By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
Attalla’s Austin Cozadd is looking forward to racing back home this weekend.
The Alabama native competes in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series.
“I was super excited when I found out they were going to do one in Alabama,” he said.
“I never thought that was going to happen and hopefully, we can keep coming back.”
Cozadd, in his fourth season as a pro, began in the 250cc class before moving straight to the larger and more powerful 450cc bikes for his second and third year.
“This year, the opportunity came up for me to do 250s also,” he said. “It’s been nice, a bit easier than the 450s.”
Cozadd competes in the 250SX class while the series is on the West Coast and in the 450SX class when the series races on the East Coast.
“The progression I made on the 450 the last two years is really paying off on the 250.”
“The 450cc bikes weigh more and are a lot more to handle, a lot faster, and have more torque,” he said.
“The 450s are almost harder to ride on a supercross track because there is a lot of timing in it, and it is a smaller track.”
“A 450 realistically has too much power for a supercross track, to be honest.”
“On a 250 for me, I’m 6’1 and 175 pounds, I’m struggling to make some stuff, and on a 450, I have everything I need.”
“The biggest aspect is the jumping and the timing,” Cozadd said.
Cozadd attended Coosa Christian in Gadsden and then began homeschooling in fourth grade.
Unlike many professional riders, Cozadd didn’t begin racing until he was 12 years old. Instead, he raced BMXs and spent many hours competing at Oak Mountain State Park’s BMX track.
Cozadd comes from a racing family. His grandfather was a race car driver, and his father, Kevin, was a motocross rider.
Kevin felt God’s call to stop competing and to attend Rhema Bible college.
After he and Austin’s mother, Cassie, graduated, he entered the ministry as an associate pastor
However, the Lord had other plans, and Kevin stepped away from a full-time associate pastor job to begin a ministry, MXers for Jesus.
MXers for Jesus ministers to and shares the Gospel with motocross racers nationwide.
Austin was born shortly after the ministry was created and it is a big part of his life.
The life of a professional rider isn’t always easy.
Cozadd races as a privateer, a racer who doesn’t receive significant financial support from sponsors.
He doesn’t benefit from a full-time paid mechanic or support staff, so he has to wear many hats.
“I’m on a privateer team. So, no salary. Nothing. I actually have to get sponsor money to pay for them to take my stuff.”
“I’m on a team, but the program is run by me, really. I’m kind of the everything. I often work on my bike. I am my mechanic, get my sponsors, all of the above,” he said.
“A lot goes into it.”
Cozadd does have one very special team member: his fiancée, Janie Beeland.
“She’s awesome, she’s there whenever I need her help,” he said. If it is holding my bike on the gate, cleaning my helmet, videoing me to see what I need to be better at, pretty much whatever I need, she’s there for me!”
Cozadd has a simple message to the people that have never watched motorcycle racing.
“It is very intense racing,” he said. “Even if you don’t understand it, it is exciting.”
The gates open at Protective Stadium Saturday, March 9 at 11 AM for practice and qualifying.
Opening ceremonies begin at 5:30 PM.
Follow Austin Cozadd on Instagram at: austincozadd512
Follow Janie and Austin on YouTube @JanieAndAustin
Learn more about Kevin and Cassie Cozadd’s ministry at: mxersforjesus.com