Slaw Dog
By Bird Dog and Slaw Dog
Want your kid to be the next Supercross Champion? It might help to marry a red head and pray their mutated genes supersede your puny, weak little genes. But you better act fast, as only an estimated 2% of the population chooses to soak their hair in the blood of their enemies every night. Or, hell, maybe dying your hair red like Ken Roczen will help? After all, he was winning when he went all in with a can of spray paint earlier this year.
We found two of the next superstars in the sport at AMA Millcreek Summer Classic in Evan Ferry and Drew Adams. To no one’s surprise, they are both red headed, which means they will win a ton of championships. Don’t believe us, well, you should read this article.
The movement started in 1989, when a pudgy kid from Florida made his debut at the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championship. The kid, who would eventually become the GOAT, finished fourth that year behind none other than Mister REV UP himself, Andy Boywer, T Ryan Kaichen (in contention for best name ever at Loretta’s) and Joey Scheuler. Ricky Carmichael would go on to win 10 titles at the Ranch and proceeded to have the best career of any motocross rider: 150 career wins (record), 102 career AMA Motocross wins (record), 48 career AMA Supercross wins (third all-time), two perfect seasons, and on and on and on.
Most point to his unrivaled work ethic at the time. When partying at Lake Havasu took priority over running in most riders minds, RC was dropping the Coors for protein shakes.
But we have another theory, which has been scientifically proven. Let us explain.
Carmichael turned pro in 1997 and won the 125 AMA Motocross title. That same year, another fellow, also from Florida, won the 125SX East Region title. Other than being from Florida, what do Carmichael and Tim Ferry have in common? No, it’s not melanoma (hopefully), it’s actually red hair. We’re surprised you didn’t guess that sooner, but oh well.
The mantel was then passed to Ryan Villopoto and Trey Canard. RV won nine AMA National Championships, racked up 73 career AMA Motocross and Supercross wins and won four consecutive AMA Supercross titles. Canard, meanwhile, won the 2008 250SX East Region title as a rookie and then went on to win the 2010 250 Pro Motocross title. He won some 450 races too.
As we explained earlier, at Millcreek, we found the next generation of red heads that will dominate the sport: Ferry (yes, son of THE Tim Ferry) and Adams.
Ferry, who rides for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna, dominated the Supermini 1 and 2 classes at the Summer Classic, going 1-1-1-1 in his four motos. He’s a favorite to win the classes at Loretta’s, too.
Adams, meanwhile, won all three of his classes—85cc 9-11 Limited; 85cc 10-12 and Jr Mini 9-12—and, you guessed it, went 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 across the board (he actually had six moto wins, not whatever number we just typed out).
Another cool fact about Adams, his parents said he’s just like RC with the work ethic. He gets up a 6 a.m. every day on his own. Cooks his own eggs and breakfast. Goes out and walks the track every damn day to check the moisture and lines, despite it being a track he’s made tens of thousands of laps around. And he does it under his own will without anyone telling him what to do. Hmm, sounds like some other red heads!
While the surf scene may be dominated by sun kissed blond hair, and darker haired emo kids still rock the skate parks, the red head theory in moto may prove true for the next generation of talent if Ferry and Adams have anything to do with it.
Main image: Josh Miller Photography
