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Freestyle motocross rider takes second place at RAD Nationals

Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012 03:00 am | By Madison Samuel-Barclay

Former Didsbury-area freestyle motocross rider Billy Kohut did himself proud at the RAD Nationals in December 2011, coming in second in his category.

This was Kohut’s third time at the event, having come in fourth in 2010.

“I would have been happy to have won it but I’m happy with second for sure,” Kohut said. “Even just to have made it into the finals, I’m really happy with that.”

Having competed in the RAD Nationals twice before his 2011 debut, Kohut knew what to expect and how to prepare for the event.

“From previous years, I knew what the big track was like and what it would take to ride it,” Kohut said. “I learnt some new moves and made sure I had them down.”

One of the trickiest parts about training for the RAD Nationals, which take place in California, is trying to prepare in Canada, where winter weather throws a wrench into a training schedule.

“The tough part was, living in Canada, I didn’t get to ride as much as some of the other guys,” Kohut explained. “When I decided to head down to do the contest I went a week early to do some more real practice for the event.

“I think the other riders have the advantage of being able to ride all year round, while we have to take a break in Canada for the winter, and by the time we get to ride again we might be a bit rusty instead of staying on top of our game all year round.”

Despite weather technicalities and recovering from a broken ankle the previous year though, Kohut still managed to earn a top spot at the competition, which he said was a good thing.

“I feel good about it, it shows that you’ve got the drive, that when someone really wants something, they can go out and get it,” said Kohut.

Kohut intends to compete in the RAD Nationals again at the end of 2012, and is also looking to compete in another freestyle competition in Arizona later this summer.

As for what keeps Kohut hooked on riding, he says it’s just an all-around love for the sport.

“I love everything about dirtbikes,” Kohut said. “The feeling that you get, the adrenaline just when you go out and when you do a jump and land it, and get ready to do a trick you’ve never done before when it’s something you’ve been working on and land it, that feeling of accomplishment, it’s just great.”

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