AMSOIL Swapmoto Race Series Profile | Theo Stephany

AMSOIL Swapmoto Race Series Profile | Theo Stephany

Age: 22

Hometown: Hossegor, France

Classes Raced: 125 Open

Sponsors: Jon Primo for building my bike, my parents, Bud Racing

When the AMSOIL Swapmoto Terra Firma Series kicked off at Milestone MX Park a couple weeks ago, one bike and rider, in particular, caught our attention from the very first practice sessions. Theo Stephany looked great as he ripped around the track on a great-looking Kawasaki KX125, and we wondered just who was beneath the helmet. After watching him finish second in the first 125 Open moto, we scoured the pits until we found him, pitted out back with his buddy Clay Williams from Fox Racing. It was then that we learned Theo’s cool story that involved a move from across the globe!

Hey Theo, we understand that you’re here from France?

Yes, in March I moved from France. I have a job as an HR at a marketing company in Torrance. I just started riding a 125 again on the weekends for fun.

You’re friends with Jon Primo at Pro Circuit?

Yes, exactly.

This is the bike he built and made famous on Instagram, and he’s just letting you race it because he is a nice guy?

Exactly, I guess so! (Laughs) He just built that bike and lets me ride it on the weekends to have fun. I used to race in France a couple of years ago and I went to college there so I had to stop riding for about two years. I just moved here and he built that bike for me so that I could ride again, which is pretty cool.

It must get some attention when you go places with it, I came to find you when I saw you riding it out on the track!

A lot of people say that the bike looks really good, so that’s a good thing!

How much racing did you do in France, were you really serious about it?

Not really, I started riding when I was four and I’ve been racing until I was 18. I was mostly racing regional races but I’ve done a little bit of the French Championship when I was on a 65. But I’ve never taken it really seriously. It was always school first. If I was doing good in school, my parents would let me ride on the weekends.

Did you go to college in America?

No, I went to college in France. I just graduated last summer and I found a job here in the winter in the U.S. so I moved here in March.

That’s a big change! From being educated and living in France to moving to the States. Was it your dream to come and live here or was it just a good opportunity?

Kind of both. I’ve wanted to move here for a long time, I came here a couple of years ago on vacation with my parents and some friends. We really liked it. Then when I was in college, I did an internship abroad and my dad works for Bud Racing which is based in Europe but has distribution here. So, I had the opportunity to come here for internships twice. I really loved it and I was like, “That’s the place I want to live after I graduate from college.” I just looked for a job here and finally found one, so here I am! It’s very cool.

Motocross in Southern California especially is really popular, is it a lot different than France?

Yeah, it is. Here the whole industry is based here from what I can see. There are a lot of local tracks, everybody is riding. In France it is more complicated, I think they’re trying to make it better, but it’s hard to open new track and keep them open. It is usually only open at the weekend and people working at the track aren’t getting paid or anything, they’re just trying to help the track survive a little bit. It’s definitely different.

What is it about racing on the weekends and stuff that you like?

Well, like I said I completely stopped riding for two years. When I got back to it two months ago, I thought I would be fine to do a small race here and have some fun, some gate drop. That reminds me of the good old times when I was racing with my friends in France.

Bud Racing…can you explain a bit about what they do?

They pretty much do any part you can find on the bike. The team that they run is sponsored by Kawasaki. If you go to the shop online, you can find parts for every bike no matter what brand it is.

Anything else you would like to add?

I would just like to thank my parents for always supporting me no matter what and letting me realize my dream to move by myself in the U.S.

What is your favorite thing about living in the United States?

A lot of things, well the weather is overall way better. I feel like the people are really nice, people have been welcoming me very nicely. The motocross industry is just bigger, just everything! I love France, it’s a pretty cool country, but I like it a little bit better here.

What do you miss the most about France?

Probably good food, my family, and my friends.