The Road to Pala!

The Island Athlete Development Program is preparing to make its biggest statement yet, with one of its riders set to line up at Amateur Day during the upcoming AMA National at Fox Raceway in Pala, California.

For many riders, competing at an event like this is a dream. For island athletes facing geographic isolation, limited resources, and fewer development pathways, simply reaching the gate can feel nearly impossible. That reality is exactly why the Island Athlete Development Program was created.

Built quietly over several years by Justin Maley and Shaki Easton, the initiative was designed to create legitimate opportunities for talented riders from island communities around the world. The goal has never been social media attention or empty promises. It has been about building real infrastructure, creating meaningful industry relationships, and opening doors that historically have not existed for many island-based athletes.

The upcoming appearance at Pala represents one of the first major public milestones for the program and a significant moment not only for the rider involved, but for the broader vision behind the project.

Justin Maley (pictured) and Shaki Easton have been working to put this program together for many years.

“This is bigger than one race,” said Justin Maley. “The goal was always to prove that talented riders from smaller island communities deserve an opportunity. There are athletes with incredible potential all over the world that simply need support, guidance, and access. Watching this come together at a place like Pala shows what can happen when good people believe in a bigger vision.”

Ricky Johnson in 1986 at the Gainesville Florida National.

A major part of making that vision a reality has been the support of former AMA National Champion Ricky Johnson and the Bad Boy Club. Johnson’s involvement has added not only credibility, but mentorship and direct support behind the scenes as the program continues to gain momentum.

Ricky Johnson replica gear was produced for the one off event at Fox Raceway.

Within motocross, Ricky Johnson’s name carries weight across generations. His willingness to step up and support a grassroots development initiative aimed at helping overlooked riders speaks volumes about the direction and authenticity of the project.

The Island Athlete Development Program also extended appreciation to the behind-the-scenes personnel helping manage the countless moving parts required to make an opportunity like this possible. Many people behind the scenes, will need to be specifically recognized for their continued work supporting logistics, coordination, communication, and day-to-day operations as the program expands.

While the race at Pala may appear on the surface to be a single event, those involved understand it represents something much larger. It is a proof of concept for a system that aims to connect island athletes with industry support, racing opportunities, coaching, equipment access, and long-term development pathways.

The initiative has already started attracting attention across multiple island motorsports communities, with growing conversations surrounding future athletes, partnerships, and expansion opportunities.

On Course Contracting in Bermuda stepped up as a major sponsor!

Business in Bermuda and all around the world came together to help make this first event happen.

Importantly, those behind the program continue to emphasize that this is only the beginning.

Kurt Nicoll from Champion MX stepped up to help with a bike. (Click the link)

The Island Athlete Development Program was never intended to be a one-off project focused on a single rider or one weekend of racing. The long-term objective is to establish a sustainable structure capable of identifying and assisting motorsports athletes from island nations and remote regions who may otherwise never have access to opportunities on this level.

As the gates prepare to drop at Pala Raceway, the atmosphere around the program feels less like a startup initiative and more like the early stages of something that will become genuinely impactful around the globe.

And for everyone involved, that is exactly the point.