SWEETWATER COUNTY – Riders sit at the start of a challenging obstacle course, trying to anticipate the drop of the gates. As the gates fall, the scream of motorcycles hit a fever pitch as they all fight for the hole shot. The Rock Springs Motocross outdoor series got off to a good start of its own.

At the Sweetwater Events Complex this past weekend, riders from around the region showed up for the High Plains Motocross Association race. President of the Rock Springs Motocross Wes Smith spoke to the Sweetwater Events Complex Board about the weekend.

Smith said they had approximately 300 racers over the course of the two-day event. He could not compare it to the numbers from last year because it was only a day day race last year. Smith said they had a couple of accidents, one broken wrist and one dislocated shoulder, but as everybody knows, these wrecks are part of the game in motocross.

Overall, Smith said they had a lot of spectators make their way out to the races this weekend. He added the local racers in both the men’s and women’s divisions did very well.

“It’s nice to compare our racers to other racers throughout the region,” Smith said.

The HPMA series is a Wyoming association who puts on races throughout the state. Smith said the HPMA actually started in Green River but is now located in Casper.

In August, Rock Springs Motocross will host the Wild West Series racing from out of Utah. Smith said this race will showcase a higher level of competition.

Then in September, the club will hit a milestone as they will host its first American Motorcyclist Association race. Smith said this race is completely put on by Rock Springs Motocross.

The club recently received its AMA certification. This was a step the club needed to take as they work to bring a Loretta Lynn qualifier to Sweetwater County next year.

If they are able to get the qualifier, Smith said they will have four races in the outdoor series next year.