The Brett Downey Safety Foundation has been an integral part of the amateur motocross community since 2004. During this time, the Foundation has spent a significant amount of time and effort ensuring the safety of riders, spectators and the sport itself. It is in this spirit, that the Brett Downey Safety Foundation is proud to announce its new Safety Equipment Scholarship Program.

With the support of Acerbis, EVS, Omega, SixSixOne, and Troy Lee Designs, the Foundation has established safety equipment scholarships to recognize and assist talented amateur riders achieve their fullest potential on the track while keeping safety first. Each monthly recipient will be awarded safety gear based on need ranging from helmets, chest protectors, knee guards, neck braces and everything in between. Scholarships are not limited to a specific product but an overall need. The Foundation wants to make sure every child racing has the best chance lining up at the gate to reduce injury as the next child. The Brett Downey Safety Foundation believes the Safety Equipment Scholarship Program exemplifies the spirit of concern and interest by providing safety gear to riders in need.

In order to eligible for a safety scholarship, applicant must:

1. Be enrolled in school as a verified, full time student (public or private)
2. Demonstrate successful academic achievements
3. Demonstrate good sportsmanship
4. Provide a list of races the child plans on attending for 2010
5. Visit www.mxsafety38.org, click on the scholarship tab and download the application.

The scholarship recipient will be selected each month by the volunteer staff of the Foundation and is based on need and financial hardship.  The application deadline is the 1^st of each month and scholarship recipients will be notified of his/her selection by the 10^th of each month. Please submit applications via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax at 951-848-9916. For more information on supporting the Brett Downey Safety Foundation programs, please feel free to visit our website or give us a call at 951-824-9494.

When we say “safety attitude”, what we are really talking about are your automatic or habitual responses to the situations you encounter every time you ride or even step outside.  If you have a good attitude toward safety, you really do think “safety first” regardless of the track, weather conditions or a situation.  If you have a bad attitude toward safety, you need to change it!  Even the best safety attitude can be improved.  Since it frequently determines your automatic reaction, let’s think for a few minutes about your safety attitude and how you can improve it as a rider, track promoter, track personnel and parents.

You need to have a safe attitude every day.  It’s a positive state of mind that helps prevent accidents and injuries.  It helps you protect yourself and keep others around you safe.  Motocross is a dangerous sport.  The dangers change from day to day, and sometimes minute to minute.  When you don’t have the opportunity to think through the entire situation, your immediate response can determine if you or someone else will get hurt.  You attitude and knowledge toward safety has a big impact on that immediate response.

Your safety attitude can most easily be seen in you habits.  Do you wear the proper safety gear that is properly put on every time you ride?  As a track owner or promoter do you evaluate your track before a rider is allowed on?  Do you think have I done everything I need to do to make this safe?  Do you check weather conditions as a rider and track owner to make sure you prepare yourself for that day’s condition?  As a rider is it your first thought when you’re out on the track “how fast can I go” or is it “I will take it slow the first few laps to check out the conditions?”  Do you get angry when another rider is slowing you down and your attitude is “I will show them and put yourself and them into a dangerous situation?”  A safe attitude will take the time and find the right area to make a pass and risk the likelihood that they will cause an accident.  Shortcuts and chance takers have no right on a track.  Parents, you need to be a voice of safety for your children.  If they can’t make decisions for themselves you must be the voice of safety.  If your child was going to school where the conditions were not safe would you just sit back and say “Well, that school knows what it is doing” or would you demand that things be changed? No one wants to be the complainer but change cannot happen if you don’t ask. Let’s say that again, “Change cannot happen if we don’t ask”.

Remember everyone, your attitude affects everyone.  It is time we improve the safety record of motocross and prevent injuries and accidents.  The choice is up to all of us. It just makes good sense to have a good attitude toward safety but it also takes time and effort to develop and continually improve it.  Take the time and make the effort. We look forward to any comments. Please reply to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

March 21, 2010

Due to the injuries Jesse sustained, he passed away early Saturday morning.

We all feel you are now part of the family. We didn’t want anyone speaking for us in these letters and because of this we have not done the job that all of you wonderful people deserve. Jesse was extremely passionate, positive, and considerate of how his actions might affect other people. We felt he would not want to bring this news to the riders or the fans attending last night’s supercross race. He would want the riders to focus and ride their best and the fans to celebrate in their efforts.

One of Jesse’s favorite movies was “Remember the Titans”. He felt strongly enough to wear it on his butt patch; it was a part of him. Not just a movie, but like his own name.

The passion that brought such different people together dissolved old feelings between them – to see what they truly felt. Inside the soul, they were not different after all.  As crazy as it may seem to Jesse and many riders, the butt patch is sacred. It is your name.  It is you. It can’t be bought by a sponsor. It is a passionate symbol of who that rider is.  Your passion, faith and love have brought us all together.

We all feel Jesse’s spirit; Jesse is now a part of all of us. Jesse brought us all together. We know what Jesse would want us to do.

God Bless

Love,

Jesse and the Masterpool Family

Brett Downey Safety Foundation Welcomes Richard White

Riverside, CA (March 15, 2010) – The Brett Downey Safety Foundation has been an integral part of the amateur motocross community since 2004. During this time, the Foundation has spent a significant amount of time and effort ensuring the safety of riders, spectators and the sport itself. It is in this spirit, that the Brett Downey Safety Foundation is pleased to welcome Richard White to the team.

Richard has been around motorcycles his entire life. His son, Richard White, Jr. started racing around 5 years old which got the entire family heavily involved in the sport of motocross. As the years went by, Richard got involved at Lake Whitney helping Sharon Johnson whenever the call came.  He started refereeing the races there and subsequently his experience evolved from there. In 2001, Richard and his wife, Donna, had the opportunity to become involved with Oakhill MX Park. They promoted and ran the track all the while traveling with their son, while Richard did the D&S trackside support truck. This gave him the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of the races from a vendor to an official and most importantly a dad. D&S Kawasaki gave him an excellent opportunity to grow within the sport and become more involved. During time he also became the NMA regional manager for the Texas region, which again helped him understand the sport's ins and outs. In 2005, the GNC final came to Oakhill MX Park which gave Richard even more opportunity to be involved in every aspect.  And as of the 2010 Lake Whitney Spring Classic and moving into the 2010 GNC finals this week, Richard is now assisting the Brett Downey Safety Foundation get the message out about the importance of safety, etiquette and awareness to the riders and their families. We are excited for him to be a part of our team in 2010. Feel free to let Richard know how much you appreciate all his hard work spreading the word about safety and enforcing it.

For more information on supporting the Brett Downey Safety Foundation programs, please feel free to visit our website, www.mxsafety38.org, or give us a call at 951-824-9494.