#knowyourbenoni – Young rider won’t eat anybody’s dust
Farrarmere resident Riccardo ‘Pipo’ Chica (9) is your typical school child, but when he steps out of his uniform, he gets into a race suit.
BCT: What inspired you to do motocross?
RC: I have always loved bikes. On my sixth birthday, I got my first dirt bike.
From that day I was hooked and never stopped.
I have a picture of Evel Knievel on my wall and every time I need inspiration, I look at it because he never quit.
My coach, Garric Pretorius, rides and trains with me; he is a great coach.
BCT: Where have you raced?
RC: I have raced on the dirt tracks in Gauteng and in the Free State.
Some of the tracks include Erora, Dirt Bronco, Terra Topia, Smoking Pistons and Harry Smith, to name a few.
I was selected for the north versus the south inter-provincial race to represent the north in Bloemfontein on September 24.
BCT: Tell us about the challenges you have faced in this sport?
RC: The biggest challenge is getting a good start, getting what they call a “hole shot”.
I started racing in 2015 at club level on a KTM 50CC and in my first race, I came third at Erora MX Track and that made me want to win even more races.
BCT: What do you want to achieve in the field of racing?
RC: I would like to be a South African champion.
One day I will win a Super Cross Monster cup race in the USA and win the Loretta Lynne race in the USA.
My aim is to always try to be in the top five in the races; it is hard, but I always give 100 per cent in every race.
I enjoy racing with my friends and the competition we have – win or lose – is part of racing.
BCT: Apart from your love for motocross, what do you want to be when you are older?
RC: My dream is to be a pilot like my brother, Anthony Chica, in the USA.
My mom and dad, Anthony and Charmaine Chica, are in aviation, but first I would like to make it big as a Motocross rider.
BCT: What school do you attend and what are your favourite subjects?
RC: I attend St Dunstan’s Preparatory School and enjoy science and maths because they make you think.
BCT: Do you have any other hobby?
RC: When I am not riding I enjoy playing dirt bike games on my Xbox.
Also read: Dance for the SPCA
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