Bosque Farms Mayor Wayne Ake declares Jan. 12 as Garrett Wood Day in the village of Bosque Farms. Wood was one of only 15 youngsters to compete in the KTM Junior Racing Supercross Challenge.
Julia M. Dendinger | News-Bulletin photo
BOSQUE FARMS — One Bosque Farms youngster got the chance of a lifetime as one of only 15 dirt bike racers in the nation selected to see what it’s like for the pros.
Garrett Wood, 7, took part in the KTM Junior Racing Supercross Challenge 2019 on Jan. 12.
The challenge is an exhibition race held at Supercross stadiums across the country.
Garrett went to the event held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
“This young man has made Bosque Farms proud,” said village of Bosque Farms Mayor Wayne Ake at a recent village council meeting. “He has done something only 15 people at his age in the U.S. have had the opportunity to do. We are so proud of you.”
The mayor issued a proclamation recognizing Garrett’s selection, which declared Jan. 12 to be Garrett Wood Day in the village.
More than 200 riders applied to be a part of the Supercross Challenge and was the 15th participant chosen.
“I got lucky,” Garrett said. “I was the last kid chosen.”
Garrett, the son of Amanda and village councilor Chad Wood, started racing BMX bikes when he was five and graduated to dirt bikes last year.
“My dad liked riding them so I tried it. It was pretty fun,” he said. “So I stayed with it.”
He has completed a total of seven races and plans to participate in more just as soon as he gets his radiator repaired.
In the KTM challenge, Garret rode a brand new KTM 50 SX but prefers a Husqvarna.
The riders all rode identical bikes in the Glendale event, and returned home with a collection of KTM gear and merchandise.
He was also able to meet the pro KTM race team and hang out at the factory race pits for the day.
KTM is an Austrian motorcycle and sports car manufacturer.
In addition to meeting age, height and weight requirements to participate in the challenge, Wood also had to show he was earning above-average marks in school.
Garrett rode in front of about 50,000 spectators during the challenge, over large, technical obstacles during the challenging, at times launching him and his motorcycle 10 feet into the air.
“It wasn’t about winning,” he said of his 13th place finish. “It was about having fun. The jumping was my favorite part.”
Julia M. Dendinger began working at the VCNB in 2006. She covers Valencia County government, Belen Consolidated Schools and the village of Bosque Farms. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists Rio Grande chapter’s board of directors.
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April 18, 2024
