Story by : Cliff Talley
This week I headed way deep into the 909 to poach a few sweet freestyle motocross shots through Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg's fence when I spotted something different. I could clearly see Twitch and the Osaka Japan transplant Taka Higashino taking turns on the ramp. Then all of a sudden I heard a four stroke pop into the air and I saw that the bike had pre-print backgrounds and race numbers. To my surprise, it was none other than Andy Bakken, roommate to Nate Adams and recently retired racer.
With the economy being the way it has been for that last two years, Andy is one of those talented riders who got the shaft when the budget cuts started coming and the satellite teams had their whole programs moth-balled — leaving him and a handful of other fast guys working their way to the top without any race support. Rather that heading to Vegas with the last of his dealer dollars to go on a raging bender, Andy decided to join his pop's up in Long Beach, swinging a hammer to make ends meet.
Since then, I've wondered why Andy doesn't just bite the bullet and go freestyle? I mean the dude has mad style and we all know that racing skills have proven to be a trait held by many of the best FMX riders in existence. Just look at Deegan, Hart, and Metzger — all former racers who went on to become the biggest names in freestyle motocross.
Check out this quick little video of Andy hitting the ramp
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