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GROWING UP BEAUBIER PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE DORAN VOL. 50 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 17, 2013 Like many American racers, Cameron Beaubier started racing at a young age in motocross. His dad, Jeff Beaubier, did some local Northern California road racing and motocross so it was only natural for the young son to go from riding at four years old to racing at the age five. "Well my dad raced for a long time, he did a little AFM - like local road racing and stuff, or Northern California road racing - and then raced a lot of motocross," Beaubier said. "And I started riding when I was four or so and he had me start racing right when I turned five out at Sacramento Raceway. We'd go to the races as a family. He'd race the intermediate 250 class or something like that and I'd race my little PW50 and my 150." Motocross wasn't the only sport the young Beaubier competed in. In fact he was playing a lot of competitive soccer and was pretty focused on it. "I was a good rider in motocross, but it was more for fun," said Beaubier. "And I played a lot of soccer. I was on competitive soccer teams and some travelling teams and stuff like that… and that was really fun. I was pretty serious about that." It was after Beaubier made the switch to pavement at around age 12 when he and his dad started into Supermoto that he returned his focus has the confidence that comes from knowing he has a great bike and a great team behind him. "Well, definitely riding a 1000, you have to ride it different than the R6," Beaubier said. "But what's good about the R1… I mean it's amazing. It's so fast. P129 gap and get to be as fast as them. And, yeah, it's really cool there's a big base of Nor Cal riders that are really fast now in AMA [Pro Road Racing]. Me and Joey [Pascarella] used to battle like crazy on 85s… I'll never forget some of those races, some of those hectic moments during the weekend. It's awesome. Even Elena [Myers]… we grew up road racing together. "It all really started out at the Stockton Motorplex track. EveryBeaubier took to asphalt straight away one would go out there on Monday when the family made the switch from nights and battle and ride with each motocross to Supermoto. other and then also the weekend races there and some of the Superback to racing. moto events held there. "I got hurt a couple of times racOf course, it's difficult to be sucing 60s and 80s, nothing too bad, cessful without family support, but and then after my dad broke his leg [racing motocross] we switched over what did Beaubier feel his upbringing from his parents had to do with helpto Supermoto and would do some ing his success as a racer? mini road racing and stuff like that "The way my parents brought me too on my 80," Beaubier explained. up has been good," he said. "They "I took a liking to the pavement and I kept me in school and stuff and started actually going pretty fast. My made sure I got good grades and dad started taking me out all the time got my diploma, which was really and I started getting really fast and important. And going to the races started taking it serious. I stopped as a family, meeting friends through playing soccer and won a couple of racing and all that… It's been really championships in Supermoto." cool. I can't thank them enough for And for a young racer growing up everything they've given me. Just in Northern California there was a taking me to the races. My dad good talent pool of young racers to spending… I don't even know how sharpen your skills against. much money in minis and going rac"It's pretty cool," Beaubier said. ing. They've been struggling, maxed "I've grown up racing with Bobby out their credit cards… they definiteFong and they - Bobby Fong and ly struggled to take me racing. But Garrett Willis - were really fast. I think I'm really glad that it's paid off and they're two years older than me. So I can't thank them enough for what I was always just trying to close the they've given me." Honestly, when I tested it at Buttonwillow and Chuckwalla last month it was really fun to ride. Difficult to ride when you want to step up and get to that next level. But the team I'm working with is super supportive, and are really smart guys so I think that they'll make it as easy as possible. What did he think was going to be the biggest learning curve? "I don't know… I think just little stuff that I have to do, like adjust my riding style," Beaubier said. "Like more point and shoot with the 1000 and rely more… use

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