Personal History
My name is Derek Root and I'm 32 years old. I currently ride a 2023 Beta 200 Race Edition that I just got, back in February. I got started riding on a TTR 125 in 2006 and fell in love. I advanced from the TTR 125 up to a CR 125 and started to really enjoy the two stroke way of riding. From the CR, I advanced to a KX250 and that's when I first tried a local hare scramble and have been competing ever since. Over the years since the KX, I rode multiple Yamaha YZ250F's and eventually the YZ250FX to which I eventually purchased my own. I loved the fuel injection on the newer four strokes and had many good results from it but eventually I decided I wanted to try a two stroke again.
I believe I caught the two wheeled bug from my father, who was an avid motorcyclist. He passed back in 2002 and I feel like I am closer to him when I am on my bike. I really hope that my young nephews enjoy riding the way that I do as they get older. My wife and I got her first bike back in November 2021 and she has really enjoyed learning to ride as well.
Riding Goals
I love the thrill of competition and I feel like I am constantly learning new techniques both on the bike and off. I strive to be consistent rather than sporadic when I compete. I always want a podium but try to use each ride and race as a platform for being better.
Competitive Highlights
My favorite highlights have honestly been when I have beaten my older brother and riding buddies. My cousin and I won the teams division in 2016 at a new racing venue, Cedar Valley. We had three 1st place finishes and three 2nd place finishes at Cedar Valley in 2016. In 2019, my teammate and I took 1st place in the Oklahoma Gold Rush in the beginner teams division. Getting a top 10 finish in the 2022 Oklahoma Gold Rush in the Ironman division was a great achievement for myself with it being the longest total race time I have had on a bike.