Rider Updates
May 3 2006
He knows exactly how many trophies he has won. He can tell you all about dirt bike racing and can even name some of the top riders who love the sport as much as he does. Why is this impressive?
Brian Coburn- Kennedy is only seven, a first grade student at Alvin Primary School...and he lives to race. He will tell you he has won 21 first place and 20 second place trophies for his dirt bike racing. And, he has big aspirations. "When I grow up, I want to ride the "Baja 1,000", like Mouse McCoy," says Brian. McCoy is the only racer who has ever completed the race alone, with no team members, totally as an independant.
Brian has also been given the nickname "Mighty Mouse" because he is small in stature, but impressive in handling his bike.
The youngster's love of bikes began when he was just a "little kid", barely four, and his dad bought him a bicycle at the shop where he works.
Before the year was up, Brian was the proud owner of his first dirt bike. Four days after he received it, the training wheels were taken off and by age five Brian had gone from riding the track around the acreage at his home, to riding local race tracks. He won his first trophy in December 2003 and now
BRIAN.................page 10
races around the entire Texas gulf coast area at several different race tracks.
Today, Brian races an even faster version of his Honda 50cc dirt bike. The love of bikes runs through the whole family. Aunts, Uncles, Mom, Dad , Big Brothers, Big Sisters.... even Grandpa rode. Brian's dad , Chad Kennedy has raced and ridden bikes for years, and although mom, Laura, does ride, she says she does it "just for the pleasure , on country back roads."
As Brian learned to handle his bike,practicing often with his brother and dad, he was entered in competitions, and although mom admits to being nervous about the jumps on the tracks, her son has never been hurt because he always wears all his protective equipment. "When we got h
Mar 31 2006
ALVIN--- While many 7-year-old boys dream about being Vince Young scoring the game winning touchdown or Lance Berkman scoring the game winning run, a child from Alvin Elementary School will live his own dream Saturday on a motorcycle.
BRIAN Coburn-KENNEDY, a first grade student, will participate in the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge at Reliant Stadium. The exhibition is part of the Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross tour stop in Houston.
The event will will feature one of Brian's idols, Ricky Charmichael. Since turning professional in 1996, Carmichael has five national championships to his credit.
Thouusands of 7- and 8- year-olds from all over the nation sent resumes to KTM for a chance to participate in the Junior Supercross Challenge exhibition. Just to be considered for the event, hopefuls had to meet a list of requirements that included above-average grades in school, at least one year of riding experiance and the ability to ride an advanced track.
Of the resumes received, 500 of the most qualified riders were put into a lottery and only 15 were chosen to ride at the Reliant Stadium.
To the surprise and delight of Brian's parents, Chad & Laura Kennedy, their son's name was picked.
Though small in stature, Brian has an enormous dedication to the sport of motocross, Laura Kennedy affirms. "Brian's love for motocross started as soon as he was old enough to know what it was," she said."and his passion for the sport continues to grow."
"I hope Brian takes this weekend as a learning experiance for him,
* see MOTOCROSS, page 3B
MOTOCROSS
CONTINUED FROM COVER
no pressure, just enjoy it.",Laura pauses-then then quips "A autograph from Ricky would be pretty cool for Brian, too!"
Brian has won a great many trophies in only a few years of racing competitivel, including winning the 2005 Texas Gulf Coast Spring Motofest Championship, a competition with several stops throughout the southeast portion of t
Mar 27 2006
Brian Coburn-Kennedy, a first grade student at Alvin Elementary will be riding at the Supercross in the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas Saturday, April first.
Some may well ask, how a seven year old can possibly be riding the same track as the likes of Chad Reed, James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael?
It is thanks to his participation in motorcycle manufacturer KTM's program called the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge. Thousands of seven and eight year old children nation wide sent in resumes' to the Challenge, out of these, five hundred of the most qualified rider applicants were chosen.
Brian has been competing at area tracks such as Johnny Nash Indoor, Skeeters , Holeshot & SouthWest MX parks since the age of four.
Those five hundred applicants were then put into a drawing, from which only fifteen riders were chosen to ride at the Reliant Stadium.
Brian and the other youngsters will have duplicate motorcycles provided for them by KTM, as well as a crew to keep them in perfect running order. The kids will be treated as if they were motocross stars, even including an autograph session with the fans! KTM stresses this is an exhibition, not a race. All of the riders will receive the same commemorative certificate, sponcer gifts and a savings bond, no matter what order they cross the finish line.
When asked if he was afraid to ride in front of all those people in the audience, Brian (also known as Mighty Mouse) said, "I'm too excited and honored to be scared!'.
So, If you plan on attending the the Supercross this year, let this pint-sized, blond haired, blue-eyed, cute little local rider know- We support our motocross celebrity for a day!- GO #129 ! -Mighty Mouse!- Brian Coburn/Kennedy!
Mar 27 2006
Brian Coburn-Kennedy, a first grade student at Alvin Elementary will be riding at the Supercross in the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas Saturday, April first.
Some may well ask, how a seven year old can possibly be riding the same track as the likes of Chad Reed, James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael?
It is thanks to his participation in motorcycle manufacturer KTM's program called the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge. Thousands of seven and eight year old children nation wide sent in resumes' to the Challenge, out of these, five hundred of the most qualified rider applicants were chosen.
Brian has been competing at area tracks such as Johnny Nash Indoor, Skeeters , Holeshot & SouthWest MX parks since the age of four.
Those five hundred applicants were then put into a drawing, from which only fifteen riders were chosen to ride at the Reliant Stadium.
Brian and the other youngsters will have duplicate motorcycles provided for them by KTM, as well as a crew to keep them in perfect running order. The kids will be treated as if they were motocross stars, even including an autograph session with the fans! KTM stresses this is an exhibition, not a race. All of the riders will receive the same commemorative certificate, sponcer gifts and a savings bond, no matter what order they cross the finish line.
When asked if he was afraid to ride in front of all those people in the audience, Brian (also known as Mighty Mouse) said, "I'm too excited and honored to be scared!'.
So, If you plan on attending the the Supercross this year, let this pint-sized, blond haired, blue-eyed, cute little local rider know- We support our motocross celebrity for a day!- GO #129 ! -Mighty Mouse!- Brian Coburn/Kennedy!
Mar 27 2006
Brian Coburn-Kennedy, a first grade student at Alvin Elementary will be riding at the Supercross in the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas Saturday, April first.
Some may well ask, how a seven year old can possibly be riding the same track as the likes of Chad Reed, James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael?
It is thanks to his participation in motorcycle manufacturer KTM's program called the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge. Thousands of seven and eight year old children nation wide sent in resumes' to the Challenge, out of these, five hundred of the most qualified rider applicants were chosen.
Brian has been competing at area tracks such as Johnny Nash Indoor, Skeeters , Holeshot & SouthWest MX parks since the age of four.
Those five hundred applicants were then put into a drawing, from which only fifteen riders were chosen to ride at the Reliant Stadium.
Brian and the other youngsters will have duplicate motorcycles provided for them by KTM, as well as a crew to keep them in perfect running order. The kids will be treated as if they were motocross stars, even including an autograph session with the fans! KTM stresses this is an exhibition, not a race. All of the riders will receive the same commemorative certificate, sponcer gifts and a savings bond, no matter what order they cross the finish line.
When asked if he was afraid to ride in front of all those people in the audience, Brian (also known as Mighty Mouse) said, "I'm too excited and honored to be scared!'.
So, If you plan on attending the the Supercross this year, let this pint-sized, blond haired, blue-eyed, cute little local rider know- We support our motocross celebrity for a day!- GO #129 ! -Mighty Mouse!- Brian Coburn/Kennedy!
Mar 27 2006
Brian Coburn-Kennedy got his first bicycle when he was four. Within two weeks the training wheels were off.
He got his first motorcycle a few months later, and the training wheels were short-lived on it as well.
Now seven, Kennedy is about to race under the lights at Reliant Stadium in Houston as part of the Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series.
Kennedy, a regular racer at Victoria's Holeshot MX Park and Alvin resident, will race in the KTM Junior Supercross and get a chance to hang out with the professional riders as part of what his parents call a "once in a lifetime opportunity."
"Its really an honor for him to be selected for the race," said Brian's dad Chad Kennedy. "His mother and I want to make sure that he goes out there and enjoys himself. He's getting a chance to meet his idols and ride on the same track as them on the same night."
Brian is just ready to race.
"I'm very excited about the race," Brian said. "I'm a little nervous, but still excited."
Brian's mother, Laura Benson Kennedy, said that the timing of the race is good because Brian is coming off a hip injury that kept him off his bike for three months and caused him to miss the Holeshot MX Park Winter Series.
But how did he get injured? Did he get over-ambitious on a jump? Did he go to fast into a turn?
Nope, none of the above.
"He got hurt on a trampoline," Laura said. "He didn't even fall off it, he just was jumping and his hip popped."
Laura said it is kind of funny that Brian is out riding and jumping his motorcycle and his only real injury came doing something many children do.
"He's just like any other little kid most of the time," Laura said. "He'll stub his toe or skin his knee and he'll come running to me, but when he puts on his pads and gets on the bike he's completely different."
Laura said that Brian had a pretty scary-looking accident on is bicycle w