A motocross rider catches air during an organized practice event at Swan MX Raceway Park in Tyler held on Friday, June 12, 2020. Race days for the 2020 Texas Lone Star State Championship MX Series are Saturday and Sunday with the series finals Oct. 3-4.

Motor bikers revved their engines and let loose on Friday at Swan MX Raceway Park for the first time in months.

Races that had been scheduled for April and May were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Races are taking place on Saturday and Sunday. A practice session was held on Friday.

“It’s been a long wait,” said biker Troy Anderson. “I had to wait around, and you don’t really know when you’re going to race again. So I’m excited to combine everything together, to race two times in one weekend.”

Even though the competition is fierce, one particular word kept coming up all over the grounds of Swan Motocross: family. Swan Motocross is a family-owned business and it’s designed to be family-friendly.

Christian radio plays through the loudspeakers on the grounds and racers’ families roam around to one another’s trailers to chat.

“It’s kind of like one big family out here, just hanging out, having fun, riding around,” Anderson said.

Swan Motocross is the longest continuously operating motocross track in Texas. The park was started in 1969, and was taken over by the Clingfost family in the mid 1980s. Now the second generation of Clingfosts have taken ownership of the racetrack.

Owner Trey Clingfost used to race on the same track, before his family moved to the area and he decided to buy the track.

“Now it’s just a fun place for families to come from across the country,” said Sarah Clingfost, his wife. “We really do our best to provide a safe, fun family atmosphere.”

Garrett Smith, a customer relations manager at the park, echoed the message of family.

“For me, it’s part of a family business,” Smith said. “I really enjoy just being here because you get to see people who have a unique passion. It’s a unique community of riders that gather, It’s a really family friendly environment.”

For Jacksonville resident Walker White, motorbiking isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. Every other week, he and his brother, Canyon, are out on the track.

“I’ve done it since I was 3 years old. I just like coming to the track and racing with my friends,” Walker said. “This is the one I grew up on. We raced a few other tracks in Texas, and I really liked them, but this one’s my favorite.”

Walker and his brother race in the 125-650cc motorbike range, the class of standard racing with the most powerful motorcycles.

“You have the 50cc class, those are for little kids, and then there’s 65cc class, for whenever they outgrow that class, the 85cc class for when they’re a little bigger, and the 125cc class is considered the big bike class,” said Canyon. “The higher you get in CCs (cubic centimeters of the engine) the more power there is.”

Races are happening Saturday and Sunday. The park is open to spectators for $25. Those interested in more information can visit www.swanmx.com.