Vertigo Motors Signs Ryon Land

introduction by STEPH VETTERLY photos courtesy of DUSTIN LAND AND VERTIGO MOTORS

Vertigo Motors Spain and Vertigo USA have made an exciting announcement regarding their 2023 rider roster. America’s own Ryon Land, currently 13 years old, has signed a four-year contract, officially becoming part of the Vertigo Factory team. He has also entered into an agreement with Comas Trials Spain.

For the current season, he will contest the 125 Championship class in five rounds of the Spanish Trials Championship, as well as contesting the Junior EX 125 class in the AMA NATC National Mototrials

Championship here in the USA, as well as the El Trial de España and California Trials Invitational.

In the following years in Spain, he will progress through the classes in preparation for the 125 World Championship, and if Vertigo Motors feels he is ready, will contest the entire 125cc TR3 World Championship. In the USA, he will continue into the Expert class with the goal of riding Pro in 2025.

As one can imagine, so much travel and time spent training means little time for traditional schooling; Ryon has transitioned to online schooling to continue with his education in conjunction with this opportunity. In between races, his time in Europe will be spent based out of the Vertigo factory in Barcelona, spending each day training with the Vertigo team riders and other worldlevel riders in the local area. Dalton, Ryon’s brother, will be traveling with him on all trips, working as his minder and chaperone for all time spent overseas.

“We are proud to have Ryon in our VERTIGO youth team,” said Manel Jané, Chairman of Vertigo Motors. “For over twenty years, I have been lucky enough to personally see the evolution of many riders: Jeroni Fajardo, David Cobos, Alcaraz, Justribo…. In our area, NOASSAR, many riders came through the years, some really talented ones, others, hard workers with a clear goal, and finally, some others show this unbreakable desire to become professional trials riders. I got really impressed with RYON, as I can identify all these characteristics in him, which I can honestly tell you it is not as common as it seems. I am convinced that we are setting the bases for a long, profitable, and successful relationship and I can’t wait to see again an American Trial World Champion.”

“I am super excited and absolutely amazed at the opportunity I have been given by Vertigo Motors and Vertigo USA,” explained Ryon. “I am really looking forward to being able to contest the entire Spanish Championship series to gain experience of competing internationally as I prepare for the 125cc World Championship series in a couple of years. I am really looking forward to working with the Factory to help me increase my riding level and chase down my goals of being a world championship contender. I am also really excited to be able to represent USA trials in Europe. It is truly an honor to be a part of the Vertigo Factory team and to represent the USA at the same time.”

Ryon’s sponsors include Vertigo Motors, Vertigo Motors USA, Lewisport USA, Comas Trial, MotoLand Trialsport, Hammer Nutrition, and Mel Hambelton FORD Racing. While competition expenses are covered under the contract, travel and living expenses are not. The Land family has created a GoFundMe for those who wish to help support Ryon in his endeavors.

Click Here To Visit Gofundme From Vertigo Motors Usa

Our relationship with the Land family started after Adrian [Lewis] had returned from a USA National Trials in 2004. Adrian said he had met a nice young guy who was a really good rider on a GasGas and that we should start supporting and sponsoring him. This rider was Dustin Land, Ryon's father. Lewisport has continued to support Dustin for many years, sponsoring him when we began to import the new OSSA trials bike into the USA in 2012. Our relationship has lasted over 20 years.

Dustin’s oldest son, Dalton, was also riding and doing very wellso Dustin started to ride less and help Dalton.

In the background, Dustin’s youngest son, Ryon, was starting to ride. The “Wee Guy” would come home from school and load his bike and his gear into Dustin's truck and pretend he had driven somewhere to go riding. He would unload everything on the drive and ride and so it went on. Even at a very young age, Ryon’s passion for trials was obvious.

At the AMA NATC National Mototrials Championship Series event in California, held at Boreal - Lewisport presented young Ryon with a brand-new GasGas 80cc bike and a complete set of riding gear, and he has been riding pretty much riding every day since.

In 2015, the opportunity arose to become the importer for Vertigo. This was a natural fit for us as we had been the OSSA importer for several years. Dustin Land became a dealer in Kansas for Vertigo

Motors USA. Young Ryon would get on Dustin's 300cc Vertigo in the driveway and start riding. He would post videos of himself hopping the back wheel over to one side or the other, which was unbelievable considering he was 9 years old and tiny. Ryon takes away every adult's excuse for not riding well.

As Ryon continues to ride and compete, he generally wins everything he enters.

Eventually Ryon was ready and big enough to ride a Vertigo 125cc. He and his brother Dalton have been riding for Team Vertigo USA for a few years now, both showing their professionalism, talent, and an incredible amount of focus and determination. It was becoming more apparent that Ryon really was special.

In 2022 a visit to the USA was arranged, and Jaime Busto, Àlex Solà (Jaime's Minder) and also Daniel Regas (Vertigo Export Manager) visited California for a week.

Vertigo USA had organized an invitational ride day for all Vertigo customers at Lombardi Ranch where everyone got to ride with Jaime for the day. A few days later, it was the AMA NATC National Mototrials Championship Series round in Wilseyville, California. Jaime rode the event as an exhibition rider, and Ryon got to hang out with the Factory Team. Jaime, Àlex, and Daniel all noticed that Ryon had a very special talent, so we approached them to host Ryon and Dalton to visit Spain for training and they agreed! In the summer of 2022, the boys headed to Spain for seven weeks. Ryon competed in several Spanish Championship trials and won the events, impressing Manel Jané, Owner of Vertigo Motors.

For 2023 - The Factory and Vertigo Motors USA - joined efforts - to send Ryon and Dalton over again for further training and to compete in the full Spanish Championship series which runs from February until October. The Vertigo Factory and Vertigo USA have both signed Ryon to a four-year contract to train to become a World Class Trials Rider. On the international trials stage, the potential for Ryon is huge and we will continue to support him and his family through this amazing journey.

The boys have been learning Spanish in preparation for this season and many thanks to Ed Llorca for spending countless hours teaching them!!

Ryon and Dalton spend a lot of time training in Arizona with Josh Roper and Nigel Parker and all the regular NATC Pro and Expert riders. Many thanks to the Roper family for all of the support they provide to all of our USA national riders.

Ryon was actually in Arizona training with two other Vertigo USA team riders, Courtney Allison and Coran Calvert, when we received the final contracts from the Factory - we all had to keep it quiet from him until he returned home, where his parents, Dustin and Shawna, let Dalton break the news to Ryon.

We have to add that Dalton is amazing and has decided to put Ryon’s riding career first to become Ryon's minder, mentor, and guardian in Spain to help Ryon achieve his dreams.

We are very passionate about helping riders achieve their goals. We love to see people enjoying the sport, and getting people out to ride. Many thanks to the USA trials community for helping Ryon and the Land family follow his dream.

Vertigo Motors USA will be at all of the upcoming NATC Nationals with our Team Riders, Courtney Allison, Coran Calvert, Dalton Dunman, Dalton Land, and Ryon Land.

Stop by and say hello!!

Stay tuned, it will be an exciting year!!!

- Vertigo Motors USA

Adrian Lewis, Mandy Lewis, Bill Merritt