The sport of Freestyle Motocross is still relatively unknown in Australia. While there is a booming motocross racing scene, the competitive FMX scene is small and events are scarce. As a result, few riders have emerged from “The Land Down Under” to make a name for themselves on a global scale, but globally recognized riders like Monster Energy athlete Jackson “Jacko” Strong are proof that there’s plenty of talent south of the equator.
In addition to the likes of stars like Strong, homegrown heroes like Truman Carroll and Rob Adelberg have been an inspiration for aspiring youngsters in Australia as well. One of those budding talents is Benny Richards. The 18 year old from Wagga Wagga, New South Wales is the newest member of the Monster Army, following in the footsteps of Jacko Strong as Australia’s next great FMX hope.
Richards’ journey into the sport was about as unexpected as it gets. After his family moved to a property just outside Wagga Wagga when he was about four years old, it was fate that ended up landing them right across the road from Carroll’s compound. Prior to his family’s move, Benny knew little to nothing about FMX, but as he and his younger brother, Tommy, watched Carroll ride day after day they became captivated by the skill and wanted nothing more than to learn how to ride.
Carroll was all too happy to oblige the wishes of his young admirers, and soon enough the Richards brothers were ripping it up on their minibikes. Carroll became a mentor to his sibling neighbors, and they continued to progress. At about the age of eight Benny got his first taste of jumping ramps and was immediately addicted to the freedom of flight aboard two wheels. From that moment Richards was dedicated to his passion, solely focused on becoming the best rider he can be. A decade later, his dreams of being recognized as a full fledged FMX rider are now a reality thanks to the support of Monster Energy. While Benny’s journey is just beginning, he’s got the tools to be as successful as fellow Aussie and Monster teammate Jacko.
We caught up with Benny to learn more about his path to joining the Monster Army, and his hopes for the future.