Personal History
My name is Garrett Pond and I just turned 9 last August. I have been racing since I was 5 years old. I started on a Yamaha PW50 and raced it for an entire year. When I turned six, my parents bought me a 2003 KTM Senior Adventure which I started racing in October of 2008. I finished first place in my first race.
As my skill level improved, my Dad modified my Senior Adventure with better clutches, exhaust, handle bars, reeds and carburetor. These were all gradual upgrades that came when I proved I could handle the improved performance.
That winter, I raced the entire Mississippi ArenaCross tour finishing second overall in the 51cc 4-8 beginner class and third overall in the 51cc 4-8 age group class.
The following spring, summer and fall I raced all around the central part of the state finishing in the top three with several firsts at tracks in Philadelphia, Lake, Meridian, Laurel, Prentiss, and Sandhill.
Last winter, I raced ArenaCross again and finished third overall in 51cc 4-8 open and fourth overall in 51cc 7-8 age group class.
After the last ArenaCross I moved up from the KTM 50 to my 2007 Kawasaki KX65. After several races throughout the spring and summer with top five finishes, I got my first, first place finish on 9/25/10 at Dirty Deeds MX in Meridian, MS out of seven on the gate in the 65cc 7-11 beginner class and I also placed third in the 65cc 7-11 open class.
Riding Goals
My goals for the upcoming year are to continue to prepare for the 2010/2011 ArenaCross tour, continue to achieve straight A's, as I have every year since starting school, and continue to work towards my Black Belt in karate. I am currently a Purple belt and have Brown to go before I can test for my Black Belt. I will be one of the youngest to ever rank Black Belt in traditional Okinawan Seibukan Shorin-Ryu.
Competitive Highlights
2011/2012 AX Tour Fifth place overall 7-11 65cc open class
2011/2012 AX Tour fourth place overall in 10-11 65cc age group
2010/2011 Broken arm during round 4 of AX Tour
2009/2010 AX Tour third place overall 4-8 open
2009/2010 AX Tour fourth place overall 7-8 age group
2008/2009 AX Tour second place overall 4-8 beginner
2008/2009 AX Tour third place overall 7-8 age group