Get to know Upland area youth motorcycle racer Travis Horn
UPLAND, Calif. — Since their inception, sports have brought thrill and drama to both the athletes and their viewers. From sinking a buzzer beater in basketball, to making a goal line stop in football, the constant excitement is why sports have such a prominent place in our society. That being said, very few sports reach the level of amazement that is consistently present in the world of racing. The athletes that choose to pursue this high-speed sport have to be comfortable with pushing the limits of what seems possible, because of the seemingly law defying maneuvers that are required every time they are on the track. Like many people in the racing world, performing at high speed is not a new idea for our feature athlete, Travis Horn (14).
Travis fell in love with the sport of Motorcycle Racing at the young age of five, when he first began his journey racing speedway and flat track. Ever since then, his effort and passion has taken him all over the world to compete against some of the best racers in his age group. After a few years of honing his skills, Travis first saw notable success in the sport back in 2018 when he won his first AMA National Championship in Jr. Speedway. He then went on to win four more AMA Flat Track National Championships and the Youth Flat Track Racer of the Year Award. He also won the Supermini Supermoto AMA National Championship. While he was racing in flat track, he also started road racing where the success continued and eventually earned him a trip to Italy to race in the Ohvale World Series, where he placed in the top ten in his class in 2019. Because of these accolades, along with others, Travis has spent the last year racing all over Europe in a spec Yamaha R3 Cup series for the American Racing Academy. “I have some amazing sponsors to help me do all of this. It would not be possible without the support of my family and my sponsors. It’s very expensive to race at this level!” said Travis.
When asked what he loves about his sport, Travis replied, “I love the adrenaline and going fast. I love being able to travel and experience some of the most beautiful tracks and race against some really fast young adults.” Being able to experience so much of the world through sports is certainly a huge plus for successful racers. However, these athletes face tough challenges just like in any other sports. Regarding this topic, Travis added, “My biggest challenge at this level is mental confidence. I work with a sports psychologist to help me think through any confidence issues so I can concentrate on what I do best.” With such high stakes out on the track, taking care of your mind and showing up to each race believing in yourself is a must for all racers.
Outside of racing, Travis enjoys working on and driving remote control cars. On top of that, Travis said, “I also enjoy going to the skate parks with my scooter. That is something I would do when I went to a race in Europe. We would go check out the local skate parks. I even learned some new scooter tricks.” He later mentioned that his favorite snack food is watermelon, and that before a race he likes to listen to the Glass Animals. All in all, it is clear to see that this young racer has a bright future ahead of him. In order to see continued success, Travis follows the wise advice from one of his mentors, “Just breathe: Inhale confidence, exhale fear.”
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