Tevin Tapia Relocates To Abingdon To Chase Motocross Stardom

BY ALLEN GREGORY
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. – Thanks to the presence of the Barter Theatre, the town of Abingdon has long served as a beacon for aspiring actors, artists and dreamers.

Tevin Tapia recently followed his dream to Abingdon, but the 18-year-old native of Bonney Lake, Wa., is not bound for Broadway. He’s training for a different stage. It’s dusty, bumpy and fast.

Since April, Tapia has honed his motocross skills at a sprawling facility dubbed “The Farm.” Constructed by the father of professional motocross competitor and Abingdon native Zach Osborne, the complex features two outdoor tracks and one Supercross track.

The relocation from Washington State to the hills of Southwest Virginia is all part of a long range plan for Tapia, who made waves in the motocross world this past spring by switching from Kawasaki to KTM motorcycles.

“This is a good opportunity for me,” said Tapia, who has also lived in Texas. “The tracks are incredible. I’m working hard every day and having fun.”

Tapia joined hundreds of professional and amateur riders Saturday and Sunday for the 22nd annual Suzuki Top Gun Showdown at Muddy Creek Raceway. Though Tapia was among the fastest riders in the elite 250A and 450A classes, his debut performance at the famed Muddy Creek layout did not live up to his lofty standards.

“I’m not at all happy with my racing this weekend,” said Tapia, who finished second to Cody Robbins in Sunday’s 250 A moto. “I just can’t seem to keep my bike up on two wheels, but that’s part of motocross. You have your good and bad days. I’ve got to regroup and come back faster and stronger.”

The weekly routine for Tapia includes three days of training with Abingdon-based personal trainer Lee Campbell and two days of riding under the tutelage of Mark Osborne, Champion Cycles mechanic Al Albiker and team owner Darren Jernigan. Mark Osborne is the father of Zach Osborne.

Tapia is often joined on the practice track by his teammate Michael Picone along with Zach Osborne and competitors from the Joe Gibbs motocross team. Osborne is currently sidelined by a broken collarbone suffered in competition.

“I just stick to myself in Abingdon and follow my program at 100 percent effort,” Tapia said. “Mark helped me when I first started in the 50 class, and it’s great to be associated with him again. Mark makes sure you do the right things on and off track.”

Tapia’s story of commitment is familiar among racers in all forms of motorsports, yet this tale has a twist. Tapia’s mother, father and sister all moved to Abingdon in July and currently live out of a motorhome. His older brother moved back to Washington.

The Tapia family also moved from Washington State to Texas when Tevin was 13 years old. That was also a career move for Tevin.

“My parents are making the biggest sacrifices,” said Tapia, whose father competed in a race for veteran riders Sunday at Muddy Creek. “They’re behind me 100 percent and I appreciate that.”

Sheri Tapia, Tevin’s mother, has become accustomed to life on the road. All three of the Tapia children have been home schooled at some point.

“We decided three and a half years ago to sell our house and move to Texas because Tevin had only been home 13 weeks out of the whole year,” Tapia said. “When this deal with KTM came about, we just put everything in storage and came to Abingdon.”

Sheri Tapia admitted that she misses family and friends in Washington. She accepts the lifestyle in a sport where professional riders can make a lucrative earning in endorsements and prize money.

“Sometimes it does get old and I miss actually having a house to go home to, but your kids are only young once,” Sheri Tapia said. “The motocross community is like a family, and at least we’re spending time with our kids all the time.”

The travel and workouts will become more intense as Tapia adjusts to life as full-time professional rider. He will soon begin training on indoor tracks in preparation for AMA Arenacross events.

“I want to do my best to be ready for the East Coast Supercross season,” Tapia said. “This is my life and I want go as far as I can.”