Powder Mountain Monster Motocross

POWDER MOUNTAIN — Jeremy McGrath has raced motorcycles all over the world. But if he closes his eyes and envisions the perfect motocross track, he sees the course he rode last weekend at Powder Mountain.

"This track is the one you'd dream about in your dreams," said McGrath, who won four races last weekend at the Monster Energy Powder Mountain Motocross races. "This is a huge success."

McGrath, who is referred to as "King of Supercross" because of his seven Supercross National titles, said the decision to hold the races at a ski resort was an inspired one.

"We as motorcycle racers take a bad rap. ... We care about the environment. We're not out to destroy everything," he said.

In addition to spending the weekend racing motorcycles, McGrath said most of those participating in and watching the races were also there to camp, fish and hike.

The marriage of what might on the surface seem like two very different worlds was the idea of Monster Energy's mountain ambassador Lawrence Lewis.

"In the U.S., there are maybe three races in this mountain setting," said Lewis. The most famous — and popular — is Mammoth Mountain. The races there last for several weeks and, like Powder Mountain, offer racers the chance to camp, hike and fish while enjoying world class motocross racing on what is normally ski slopes.

"These are family events," said Lewis. "It's more than a bunch of dirt bikes. ... The other day I overheard some kids telling stories about what they did the day before. There is nothing better than campfire stories."

Monster Energy sponsors and produces a number of snowboarding events, and the transition to a summer event on the same courses seemed like a natural one.

"They've always been very open-minded, and I thought it would be a great setting," said Lewis, who moved to nearby Liberty two years ago from California.

Racers flocked to the event, as did fans of the sport. Hundreds of people rode buses to the top of the mountain so they could watch an extremely scenic series of races. Organizers increased the number of buses carrying people from parking areas to the race site on Sunday because of the huge number of spectators on Saturday.

Powder Mountain president Gregg Greer said he was intrigued with the idea, as it fit with the resort's everyman feel.