Motorcross racing is one of the fastest growing sports in America. Quite known as one of the most dangerous sports to face man, these riders on a daily basis continue to strive to become the best racers ever even with the most crucial injuries faced. From broken legs, arms, kneecaps, ribs, these are some of the most painful injuries a rider can face and happens often when falling off your bike after flying fifty feet in the air. No matter what happens nothing will stop AMA motorcross superstar Stephen Stella. In a exclusive and in-depth feature for QtheQuestion.com, racing stud Stephen Stella gets with us for a quick chat on the determination to rise through the ranks of motorcross.

Growing up when did you realize that your involvement in the sport of motocross would be on such a high scale?

I think it came from watching races on TV when I was younger. When I was about sixteen I considered taking it more serious after racing for about a year or two. It was a lot of fun and I knew it was something I always wanted to do especially as a job.

How did you parents feel when approaching them initially that you want to be a star in such a extreme sport with high injury risk?

My dad was all for it and he is all into the extreme sports. My mom was really scared for me especially after a couple hospital visits. I guess she knows I'm older now and can't really tell me what to do, she knows I'll be safe (Laughs). I have the Lord watching over me so it'll be all good.

Let's get more in-depth in the training aspect of motorcross racing. What are the basic rudiments to be learned for a new rider?

Well your age and height determines what bike you'll be riding. If your from five-ten years old you will ride the 50's or 60's. From ages thirteen-sixteen you will ride the 85's-150's. From seventeen and up you get the 250 F's and 450's. It requires a lot of training and as you do it so much your skills in riding will improve. Once you do the basics you'll want to prove your speed against everyone out there. There are different classes which are C, B, A, and A obviously is for the expert faster riders while C is for the beginner riders. Once you mastered the A class winning a lot of local and regional races while proving yourself to be a experienced driver then you turn pro. I guess its like the NBA or football when you go through the ranks, high school, college, then pro.

You're a very experienced racer and I'm pretty sure you've had many obstacles to face before success. What were some disappointments in your early career?

Oh yeah, everyone has their setbacks. You have setbacks with sponsor issues and injuries. Injuries can scare sponsors, it sets you back and times are tough right now. Sponsors have backed out and its a lot tougher to get rides. That's the main thing when it comes to obstacles, because your as only good as your last race. Too bad if your crashed out on your last race as its hard to get sponsors for the next round, because everyone will look at you and laugh. Training is the key thing and that's something you always have to do.

So the main reason for corporate sponsors being so cautious is due to the high injury level to racers?

Yeah, plus the the sport is just breaking through nationally. Getting things like national TV and all a lot more is being done to showcase it. They are doing a lot more to showcase it. The sports is blowing up and has grown, its still growing though even in these tough times. The stadiums are packed, 40,000 people are coming to outdoor races and its the largest motor sport second to Nascar. We came a long way, its getting bigger and growing so its awesome. You really do have to great sponsors and hop on a great team to get a good salary.


Is it the adrenaline rush gets you motivated knowing you have thousands of people screaming when your in the air doing tricks?

Oh yeah the crowd can be crazy. They love it and it makes me feel great. The fan support is good, you have people hit you on facebook, twitter, its cool when the fans come out so pumped about the sport.

Snowboards, skateboarders, motorcross riders, do you all have a brotherly bond as in having a mutual respect for each other. I figure so with all of you being involved in extreme sports?

Yeah, definitely! There is a level of respect for all the sports, we all kind of dabble with each other. There is a lot of skaters that ride motorcross too. Our sport is a little different where you do things different than handling a stick or ball. Much respect to all the NFL, NBA players, because they work and train hard as well, its just we do things different. Motorcross is not a team sport, its individual sport although you need a team to get you where you need to be. Much respect to all the snowboarders, skaters, and BMXer's.

One of your main goals is to brand the sport of motorcross in a national phenomenon. You recently started a school as well how has this school helped the growth of motorcross racing?

The school has be going great and I actually started five years ago teaching when I turned pro in 2005. Coming I didn't know much about the sport. It was just me and my dad going in a pick-up truck going to the races. We knew nothing about racing locally, turning pro, and going national. I started the school to give back to younger riders to who are like myself providing them the way to go if they choose to go professional. I want the kids to have a quicker way to the top than I did. I feel like I did it in such a short amount of time because of my experience before it. There is a lot of kids out there that just don't no where to go or what race to go hit up get to the top. They don't know how to train and ride the bike to reach the top. Anyone that has a dream to become a racer and have a passion for it, I can take them under my wing showing them the way to go to achieve their goals. If interested visit www.stellamxschool.com and I have raffle coming where you can win a free class with me.

Any video games coming next (laughs)?

I guess you have to show them (sponsors) your performance in the first round and I guess all the video games, commercials will come after that (laughs).