American stunt biker sees huge potential for motorsports in PH

AARON Colton knows how to work his motorbike.

But that’s hardly surprising; almost an understatement. The 22-year-old American stunt biker after all is a stunt riding champion and an enthusiast of motorcycle-riding in general.

Colton was in the country earlier this month for “Street Tour,” a series of events around the metro, sponsored by Red Bull, meant to stoke interest in the sports by showcasing how fun it is to do gasp-inducing biking stunts.

“I do not only encourage freestyle riding, I love all types of motorcycle riding! I know how huge and important the motorcycle is in the lives of the Filipino people, so I see a bright future for motor sports here,” he tells the Inquirer on a one-on-one interview.

Admittedly, motorsports is still in its infancy. But Colton sees that as an advantage, knowing there’s a lot of room for the sports to expand. While it’s far from being considered a mainstream sports, he says he’s noticing how it’s getting to a point where it is transitioning from being a hobby to something that people could actually do for a living.

He mentions how much more it means to him to see people, especially children, delighted at his performances because it’s something that they don’t see everyday. In other countries, like the US, where action sports is very common, it’s not always easy to get “raw reactions.”

During a press conference to promote the event, Colton showcased his skills. Surrounded by hundreds of spectators, he worked his 2 KTM 690 Duke, the first in the USA and the latest generation of its type.

His streetbike freestyle consisted mainly of Wheeleis, Endos, Burnouts, Drifting, and Acrobatics. But more than the signature tricks, it’s his style that has caught the attention of many.

“I devised a somewhat more riding style aggressive style. But what I love is the open expression of being able to do anything that you had ever dreamed of controlling on the bike,” he said.

In a press photo, Colton could be seen sitting aboard a jeepney. But he says he hasn’t actually ridden (or driven) one, though he says he’d like to try that sometime.

“The people here are definitely more aggressive in getting around,” he says in jest. “I was a bit taken aback. It looks like just driving a motorcycle here requires a very high level of skill, otherwise you’re going to get taken out.”

That’s coming from someone who found fame and success as the youngest XDL National Stunt Riding Champion (at 15 years old). Since then, he had joined several competitions like the AMA Pro Road Racing, AMA Pro Flat Track, Street Freestyle, and MotoGP throughout his professional career.

In the last two years, Colton has taken a bit of a break from joining competitions. Instead, he has toured countries like Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica, to promote motorsports.

Colton says: “I’d really like to see the sports become more family oriented. Age isn’t really an issue. I do see the sport becoming more of a career opportunity than just a leisurely hobby.”