The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Revved up
Young motocross racer does well at nationals
By Dave Merchant, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: August 21, 2008
For most seven-year old boys, what to watch on television is a big deal. For Belleville resident Garrett Harsch this is not the case.
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He loves to ride motocross bikes and from the looks of his resume is quite good at it as well. Garrett recently came back from a two-week stint at Loretta Lynn's National Motocross races where he finished 16th in the four to six Shaft drive class.
"I like racing," Harsch said. "My favorite part is the jumping."
His love for motorsports started when he was only two-years-old and his dad, Steve, bought him a PW50 from his uncle and he had to drive it with training wheels until he could handle it on his own.
When he reached the age of five, Harsch started racing and in the beginning of the 2007 season his dad built a modified PW50. His dad is also his mechanic and has been to school to be able to work on his son's bikes.
He works all year round on improving his skills on the bike. When his family is not traveling all over for the outdoor season he trains indoor on tracks from Port Huron to Fenton to Sarnia, Ontario.
"My goal in racing is to become a Supercross Pro," he said. "I have raced at intermissions during Supercross events."
When he isn't racing or practicing, he can be found playing with his friends at these events. They like to ride BMX bikes when they are not racing and they also like to play with toy cars in the sand just like regular boys. Garrett also enjoys playing goalie in soccer when he has time to participate in the sport.
He will be entering the second grade at Elwell Elementary School in the fall. Some of his favorite classes include math and gym.
Sponsors such as MCR, Sixsix One, Cobra Minicycles Canada, O'Sirus and Scott Goggles have been instrumental in helping this young racer advance.
Garrett's looks up to the likes of Travis Pastrana who is a professional freestyle motocross racer who has competed in the X-Games.
Finishing 16th at this national event was a big deal for Garrett. He hopes to come back next season and compete for another chance to win. Winners in the past have gone onto some very successful careers in the sport.
His mother, Kim, said that sometimes these events interfere with family functions but she knows the family understands.
"It is a fun sport for him," Kim said. "There are three families who always try to hook up whenever we got to races. It is one of those sports that you have to do to understand."
His mom does say that riding is important but stresses that school is the most important activity for her son.
"We take math books for him practice and he loves to read," she said. "He knows that if his grades aren't kept up there will be no racing."
Just so you don't think all he does is race, Garrett does enjoy watching Nickelodeon and he even likes to watch racing on the Speed Network.
Dave Merchant is a staff writer for the View and Courier Newspapers and can be reached at 1-734-697-8255 or at Dmerchant@heritage. com.
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