Teen's motocross passion honors late uncle

Aside from his love of motocross, Preston Malone is an otherwise typical teen.

With fewer than two years of Pioneer High School to go, his future is focused on graduation, but his everyday life rests on the wheels he hopes will become a career.

"I know I can do it," Malone, 17, said from his parent's house at the Carson Indian Colony. "I just have to work toward it. I know what I need to do."

Of 81 competitors in the 125-CC Beginner Division of the MX West Racing Fall 2004 series, Malone ranked fourth overall. It was his first racing series, but not unusual for him to succeed. Racing runs in the family.

Preston was 4 when his uncle Hal Malone died in an on-the-job accident while trimming trees around power lines.

Hal loved racing cars and was out on the local circuit constantly. Family photos show Malone on Hal's shoulder and Malone in Hal's racing car, with the number 12 on the side - now Malone's number on his dark blue bike.

"I believe Hal is watching over him," said Ramona, Preston's mother, from their living room.

The likenesses between the two men are somewhat uncanny, including the way Malone washes his bike faithfully in the same spot that Hal washed his car - the family's front lawn.

"He had to have everything shiny and clean, you know," Ramona said. "Preston's the same way."

But Malone's first experience on a motocross bike, a WZ80, dates not to his uncle, but to sixth-grade. And after he began riding with friends on that bike this past summer, his mother purchased him a larger-engine WZ125 Yamaha. Malone spruced it up and added the number 12 with money from a part-time job.

At his first race in the series on Aug. 20, Malone said he was scared. Somehow he managed to come in 10th place in the race.

"I was kind of nervous when I got there," he said. "I was just a little shaky and stuff. There were about 20 people on the line to take off."

In his second race, he took fifth place. And despite the ambulances and Care Flight helicopters at races, despite his concerned mother and his lack of dependable transportation, Malone continued racing, finishing in the top every time.

"It gets pretty tiring. It works your arms right here," he said, pointing to his forearms. "It's called 'arm pump.' Your arms get so tired, you just want to let go of your bike sometimes."

For him, racing is second nature. Not only does it come easy, it challenges him to be alert and make decisions in split seconds.

"As soon as I started racing, I liked it," he said. "I just want to do it all the time, even right now. I just like the competition. If you mess up, you want to do better next time."

Malone is itching to get back on the circuit as he takes a break during the winter season. His passion for his bike shows through his actions during last year's Waterfall fire. When it came close to the Indian Colony, Malone ran through thick smoke to save his bike.

"I'm not going to let my bike burn," he said.

Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

foster a champ

Preston Malone, age 17, needs a sponsor and transportation for his motocross racing.

Contact Malone's dad, Chad, at 221-0696.