DELBURNE — They are double trouble on the Canadian National Motocross Series circuit.
Delburne twins Jared and Parker Allison, 19, are motocross veterans despite their young age and have been competing as professionals since 2005.
“Our mom and dad (Lorri and Brent) started riding in about 1992 and Parker and I got little dirt bikes when we were four years old and starting racing when we were five. We’ve been going hard every summer since,” said Jared, while working in his shop on the family farm just north of Delburne.
“Mom was actually a very good rider, and dad, while he raced mostly for fun, was pretty good too,” he continued, adding that older brother Brad, a mechanic, also raced but has since retired, and that younger brother Bryton races at an intermediate level.
The Allison twins, who will compete in their third National Series event of the season this weekend at Wild Rose Motocross Park in Calgary, started preparing for the 2010 season in January, when they packed their $15,000 bikes and assorted equipment into a motorhome and trailer and headed to California to train.
“We were just travelling around from track to track and hitting up the gyms when we could,” said Jared. “We took it very seriously. We were there almost two months. We returned at the end of March and started riding up here and training hard.”
The brothers entered a handful of races at Xtreme Raceway near Alix as well as a provincial race at Brooks which led into the first competition of the National Series earlier this month in Kamloops. They also rode at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton last weekend and will continue on through the final event of the season, scheduled for Goderich, Ont., in mid-August.
There’s money to be made, Jared admitted, who at the same time said he’s not sure of how much he and Parker pocketed last year.
“We make our prize money and then we have sponsors who help us quite a bit,” he said. “But the prize money makes a big difference.”
Still, the twins needed extra cash for their California jaunt. Jared was employed by a Red Deer residential building contractor last winter while Parker worked at the family-owned feedlot.
As high school students, the Allisons, who both graduated in 2009, attended very few classes in June.
“Our school in Delburne was very good with us,” said Jared. “We were allowed to write our final exams early so we could be on the road in June doing what we love to do.”
In order to be at their best each and every week of the racing season, the brothers work out religiously for eight months of the year.
“Motocross is said to be one of the most physically demanding sports. We’re in the gym from January to August,” said Jared. “It’s a lot of work. We have a trainer from Calgary who helps us out and we just put in the effort and hope for the good results.”
And yet, despite their youth and prime physical conditioning, the Allisons have not been immune to injuries.
“We’ve had our fair share, from broken wrists and elbows to broken collarbones and separated shoulders,” said Jared. “It’s not fun to crash. That’s the worst part.”
Both brothers are extremely competitive — Parker finished ninth overall on the National Series circuit in 2009 — yet there is no rivalry between the two, Jared insisted.
“We’re pretty good with each other. I would rather Parker beat me than some other guys beat me,” he said. “We’re a team. We win and lose as a team.”
Jared was slated to enrol in the engineering program at the University of Calgary last fall but the California trip changed those plans.
However, he will commence with his post-secondary studies sooner than later. Motocross, at some point, will become a hobby as opposed to a career.
“I don’t think my body will hold up much longer. Dirt biking is pretty hard on the body,” said Jared. “I’ll regret it if I don’t keep racing pro. I’ll race pro as long as I can, but the time will come when I’ll have to move on and I’m not looking forward to that time.
“And I know Parker feels the same way.”
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com