EAST BRUNSWICK – Rocky Cagno is chasing his dream of being a professional motocross athlete.
The 20-year-old dirt-bike racer from East Brunswick is competing in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, the world’s most prestigious off-road motorcycle series that travels across the country for 12 weekends every summer.
The event begins in mid-May and continues through late August. The upcoming events are Aug. 12 in New Berlin, New York; Aug. 19 in Mechanicsville, Maryland; and Aug. 26 in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
“The atmosphere is very different at pro races with all the factor riders. There are no slow riders and it is a lot more intense than amateur races,” Cagno said.
Cagno has been riding dirt bikes since he was 6 years old, and began competing professionally this year. He honed is talents by racing locally at Raceway Park in Old Bridge, competed in the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship in Tennessee in 2012 and 2015, and tracks in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland before deciding to chase success at the sport’s highest level.
“I always thought dirt bikes were cool,” Cagno said. “I was hooked as soon as I sat on my first one.”
Cagno also spearheaded a fundraiser through his dirt bike passion when he was 9 years old, which raised more than $80,000 over three years to benefit children with cancer.
“Motivation has made me stick with the sport, as is always trying to to do better and seeing myself improve,” he said. “I don’t think much about the danger and I am well aware of any risk or injury, but honestly, no more than driving on a highway or other sports. You need to be in extremely good shape.”
Cagno is sponsored by his family, friends, Fly Racing, 6D, Mobius, Rekluse, Engine Ice, MGX Unlimited, Ryno Power, FMF, Works Connection, Ride Engineering, 100%, Cycra, Pro Wheel, ODI, Retro Fitness of Freehold, CGN Associates and Flemington Yamaha.
For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, visit ProMotocross.com or follow Pro Motocross on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
