MOTOCROSS LEAVES STRESS IN THE DUST LOCAL RIDERS SAY THE BUMPS AND JUMPS HELP THEM ESCAPE LIFE'S DAILY GRIND.

Byline: ALEJANDRO GUZMAN Valley News Writer

Motocross riders across the San Fernando Valley say they ride because it gives them a mental escape, lets them express their creativity and also helps them relieve stress.

Joseph Rodriguez, 21, is a Pacoima resident and has been riding for about six years and said motocross helps keep him motivated.

``It helps me keep an open state of mind and forget about all the problems and everything that comes with them,'' Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez, a college student, said he got started by watching his older brother, Juan, and it was not too long before he wanted his own bike.

He currently rides what he calls ``an ugly 1999 (Yamaha) YZ125.''

Rodriguez credits motocross with helping him stay out of trouble. Instead of going off and doing his own thing, he participates in motocross with his family, which includes his five brothers, two sisters and sometimes even his mom and dad.

Some of his favorite spots to ride include California City, Jawbone Canyon in Mojave, Gorman and Texas Canyon.

Rodriguez said he has had his share of falls, most recently after jumping and landing on his back tire and losing control. The fall nearly cost him his finger, he said.

But he continues to ride without fear.

``When you fall and get hurt, you feel more alive,'' Rodriguez said. ``It's not that big a deal.''

He blames the fall on the bike's poor condition, especially the faulty forks. He said maintenance is very important.

``Every detail counts ... it's how well you keep your bike,'' he said. ``The better shape the bike is in, the more it performs for you.''

Rodriguez tries to ride at least once a week, but sometimes ends up going twice or more.

But he never rides alone. He either finds a friend to go with him, or one or more of his brothers.

And even though gas is pretty expensive, he insists that it has not slowed him down.

``If anything, I'm actually riding more now,'' Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez is optimistic about more people in Pacoima beginning to trying out the sport. He knows at least 30 people that ride either dirtbikes or ATVs and live in his area.

He said the best thing about riding is to go out and just have a good time.

``You're away from everything ... more into nature and the great outdoors,'' he said. ``Just have a good time and learn how to improve your skills.''

Eric Wierman, an airline transport pilot from Sylmar has been riding since he was 6. Now 39, Eric said his uncle got him into the sport and they used to ride together in the backyard during family events.

Eric rides a Honda CRF450R and said four-stroke bikes are smoother, safer and easier to ride.

Some of his favorite spots to ride are Gorman, Competition Edge in Hesperia and Piru Motocross. He said he rides with his friends, a group that includes other pilots and flight attendants.

He said riding provides a sense of freedom. Plus he said, it offers a challenge, a thrill and it keeps him fit.

``It's a nice balance to other activities that are stressful,'' Eric said.

He also said riding motocross is a chance for self-expression. It's a sport where the riders are totally responsible for their own safety.

Unfortunately though, it's also a sport that has big barriers when considering the time and effort it takes just to get to safe riding facilities, he said.

While there a number of suitable sites to build a motocross track, there are currently no designated tracks in the Valley.

Wierman is interested in creating a local activity park or center, including a track, for kids looking for something to do after school and families interested in high performance fun.

``Its purpose would be to motivate, educate and inspire today's youth,'' Wierman said.

He said it serves as hands-on math, physics, mechanical engineering, communications and teamwork building when the activities are guided by a trained mentor.

``The product of such programs are people who are more interested in their education, more able to apply what is studied in class, less likely to get distracted with trouble and more likely to attain their goals,'' Wierman said.

Ronnie Densford, 33, has been riding for about 29 years. He started off as a 4-year-old watching kids who lived on his street with their dirt bikes. When he told his dad he wanted one, his dad surprised him with a minibike.

Densford said riding is a release from everything. He gets an adrenaline rush getting on his bike and going over big jumps. He said as a rider, you come upon stuff most people see as impossible.

Densford rides a 2005 Honda CRF450R and prefers the four-stroke bike over the two stroke, which for him, makes the rider work harder.

``(The four-stroke) is the lazy man's bike,'' he said.

Adam Champion, 20, is a Chatsworth resident who rides motocross, and works for Cycle Gear, a motorcycle shop in Canoga Park.

Champion has been riding about six years, and said he got into the sport by watching the pros at the Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen in San Bernardino.

``I thought it was fun and wanted to give it a try,'' Champion said. ``I've been hooked ever since.''

Champion rides a 2002 Yamaha YZ125 and said although he tries to get out at least twice a week, it usually ends up being more like twice a month.

His favorite spots to ride are the track at Gorman, the AVMotoplex in Lancaster and in Piru.

He said he rides because it is fun and helps get him out of the normal routine of life. It also keeps him from getting stressed out.

He usually rides with his boss, Matt Weiser, manager at Cycle Gear, and said it makes the working relationship a lot smoother when you have a boss that rides.

Eric Denman, 29, is a West Hills resident and has been riding motocross for about five years.

He got involved with motocross because all his buddies had bikes. When he finally had some extra money, he got his own bike.

Denman rides a 95 Yamaha YZ250 and said he has it ``dialed and running pretty good.'' He plans on getting a newer bike though, maybe a Yamaha WR450 four-stroke bike. But he doesn't plan on getting rid of his old bike.

``I'll keep the 250, it's a good bike for a learner,'' Denman said.

Denman feels it makes sense to have a track in the San Fernando Valley and it surprises him that there's not one already. But he feels that the ordinances restricting noise levels in the city might have something to do with that.

Denman said gas prices have not affected him too much, but they remain a factor. Since he has been working though, it does not keep him from riding.

One day of riding, just for the bike's gas can run about $20. And that does not include the gas to fuel his truck. He said it gets pretty expensive, especially since his favorite riding spots are hours away.

He prefers to ride Dove Springs, which consists of desert riding, sand wash trails and hill climbing.

For Denman, riding is all about the excitement and adrenaline.

``It's fun. The rush you get (speeding) in the desert,'' Denman said. ``Plus, it gets you out of the city and into nature. In the city people are around you and in the desert there are no stop signs, turn signals or big trucks that can smash you.''

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Joseph Rodriguez attacks the whoops section on a friend's 2005 Honda CRF450R.

(2 -- 3 -- color) Eric Wierman of Sylmar, above, grabs big air off a style jump. Left, the 39-year-old airline transport pilot, seen ripping through a berm on his 2005 Honda CRF45OR, says riding provides a sens of freedom. "It's a nice balance to other activities that are stressful," he said.

Alejandro Guzman/Valley News

(4 -- color) Ronnie Densford flies high off the big tabletop at Racetown 395 motorcycle park in Adelanto.

Ron Densford, Sr./Special to the Valley News

Box:

(1) WHERE TO GO

(2) DIRTBIKE DICTIONARY

- Alejandro Guzman