In simpler terms, it was like a happy homecoming for Roosevans.
“When I got back on the track for the first time with a bike, it did feel like home to me,” he said. “Going to a car track … it was almost home, but not quite. Racing bikes brought that comfort level back.”
As far as why he wanted to return to motorcycles, Roosevans circled family as the catalyst.
“My grandpa passed away in 2012, while I was racing motorcycles and he was the one who taught me so much of what I know about being successful riding them,” Roosevans explained. “When I went over to race cars, it just felt different … like I was a little disconnected from him, in a way. I finally went to my dad and said, ‘Let’s go back to bikes, because I want to get back to the roots of the family and take it up another notch by going Pro.’
“I just missed being able to use what he used to tell me and wanted to get back to that again.”
It doesn’t mean that Roosevans doesn’t enjoy different facets of both bikes and oval-track racing. He does, but he knows it takes a slightly-different skillset to be successful in each of the two disciplines.
“On four wheels, if you see an open space, you have to fight for it … but in bikes you have to be even more aggressive and physical to establish your place,” Roosevans explained. “These aren’t guys that play around and you have to ramp up your game as you climb the ladder in motorcycle racing.
“I wouldn’t say the aggression is as different as the mentality is, though,” he continued. “Bikes are more about body. You have to really use your muscles, where racing cars to me is a lot more mentally focused.”
While Roosevans will still have chances to go oval-track racing this season — both in a micro with Brian Grogan of Hyper Central and in selected sprint car events driving for Paul Nienhiser — his main focus and passion will be back on two wheels, where he hopes to get back to collecting plenty of hardware.
“We want to be dominant again,” Roosevans stated. “When I went over to the four-wheel side, we were winning everything … and I want to get back to that.”
Roosevans’ goal over the next two years is to advance into American Flat Track competition, arguably the premier level for dirt motorcycle racers in the United States.
He’s not old enough to go professional, but once he turns 16, the teenager has his sights set on winning.
“I don’t want to be a guy who just goes out to race there, either,” said Roosevans of AFT. “I want to make my name and be there for the long haul.”
In the meantime, Roosevans will continue slinging dirt in the National All-Star Flat Track Series, while keeping his eyes on the professional prize he hopes is still to come.
