forkner, 17, lifts off at Nebo Hill MX Park, Saturday morning. The race track is located near Nevada Middle School.

"This was a great track tonight," Forkner said according to the Monsterenergycup.com press release. "I wanted to prove to everyone that I could ride a big bike, and I did that tonight. I am stoked to be undefeated in my career here at the Monster Energy Cup."

Professional deal

Forkner signed the multi-year contract in early-August after adding to his collection of hardware at Loretta Lynn's Amateur National Championships in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

Loretta Lynn's is a premier event steeped in Motocross tradition. Forkner's trophy haul at Loretta Lynn's Ranch includes winning two classes of races in 2010, one class apiece in 2011 and 2014, while concluding with two more victory lane finishes this year.

"Austin is a talented rider who brings a lot of skill and personality to our team," Kawasaki Racing's Bruce Stjernstrom said in an August press release. "Team Green provides a proven transition for our riders from the amateur ranks to the pros. We believe Austin has the capability to successfully follow that path."

In preparation for his pro career, Forkner said he has beefed up, adding approximately 25 pounds of muscle to his frame ---- as he now weighs in at 145 pounds.

Forkner said after officially turning pro, he will compete in around 20 events a year ---- 12 outdoor national races and seven or eight Supercross races. Forkner added that during his first year on the profesisonal circut he plans on racing exclusively in outdoor national events. Forkner said those races are televised.

Nebo Hill MX Park

Forkner made a triumphant return over the weekend to his old stomping ground, Nebo Hill MX Park, owned by Bruce Hensley, is located approximately a mile northwest of Nevada Middle School.

On an overcast Saturday morning with the temperature in the mid-60s, Forkner could be seen with friends zooming around the track on his signature No. 214 Kawasaki bike.

"It has some of the best dirt in Missouri," Forkner said of Nebo Hill MX Park. "I think eventually they can have races here, but they're going to have to make a few changes to the track."

Forkner said one of the turns isn't wide enough while some aspects of the track are too technical.

"Some of the jumps are too big," he said referring to what a novice rider might encounter. "But for the most part it's a really good track."

Information related to the race track can be viewed at www.facebook.com/NeboHillMXPark.

Looking ahead

Forkner said all he wants to do on the track is win. As an amateur, winning resulted in adding to his trophy case. As a professional, winning will allow him to add digits to his bank account.

"If I win a championship, which is really hard, I could be making a mil," he said. "There's guys (in the sport) who aren't even 18-years old yet and are already millionaires. It's crazy."

Social media

Forkner has 55,000 followers on his Instagram account, instagram.com/austinforkner, nearly 1,800 followers on his Twitter account, twitter.com/austinforkner, and is approaching 10,000 likes on his Facebook page.

Additionally, numerous Forkner highlight videos can be viewed on Youtube.com.

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