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Nick Prestano
Courtesy: Kara Turey

Nick Prestano

MELBOURNE, Fla. — The dirt is hard-packed, the bikes rev up and he and the other racers are all set to go. Helmets are secured, goggles ready with “tear-offs”, boots buckled knee high, and gloves pulled on tightly. He is a bit nervous, but he knows he put in the practice, the time, and the work to stay in shape. He is ready to show what he’s got.

Courtesy: Kara Turey

Nick Prestano thinks of each race like practice and doesn’t stress or get nervous – until he gets to the starting line. Motocross racing is not for the faint at heart. Prestano, 14 years old and a student at Viera High School, was about 6 ½ years old when his step dad bought him a dirt bike for Christmas. At the time, his family was living in New York. He rode trails behind highways and in between dumpsters and trucks in his step dad’s junkyard; any surface he could find. New York doesn’t offer the same attention to motocross that Florida does. He was excited when his family relocated to Viera 3 years ago. His love and passion for motocross keep him noticed in this not so common sport.

Shortly after arriving in Florida, Prestano’s mother, local realtor Melissa Horne, found two tracks within an hour of Viera for Nick to ride; Orlando MX Park in Bithlo, and Mesa Motocross Park in Fellsmere. Luck continued for them when they found Dean Dyess, former pro-rider, well known motocross coach, and owner of DYE55 Racer Development, who trains kids for the national circuit. Nick has also been able to work some with Kylie Faschnat, three time National Women’s Motocross champ who was recently invited to join Team USA Motocross.

Courtesy: Kara Turey

Prestano has many accomplishments in the short amount of years he has been riding. Nick started on smaller, lighter bikes going from a tiny PW50 to an 85cc when he became a competitive racer. He is now a 125 C Class rider as age, strength, and weight determine the size and class of bike one rides. In 2019, he qualified at Jacksonville’s WW Ranch Area Qualifying race for the coveted Amateur National Motocross Championship. Riders simply call this race “Loretta’s” since it’s held yearly at country star Loretta Lynn’s ranch in Tennessee. This is Nick’s first year in the overall top 5, competing against other riders who have dirt bike tracks in their backyards and who started riding at only 3 years old! With Nick’s limited time to train on the track, no more than 3 days per week, it is uncommon for him to show such ability. Many amateur riders are home schooled spending most of their time riding. This kid has a noticeable gift.

Nick attends regular school classes all day and doesn’t have a typical teenager’s life, but that is okay with him. The passion he has for this sport and his desire to compete at a pro-level in the future drives him daily. Coach Dyess says, “Nick has so much work ethic and listens well…something that it takes to bring it to the next level.”

Courtesy: Kara Turey

Off the track, cardio is very important, as motocross requires endurance. His workouts include high intensity exercises that keep his heart rate up, such as biking approximately 8 miles at a time and using the rowing machine often. Nick is on the track every weekend riding at Orlando MX or Mesa Park, each almost an hour away. Race weekends are spent traveling from Gainesville to Okeechobee, sometimes further, for Sunday races on different tracks.

Being a teenager and having this kind of schedule can be difficult for most, but not for Nick. While his friends are going to sports such as lacrosse, baseball, soccer, and other activities on the weekend, Nick is riding. His Saturday ritual is eggs for breakfast and out the door at 9am, when many teenagers are just waking up. Race days his family leaves their Viera home at 5:30 am, before the sun is even up, to be sure he is there in time for registration and the racer meeting before the day begins. The “motos”, or races, are 20 minutes long and he typically rides for a few hours throughout the day. Each class rides two motos and the overall score is based on the performance of the combined motos.

Courtesy: Kara Turey

Nick rides two classes; 125c for 12-16 year olds and 250c for 12-18 year olds, which means he gets “seat-time” four times per race day, not including the one hour rider practice before the races begin. Don’t worry, his life is not only racing- he makes sure he gets to be a normal teen on Friday nights out with friends. He does get home early though, to be ready for practice the next morning.

Part of Nick’s determination is driven by a dirt bike accident a year ago. He was in a training session and fell nearly two stories going over a jump and broke his leg; fracturing his tibia and fibula in such a way that the orthopedic was concerned about damage to his growth plate. This required three months off the bike and very limited activity- a difficult time for his mindset and body’s conditioning. After being cleared to ride, he was back on the bike and competed in a race just one week later – where he took home first place!

Determination, hard work, and sacrifice is what it takes. Many fourteen year-olds don’t understand this, but Nick gets it. What is up next for him? His sights are set on Loretta’s, the big show in Motocross. Next, the pro circuit. Coach Dyess believes, “that you get out of life what you put into it.” He says that with Nick’s work ethic and working on his confidence every time they train, he can go far in this sport. Nick is a great role model for others and we have no doubt he will continue to be a champion!

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