Local rider takes love of motocross to professional level

Date: 8/2/2010

Aug. 2, 2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW -- Nate Aliengena loves motocross racing.

He's been doing it as long as he can remember, alongside his father and younger brother. For him, the adrenaline rush is a feeling he can't do without.

"It's all about the rush. There's nothing like it," Aliengena said. "You're flying through the air or going through the corners and it's just amazing."

It's a sport that requires a great deal of passion and a certain amount of fearlessness and is not for the casual rider, he added.

"You've got to love it. It's not something you can just do," Aliengena said. "You can't just jump into this sport and expect to be able to do it. You need to have heart and determination."

So it comes as no surprise that the East Longmeadow resident has decided to take his talents to the professional level.

Aliengena competed in his first professional motocross race recently at Moto-X 388 in Southwick, placing seventh.

"That's awesome for me for my first time," Aliengena said.

Aliengena admitted that, with the step up to the next level, there was an obvious change in the competition.

"Everybody's different. There are some big names I'm racing against, like John Dowd, who is a former Supercross champion," Aliengena said. "There's definitely a little bit of intimidation there."

But once on the course, Aliengena said, all of the trepidation went away. Getting his first taste of the pro circuit and finding some success in it provided him with a greater appreciation for the level of competition.

"By the time it was over, I was feeling really good," Aliengena said. "It's better riding. It gives me something to work for and makes me push a little harder."

Aliengena had hoped to have an opportunity to compete at the AMA Pro National at Moto-X 388 on Aug. 28, but said it just wasn't in the cards.

"It was my goal for this year, but I will have to try for next year," Aliengena said. "It's a local track and I race it all the time. It's one of my favorite tracks."

Aliengena said will begin racing in the National circuit next year.