Rider Story: Derek Zacha
Kingsville MX (formerly Challenge Traxx)
Riding Years: 1989 – 1994
For Derek Zacha, Kingsville MX represents both the highest highs and one of the hardest moments of his racing life.
Riding through the late ’80s and early ’90s, Derek spent his time at Kingsville on bikes like a 1993 Kawasaki KX250 and KX125, chasing speed, airtime, and the feeling that only a great motocross track can deliver.
Track Features That Stuck
What Derek loved most were the big, floating jumps—the kind that reward confidence and commitment. One feature stood above the rest:
the big step-up table after the whoops, a section that defined that era of the track.
A Moment That Changed Everything
While not his favorite memory, Derek’s most unforgettable moment came in September of 1992.
He crashed on the double one corner before the whoops. In the chaos of the wreck, his leg became trapped between the forks and the frame, resulting in a 10-inch spiral fracture of his femur.
It’s the kind of injury that stays with you—not just physically, but mentally. And for many riders, it would have ended the relationship with the sport entirely.
The Kingsville Constant
Despite the injury, one thing never changed: the people.
“RJ is great. His love for the sport is like no other.”
Years later, when Derek’s son began racing in 2009, Derek found himself back at Kingsville. After years away and without seeing RJ for a long time, the reunion felt effortless.
“It was like I never left.”
That’s the mark of a special track. Not just the dirt or the jumps—but the way it welcomes people back, no matter how much time has passed.
Kingsville MX wasn’t just part of Derek’s racing years.
It became part of his family’s story.
