Ride of the dirt junkies:

As the gate drops, a full field of riders on fluorescent red, green, yellow and blue 250cc dirt bikes throttle up - bumping, streaking and growling in a mad scramble for the early lead in race number two at Carson City's Champion Motor Speedway on Sunday.

Within a blink, a trio of riders have missiled to the front while the pack thins out and riders muscle their bikes for position. For a second, the entire field disappears only to reappear one by one, soaring over the first big jump like cannon-fired heart attacks.

At the apex of their flight they are graceful, almost motionless.

As the riders drop back down to earth, the suspensions spring into action, setting them down like falling leaves. The throttles grumble and the spiked wheels rip into the track as the riders plant their feet and dirt splashes from their back tires like water, the bikes hammering down into a sharp, narrow turn.

There's enough buzzing in the air to leave sting marks on the spectators, a disproportionate number of whom are already on crutches.

There's no room for fear on this track.

As far as it goes, motocross is somewhere between a sport and a drug.

And it's not just guys out there, either. Hoping to one day turn pro, Robbie Cortez, 16, has been riding since she was 12. Her father Jim Agnitseh, sits on one of her bikes while they try to explain the thrill of the sport to the nonrider.

"It's just pure adrenaline," says Robbie, her eyes getting wide.

Over the years, she's had her spills: A broken wrist, a fractured arm, some sprained ankles and several concussions.

But for certain people, the two agree, motocross is IT.

Some people live for a slow hog on the highways. Some like to play in the dirt.

Ryan Eager, 17, probably can't hear his mom cheering him on. "I do get nervous," she admits, crumpling a soda can in her palm as his race begins and he rushes to a quick lead. Ryan's had his share of injuries, too - a broken collarbone; a broken ankle. His wrist is full of reconstructive pins.

His mom cheers him vigorously for all six laps, jumping and clapping as he takes second place.

As if to add an exclamation point to the day, around 4 p.m. a 36-year-old racer wrecks bad enough coming out of a corner to be transported by Care Flight to Washoe Medical Center.

"He's doing good ... he's getting some feeling back," said John Bergstrom, captain of Fire Station 3.

"It was pretty much a precautionary thing." According to reports, the man couldn't feel his legs for a while. An hour later, he was getting tingles and feeling better.

Perhaps he even made it back to the track quickly enough to get in one more race.

The next event on the local circuit is at Fernley International Raceway on March 13. For more information on the event, call 424-3886.

n Contact reporter Peter Thompson at pthompson@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.