By Race Chapman

Growing up in the 1990s it seemed like all the pro motocrossers were these wild, untamed young rockstars. They would speak their uncensored minds just as quickly as they'd put a competitor through the hay bales and lay a big kiss on the trophy girl. They cared as much about decorum and image as title sponsor "Camel" cared about the lung health of Joe Camel.

So it always tickles me when I talk to young racers of the modern era, and they sound like a professional golfer at the Masters. Ryder DiFrancesco is a perfect example. At the ripe old age of 10, Ryder has the class and confident attitude to rival many of the top professionals of today.

Ryder already has three class titles at Loretta's, wins at the Mammoth Mountain MX Championship (which will stream LIVE on FloRacing on June 20), and too many titles to list at every other prestigious amateur event. He also rides for Team Green Kawasaki and Team Dunlop and has made the cover of a magazine... are you convinced yet? I was, and I had to get him on the phone to find out what makes him tick!



FloRacing: So first off, what got you into motocross?
DiFrancesco: My dad did flat track for about five years, and I've been around it since I was born and I've really loved it ever since then -- once I saw him ride. And it's been going since then. I was 3 years old was my first race, and that's about it.

Which is your favorite event?
I would say Loretta Lynn's. I've won three national titles there, and I think that's my favorite.

So would that be your biggest accomplishment?
Yeah, the Loretta Lynn's titles, I think that's the biggest accomplishment that I've done in my career.

Do you have plans to race the Monster Energy Cup?
I will be doing that, not this year but the year after I will be racing that. Hopefully I get invited, but it'll be fun if I do.

What's your personal favorite MX track?
We have a motocross track up here by my house in Tulare, California, called DT1. It's a pretty good track. It's pretty similar, kind of, to Loretta Lynn's, so I think we'll go there to practice just a few months before Loretta's and put some motos in there.

What kind of tracks do you like the most?
I think my best is like rutty tracks, but, when it rains I think I do pretty good in the mud! But I'd say rutty tracks is what I prefer.



Who is your favorite pro rider?
I like Ken Roczen right now. But the one that is racing right now I prefer Jason Anderson a lot. I like his riding style; he kind of just like sends it, I like him.

Which racers are your toughest competition right now?
Jeff Reynolds, he's from Bakersfield, we always hang out. He's one of my biggest competition, but we kind of train together, so that's one of my biggest. And then Chance Hymas, he's from up in Utah. He's one of my biggest right now, so we try to beat him and always have fun you know?

What are your plans for big races this year and long-term goals for your career?
Long term goals is just to try to make it to the pros, you know? Try my hardest and try to get up to that rank. Big races for this year is make it to Loretta's, which I made it to Loretta's last weekend, and just win a lot of titles!

I heard you'll be racing Mammoth too, right?
Yeah, Mammoth's a fun track. I'll be racing that in three weeks, I think. That's a fun one.

What do you like most about motocross?
I think just having fun on the bike and going through the air, trying to have style and going through the turns as fast as you can.

And your team for this year is?
Team Green Kawasaki. And then Jimmy John's just kind of like came into me. So I'm on the Team Green team right now.

What's that like as an amateur on that team?
It's one of the best teams. I think it's cool they came to me and wanted me on their team, and that makes me pretty excited to be on their team and try to win some titles for them. I think the support of the team is good. They give you bikes. They give you the parts. If you blow up a motor at the races, they give you a motor, and they want you on the track, you know?

How does one get approached by Team Green?
Yeah, just try to do your best at nationals, and try to stand out for Kawasaki to pick you up, and just go out there and try your best.



How do you prepare for a big race like Mammoth or Loretta's?
Go out there on practice days and do 20-minute motos before Loretta's -- really do 20 minute motos before all nationals, but -- work out at the local gym that we go to, and I think if you put in the effort that you'll go out there and win!

What do you do personally on race day to stay mentally focused?
I just wake up in the morning and then just really I just like to have fun. Before the gate drops, I'm not really that focused... I try to run around and talk to my buddies or something, and I just like to have fun!

***

With his list of accomplishments already in hand, suffice it to say, Ryder should be a fun one for us to watch at Mammoth. 

Ryder's sponsors include some of the biggest names in motocross:
Jimmy John's, Team Green Kawasaki, Pro Circuit, Dunlop, Troy Lee Designs, Scott, 6D, Alpinestar, Beam Design, Traxxas, and Ethika. 

You can follow his journey on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

How To Watch

Mountain MX Championship
ON TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app today!
STREAMING: Available only on FloRacing. A yearly FloPRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites.
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