Carey Hart

Carey Hart was on the ground level of creating freestyle motocross, being amongst the first group of riders to compete in freestyle motocross in 1996. Hart has not only endured incredible injuries through his love of riding, but has etched an extraordinary mark in the moto world.

- Tess Adamakos

When was your first ride?

My first ride was at four years old. I got a motorcycle for Christmas that year. We lived in Seal Beach, California at the time, so my first riding experience was on the sidewalk in our neighborhood. It was early on Christmas morning and while all the other kids were outside on their skateboards and bicycles, I was ripping the neighborhood on my dirt bike! I actually learned to ride a motorcycle before a bicycle. Guess I was better with the throttle than the pedals!

Being a third-generation motocross rider, will you speak on growing up with riding in your family?

My grandfather rode, both uncles, and my Pop. None professionally, but the four of them did it as a hobby when they were younger. My uncle John still races to this day. I tried traditional stick and ball sports, but I’m not much of a team player. I started racing at five and I was hooked. It was amazing for me and my entire family because motocross racing is a family sport. My Grandpa went to every race with my Pop and I until I turned pro at 17 and started traveling the circuit. It was also a great tool for my Pop in keeping me in line and focused on school. If I didn’t have A’s and B’s on my report card, my bikes were parked until the next report card. It only happened once when I was in 6th grade and it never happened again. I graduated high school with honors, a 4.0 GPA. Those tools and work ethic to balance motocross and school set me up for later in life with my professional career and businesses. I was raised by a single father who worked 60-hour weeks. But on the weekends we traveled and raced, and it created a closeness that most people don’t get to experience.

Will you speak on the trick that has dubbed you as the “Hart Attack”?