7-Year-Old SWR Motocross Kid Headed To National Championship

MENIFEE, CA — Chase Brennan has a busy summer on tap. The almost famous Menifee kid just turned 7, and already he's a stellar motocross rider who just clinched the Loretta Lynn regional qualifier at Pala Raceway in his age division (4- to 6-year-olds), so next month he's headed to the event's national championship event in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Given his demanding schedule (besides dirt bike races, he's got football and video game commitments), it was a surprise that Patch landed a Q&A with the first-grader from Freedom Crest Elementary:

Patch: Chase, how old were you when you first started riding motorcycles?

CB: 3 years old

Patch: Wow, how did you get started?

CB: My mom says when I was 1 years old I would always say "vroom vroom" anytime I saw a motorcycle, and I was obsessed with my dad's [motorcycle] at that time. So when I was 3, I got my first little dirt bike and I didn’t even need to use the training wheels. My parents knew then ... that I was just a natural.

Patch: Have you ever been scared riding?

CB: Only after I have a big fall.

Patch: Why do you like the sport?

CB: It’s cool!

Patch: What's the best part about it?

CB: Feeling like a bird flying when you jump.

Patch: How many kids in your age division were competing at the recent qualifier event?

CB: Maybe 15 or 20.

Patch: Can you tell us anything about the course you had to ride?

CB: It was hard because it was very muddy and there were a lot of deep ruts. Almost everybody was falling or getting stuck.

Patch: What did you think about winning?

CB: I was so happy—I saw my parents jumping up and down!

Patch: Were the other kids pretty tough there?

CB: Sometimes ... but this time I was about 30 seconds ahead ... so this one was a huge win for me .

Patch: What does it mean to you to be racing in the Loretta Lynn national championship event?

CB: I want to grow up and be like Ken Roczen [German born professional motocross and supercross racer], so I think this will help me.

Patch: What do you think the hardest thing will be at the national event?

CB: There will be a lot of fast kids there. The hardest thing is going to be not getting stuck in the mud!

Patch: Who will be going with you to Tennessee?

CB: My mom, my dad and all my brothers and sisters—hopefully they can all come.

Patch: Besides the race, what will you do in Tennessee?

CB: I really want to swim in a pool because people keep telling me how hot it’s going to be there.

Patch: Have you ever been to Tennessee?

CB: I’ve only been to Arizona and Minnesota.

Patch: Besides the big race in July, what are you most looking forward to this summer?

CB: Being able to play Fortnite with my friends and brother, go swimming and getting to stay up past 8 o’clock!

Of course Patch got permission from Chase's proud mom, Alissa, for the above interview. She said the family can't wait to see how he does in Tennessee. "No matter what place he comes in, I know he’s going to try his hardest and that’s all that matters to us," she explained.

The family is trying to do fundraisers to get as many family members to Tennessee as possible to cheer Chase on. Click here to see a GoFundMe page set up for the occasion.