AMSOIL Swapmoto Race Series Rider Profile | Kenzy Smith

AMSOIL Swapmoto Race Series Rider Profile | Kenzy Smith

Age: 21

Hometown: Yucaipa, CA

Classes: Women’s Beginner, sometimes 125 Beginner

Sponsors: Epoxy It SoCal, Palm Springs Motorsports, Nanco MX, and my boyfriend

The Women’s classes at the AMSOIL Swapmoto Race Series have steadily been gaining momentum, and we are always pumped to see the females doing battle out on the track. Kenzie Smith was ripping out at Los Angeles County Raceway for round three of the Terra Firma Series, so we hunted her down in the pits to say hello.

We love having lots of women at our races. Why do you choose motocross as opposed to something more feminine?

I don’t know, that’s a good question. It’s addicting. I’ve been riding for 12 years and racing for three.

How did you get into it? Was it a family thing?

My best friend’s family got me into it, my family doesn’t ride. We started in off-road and we would come to do moto to help us improve our bike-handling skills for the off-road races.

You have a Yamaha YZ125…do you do all the work on it yourself?

No way! It’s all my boyfriend. I also have a KTM 250 XC-F 250 and then he does the work on that too. That’s my off-road race bike.

So why do you choose to stay on two-stroke for moto?

It’s helping me on my four-stroke immensely, learning how to ride and stuff.

What are your preferences, off-road or motocross?

Off-road!

Oh really? Why?

The track changes every lap, so it’s something new every time. I like the technical sections and all of that.

Does motocross help you with all of your off-road skills?

Oh yeah, I’m trying to learn how to jump and turn better too. It has helped me like crazy.

I’ve seen you at our races before, do you like the way we run our program?

Yes, it’s so smooth!

How do we get more girls out here?

I think we just need to get them on bikes, cause usually when someone gets on one, then they want one!

I mean, we see a bunch of girls at the track riding, but how do we get more girls racing?

I think they just have to come out and try it. We have to bring them along with us because they’re not going to try it if we don’t offer it.

Does your boyfriend ride and race also?

Yes, he does.

Does he give you tips? Is he your trainer?

Yeah, but I don’t really listen to him. Haha!

Why? Is he not that good that you don’t trust him? Or is it kind of like when a kid has a famous dad and still doesn’t listen to his dad?

It’s exactly like that!

We are at LA County Raceway today, do you like this track and what is your favorite course to race at?

This is actually my first time here, so I just went out for practice and I had a blast. My favorite place to race is Glen Helen because it’s kind of like off-road. The main track is my favorite track ever.

What are your favorite things about racing moto? Do you like a rough track? Uphills? Downhills?

Everybody is having fun, everyone is always smiling because we are with our friends. I like Glen Helen because of the hills, I’m not big on jumping so I like being able to pull the bike up all of that.

Seems like you would like Cahuilla!

Yes, I love Cahuilla. I was just there last weekend!

Anything else you’d like to add?

I’ve got to thank my boyfriend for getting me out here!