DRIVEN TO MAKE IT AS PROFESSIONALS
A month after graduating from Century in 2014, Jacob Runkles enjoyed his first breakthrough in his new profession.
The 22-year-old Sykesville resident was unable to qualify in his first two national motocross events in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, but had a good feeling about coming home to Maryland to make good on his third try.
At the Geico Motorcycle Budds Creek National in Mechanicsville, he did just that. As he returns to Budds Creek today to compete in the 29th running of the event, he’ll come with the same positive vibe. Runkles, who began riding Yamaha PW50 when he was 3-years-old, doesn’t hesitate when asked what his fondest memory is as a professional.
“The best would have to be qualifying for my first national. That was really special,” he said. “That was kind of the goal as a kid, to qualify for a pro race and to do it there in front of all the family and friends was a big deal. There was definitely a lot of tears shed out throughout my pit, so it was really cool.”
Budds Creek National is the 11th of the 12-race Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, considered the world’s most prestigious off-road motorcycle racing series, now in its 46th year. Over 100 of the finest motocross riders will compete in two classifications Saturday — the 450 and 250 classes.
Joining Runkles in the 450 class is fellow Carroll County native Tyler Stepek, an 18-year-old South Carroll grad who is in his first year as a professional.
Both local riders are coming off their best work of the series at last Saturday’s Unadilla National in New York, with Runkles finishing 21st and Stepek placing 22nd among the 40 riders that qualified.
For Stepek, who first hopped on a dirt bike when he was 5 years old and entered his first race at 10, the performance earned him his first professional points.
“It was really muddy and the first slow Mechanicsville Today, 12:30 p.m. down I actually fell during the first lap, but I was just having fun out there and came back… to get my first pro points. It feels good because it’s the best I’ve ever done,” he said.
The two come from motorcycle-riding families.
Runkles’ father, Rick, raced professionally for three years and his grandfather, Bill, also raced in his day. Stepek’s father, Tad, also passed on his passion for motorcycles.
The two plan to build on last week’s performances at their home track Saturday. Each were given 25 passes to share with family and friends, so they look forward to the added support.
“It feels good because I’ll have a lot of family coming. I love having a lot of people come and watch me race,“Stepek said.
The opening ceremonies will get started at 12:30 p.m. with the first motos (250 and 450 classes) at 1 p.m., followed by the second motos at 3. For ticket information, go to ProMotocross.com.