Video: Bernard Kerr Gets More Coaching and has His First SX Crash

 I rolled slowly around a local Supercross track one time and had no idea how much my balls would need to grow to hit those jump faces at the proper speed.

 Props to him for learning MX on a high level. Honestly not sure how they are even letting him race Anaheim with the Pro's. It's like you trying to race UCI DH Elite.

 @jorgeposada: It doesn't take too much to try to qualify, making the actual heats and not to mention the night-show is another level.

 @heyjohnp: to be honest, vitalmx forum is almost like 4chan, you go there to laugh a bit, and once you read 10 posts you (maybe) laughed but you also got your daily dose of stupidity, racism, misogyny and hate.
Ofc BK isn't thinking is he gonna be able to race against Tomac, nor against the "slow" guys that have been riding mx every week since they are kids. Racing A1 is just a dream of his and he is taking a shot at it. It's quite brave, so as you say, props to him

 @johnbalz: Ya evidently, I have decent moto skills and would need a diaper just lining up at Anaheim. Maybe he make it to the big show.

 The VitalMX forum is a mixed bag, as is pinkbike... as is most of the internet these days. The thread was spawned in an attitude of negativity, but I'm pretty pumped to see a bunch of posters basically saying "This is cool, let's see what he can do. Haven't we all dreamed of just going for it someday?"

Can't wait for qualifying! Good luck BK!

 @RXN059: BK is not going to start the AMA has not given him the race license he needs to ride Anaheim,bummer for BK.

 @fantaman: Where did you see that? Last information I saw concerning that was him sitting in front of the AMA trailer 15 hr ago per the 'gram.

Bummer if true.

 @fantaman: Nevermind I saw the tweet.

 @fantaman: he shouldn’t have a license because he’d be a danger on the track.

 @dklass26: For real, can I show up on my YZ 450 and stack half the field in turn one. Thought he would enter 250cc or some amateur races first. His friend teaching him couldn't qualify to race SC.

 @jorgeposada: Oh yeah, I've ridden for 20+ years and am a fairly good rider, but SX is such a different level. I've seen guys that absolutely destroy the local scene (and I'm from CA so even our local racers are pretty fast riders) not even come close to qualifying for a heat. Like any other sport it's hard to appreciate how good the pros really are.

 @johnbalz: it takes a lot to get a license if you live in the US. If you're from another country, you basically just pay your way in. It's BS

 @ksilvey10:
I am truly excited for Bernard to be taking on a new sport. I am man, takes BALLS. And he is crazy talented in just starting this, those tracks are no joke...

In the same breath, I am concerned with the number of people who think this is like an amateur entering a DH race. Not even close, this is like letting a kid drive a rally car with 40 well known competitors and no cage around you. You come up short on a DH track, big case bummer... you come up short on an SX track and someone is getting landed on. As a fan of both sports, I am terrified by the liability in this, everyone shares risk in SX unlike DH mtb which is only yourself. You land on Chad Reed's head though or plow into Ken Roczen's arm during open practice sessions from a small whiskey throttle or something... I am scared about this man.

 @johnbalz: Agree 100%, been to alot of sx and mx races and can't comprehend the level they on now. Seen the craziest stuff in Florida, there's a reason the top 3 riders of all time live there.

 Have you seen anywhere thats hes registered for the race ? I dont see him listed in the entries.

 @dmock157: He didn't get his license. Just confirmed on the 'gram he will not be lining up.

 @RXN059: well, he got an FIM licence but the AMA shut it down.

 @lister11: well duh. You have to qualify 1st lmfao sounds like a big promotional stunt to me

 @dmock157: I think most people here support the general idea, but damn this is a joke after watching a couple videos. I dig watching him on a mountain bike, but he's a weekend warrior at best on the moto.
Come on Pinkbike.....really???

 @dmock157: Gonna have to respectfully disagree. I think BK saw a loophole in the license/registration process and thought he could make it. Living in SoCal for a month and putting his body on the line riding amateur supercross tracks trying to get up to speed to be ready for a professional supercross qualifying hardly sounds like a publicity stunt.

However, and when I say this I really wanted to see BK race qualifying, it does seem a little on the ridiculous side that an individual could race a Monster Energy Supercross qualifying as their first ever SX/MX race solely because they found a loophole in the registration because of their international status. Stilled bummed, hope BK goes for prAy1 2021.

 @Trophycase: yea I mean the ama requires a rider to qualify not just apply for an fim license and show up. This is America not Europe ! ????????

 @RXN059: either way how would you not know you are qualified or not until the day before a race or day of. Seems weird.

 @dmock157: Honestly if I were BK I wouldn't have been making a big deal of the apparent loophole. Like, fly under the radar and just show up then when people start asking for licenses and registration hope that they interpret the rules the same way you did and have to honor your FIM license. Exploiting ticky tack interpretations is just part of racing.

 @RXN059: no idea on any loophole or that type of bragging. Point is he should have gotten approved long ago instead of wasting peoples time with training him n sponsors etc. Seems like he should have had his ducks in a row long ago. Once he didnt show up in the pre signs i knew he wasnt getting in.

 Yo , I don’t know how outdoors work with qauilfying but sx is just by lap time so he doesn’t have to put out a full moto to stand a chance if his main goal is to qualify , there’s a chance !!

 @niallclerkin: uhhh to qualify for a main event you have to make it through an entire moto. you don't get into the main simply for having a fast lap time. having said that, you are correct. he only needs a hot lap during the day quallies to get into the opening heat races. however, i honestly don't think he will make the laptime cutoff to make it in to the heats. as Rube305 said, he's not attacking the sections with speed. even him jumping the triple looks like he's using a lot of effort to clear it while riders at race pace float over the triple near effortlessly.

 @Rube305 @novajustin : You're both 100% right. I grew up riding moto. Doesn't matter what he does going into A1 really. That track is going to be a beast and scarier than anything I've seen him hit yet. I'm a sideline guy, so I can easily be wrong, but nothing about his riding indicates he can tie more than 2 SX features together back to back, let alone an entire track full of perfectly timed ones.
He is a bad ass on a mountain bike, but I've not seen an AMA pro on a 450 nearly that slow. And those of us who know braking points, acceleration points out of turns, gearing into and out of jumps & rhythm sections...I don't think any of us have seen him hit any of the above back to back. Haven't seen a video yet of him soaking up a big feature to stay low, landing any backsides with the throttle on or even hitting the throttle at the arc of any turns.
Nothing I've seen makes me think he's going to even clear more than a few of the easier run in features. Anything with a big face out of turn is gonna be a big problem for him.

I know I just slammed him hard, but this is a whole other sport and you can't hide speed & talent on a moto in these videos. Good luck Bernard. Just don't get hurt!!! None of us care if you decide to pull out once you see some of the stuff on that track man. Would rather watch a decade more of your riding and antics on mountain bikes than a single image of you casing a 60 footer.

 @blowmyfuse: Agreed. That's what I'm seeing too. I haven't seen him once do anything at "race pace". Mad props for giving it a go though! Please be careful Bernard!!

 @blowmyfuse: you're not slamming, just stating true facts. optimism only gets you so far. also, he hasn't even been practicing starts?? i lol'd at that. he's going to DQ himself before the first turn if he can't get a start. reaction times aren't something you can just pick up in a couple of weeks.

i'll be watching the pre-show to see if he even makes it out of the practice session. he may roll out on the track and go "yeah, no thanks" and pull out. the practice tracks are mellowed down for rider safety compared to the actual race tracks.

 @niallclerkin: your right there is a chance , if everyone else screws up there laps and Bernie plods along and completes a lap

 @novajustin: I don’t think it’s the main event ie the final race , it’s just the evening show he’s trying for !

 Let’s just pretend for a minute he wins , will he quit DH and ride SX full time ?

 @Matt115lamb: still a loooong shot. you have to not only turn a hot lap, but there are cutoff times you have to be over. judging by the way he's not linking up sections and attacking in his videos, he's going to have a tough time turning a hot lap.

my advice, if you want to see bk on the track watch the pre-show... you won't be seeing him in the night races. it's a bad publicity stunt that i'm surprised the AMA and FIM are even allowing. dude is a serious risk to himself and other riders.

 @blowmyfuse: and poof, just like that he’s out before it even started. AMA curbed him.

 @novajustin: probably a good move from them and saved him from himself

 Anything on two wheels deserves a thumbs up, and BK is a boss talent wise no doubt. Huge fan and support multiple disciplines like this. He has more talent than 99% of us MXers, but he would get stomped on a local weekend warrior race in any city that hosts one. In my opinion, it is arrogant and mildly insulting to think you can throw a leg over a 450 and compete with racers who make this their life's mission. I own ONE KOM, but no way could I compete in the EWS.

Props to BK for trying and putting in some effort and thank you PB for posting this MXish video. Interesting content for sure. I hope the follow up post/video pays due respect to the no name MX guys out there, especially the fast ones who won't qualify.

 But some of the BEST times of my life!!

 @lancifer: No joke ! I met RJ a couple of times when he was driving trucks in the MTEG races. Same attitude TAKE NO PRISONERS !!! You've got to love it

 @ATV25: Yeah man, the great ones all seem to have it, my personal top 3 "Attitudes"- Hurricane Hannah, Earnhardt, RJ.

 @lancifer: I will agree with that list !

 don't need eyes in the back of your head if you can't even gate start. All he needs is a roost guard and tear offs.

 huh?

 I'd love it to happen (from the point of view of muh MTB racer does SX), and love the progression in each video but it seems like an impossible hill to climb - every rider seems already so much more dialed than he is. Even his support crew look like they ride better than he does.
Good luck to you BK - loving the videos.

 He likes the big bikes. He has a 500 2 stroke. Since this is really for fun why not do it on the bike you like, especially if the bike is provided race tuned and free of charge from Kawasaki.

 I'd say the opposite only because the teenagers in 250 will every last one F*** each other up every single turn. At least the guys on the big rigs have contracts to protect for the most part.

 @blowmyfuse: it's the premier class though, the talent pool is so much deeper. If he is just trying to qualify he shouldn't be bashing bars.

 @blowmyfuse: actually the times for Vegas last year were pretty close. Top 20 for 250 and top 40 qualify in the 450 class.

 @basalt: I'm not talking about speed & talent in the 250 main. I'm talking about all of the qualifiers leading up to the 250 main. There are literally dozens and dozens of zit faced nutcases trying their dead level best to make it to the front of a lap and the only path a lot of them pick is the front wheel of the next rider. Getting to a 250 Main event is usually a result of only TWO types of racing:
1. Stupid fast gate starts combined with a run and hide before they eat you mentality.
2. "got lucky" after a bad start and picked my way through the carnage to make it out alive

If you can describe a 250 SX heat or qualifier that has not played out in one of the two ways I listed, let me know.

450 Main tends to have a lot of the more seasoned pros as they age into the class who race "clean". But still, he's not making it to the main, so we're still talking guys trying to make the cut in heats and qualifiers and there is so much desperation in those leading up to the main that even the 450's are carnage until the lights come on.

 Actually much harder to qualify in the 250 class. A lot more talent and younger riders that have to ride 250's before they can ride 450's.

 Now that guy is an EFFING Beast, and then to come back TWICE from easily career ending injuries. Always cheering for him!