ON THE MOTOCROSS TRACK

Gavin Caraway SOARS into the world of Motocross

Story and photos by Felicia Frazar

Gavin Caraway revs up the engine on his 2019 Kawasaki KX 85 dirt bike and jets out onto the track at Creekside MX.

He takes a warmup lap and then throttles it, leaning into turns, jumping tabletops and rolling down step downs as fast as he can at the motocross track just outside of New Berlin.

It’s a sport the 14-year-old recently found a passion for and has quickly learned how to compete in.

“He’s always rode something — a four-wheeler or a dirt bike — never on a track,” mother Kera Caraway said. “He came out here one time and entered CROSSStory and photos by Felicia Frazar in a race to see where he went. He won first place in every division, and that’s where we started. We race every weekend just about.”

Gavin rode dirt bikes often at a friend’s house. It wasn’t until his friend took him to Creekside that Gavin got a taste for competition.

“I came out here and rode his bike,” he said, adding that was it. He was hooked.

Gavin split the cost of his first bike — a 65 cc — with his parents, Bubba and Kera — and quickly upgraded to the KX 85, which his parents bought for him in September, just after his 14th birthday.

“I’ve been doing this about seven months,” he said.

The front of his bike sports Gavin 251 — his competition racing number — which carries a special meaning. Taking notes from a fellow racer, Gavin decided to honor his family in his number selection. Two is for his parents, Bubba and Kera; five is the number of children in the family — Gracen, Gavin, Adi, Savanna and Zander — and one for his grandmother, Mimi.

Soaring through the air on the bike and driving at high rates of speed are highlights of the races, Gavin said. But there’s more to it.

“Really though, when we go to races, that’s my favorite time, especially in the mornings before racing because of the community,” he said. “Like this place here, it is what got me started. Everyone was so nice here.”

The Caraways recently saw firsthand how the community steps up. With Bubba unable to attend a recent moto in Floresville, other families assisted Gavin and Kera prepping the bike between races.

“The dads came together and helped Gavin do all of the work he needed like change the spark plugs, drain the tank,” she said. “It is just a community, and they all come tighter. Out here, it is like family. Perfect strangers come together and help out. They help your kids like their own.”

The only time nerves get the better of Gavin is when he’s at the starting gate.

“You worry about stalling; that is the worst feeling,” he said. “Your bike will get stuck in those gates, and you just lost the race. Behind the gates and once you’re out, it’s just like riding normal; well, for me at least.”

Most racers shoot for holeshot — the first rider out of the gate — a title Gavin has earned often during his competitions.

“We’re really proud to see how far he has come and what he has achieved in just a short time,” Kera said.

Bubba and Kera enjoy watching their son find something he is passionate about and help him embrace it.

“It is going to keep them busy and keep them from doing other things,” Kera said, admitting that the possibility of him wrecking scares her. “But the achievements and seeing him succeed and doing what he loves, we love seeing that and supporting it.”

Gavin typically competes against other racers between the ages of 9 to 15 in the 85/150 open classes and, the type of track determines how many laps they take.

As Gavin practices on his own under the watchful eyes of both his parents, he gets a little professional assistance from supercross racer Kyle Swanson.

Gavin admits he’s learned a lot from his dad, who dove into the motocross world with his son. Motocross is becoming a family affair.

“My dad got himself a bike just from riding mine, and mom is getting a bike, too,” Gavin said.

He also began sharing his passion with his friend and little brother, who follows in his footsteps and is practicing riding on a four-wheeler. He will soon have a dirt bike of his own.

“He wants to do everything Gavin does,” Kera said. “He tries to follow. It is a good thing for Gavin to remember. He has to keep in mind that he is the role model for Zander. Whatever he does, Zander is going to follow.”

Gavin also has to keep his grades up and boasts holding As and Bs in all of his classes to keep his bike on the competition track.

It is a requirement for some sponsorships, but primarily for his parents. The 14-year-old said he is more than happy to oblige.

His goal is to one day qualify for the MX Sports Amateur Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s.

“It is like MLB or NFL; that’s where it is at, that is where you want to be,” he said. “It is a long process to get there. It takes years and experience riding, dedication, all of it to get there. There are sponsorships just waiting for you at the finish line.”

But for now, Gavin plans to keep revving up his engine and enjoying the Texas-based races.