Knox Murray-Born to Race

THE BASIC LEFT-TURN

Approaching a busy four-way intersection there are a lot of elements to monitor: cross traffic may or may not stop for the light; pedestrians could step out at any time; an oncoming car waiting to turn left could fail to detect your presence and turn left in front of you. Sure enough, just as you approach the intersection, the car in the opposing left-turn lane swings into your path. You brake hard and swerve at the last second, barely avoiding a broadside collision. Strategy: Without a doubt, this scenario is a frequent hazard for motorcyclists riding in urban areas. A common type of motorcycle crash (for sober riders) occurs during daylight hours, at low speeds (around 30 mph), when an oncoming vehicle turns left into your path. Again, when approaching an intersection with a vehicle waiting in the left-turn lane, your best bet is to assume the worst: that a car will pull out in front of you. Reduce your speed as you approach the intersection, either downshifting or lightly applying the front brake. Adjust your position in the lane to be seen better. Slowing will increase your safety cushion: slowing just 10 mph reduces your stopping distance significantly, and covering your brake greatly reduces reaction time. After you’ve slowed, continue to visually monitor the car in case it moves and forces you to change position or stop quickly.

BORN TO BORN TO RACE RACE

When Knox Murray was just four-years-old, his parents took him to see the Supercross races at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The family enjoyed an evening of two-wheeled motocross madness in all its glory and Knox studied every move by the racers. When Knox walked out of that Stadium, the young boy looked up at his folks and said, “That’s what I want to do!” “He begged us to get him a dirt bike for two years,” Knox’s mom Melissa Murray recalls. “We finally got him one and he took off and has never looked back!”

Knox is now seven-years-old, racing in the AMA six-year-old class. He started on a Yamaha PW50 and is now riding a Husky TC50 that he’s been racing for the past three months. For 2021, he’s stepped up to race in the seven and eight-year-old class because he wanted to move up to a bigger bike. “He loves opening it up on the straightaways and jumping!” his mom tells us.

Knox trains and races at Dade City MX and Bartow MX. He also loves to ride at 74 MX in Punta Gorda. Last year he only raced the Bartow MX series half the year and placed 3rd overall in the Pee Wee Shaft Class and 4th in the Pee Wee 4-6 Beginner Class. Now all of us who love ridin’ motorcycles can appreciate this young man’s passion for two wheels and his love of racing. Here’s the thing, racin’ ain’t cheap, and Knox could sure use your help as a sponsor. “We are always looking for sponsors and help because there is a lot of maintenance that goes into the bike as well as training and racing fees,” Melissa tells us. “So any help would be greatly appreciated. Knox is currently sponsored by True MX for his riding gear.” If you or someone you know would like to help make a young racer’s dreams come true, give his mom Melissa Murray a call at 352-672-7131. Tell her you heard about Knox in Born To Ride.

“He loves opening it up on the straightaways and jumping!” This is a Born To Ride Kid