The first time Lane Johnson lined up for a race, he was four years old. Now 12, he has spent most of his life on an ATV, chasing starting gates and checkered flags alongside his older brother, Landen.
Landen, 16, races in one of the sport’s most competitive divisions, piloting a 450cc ATV against riders who are often older and more experienced. Lane competes in 250cc classes, easily recognizable on the course by his red boots.
Together, the brothers, who live in Winslow, have built a racing résumé that includes four state championships and 15 national championship titles earned across full seasons of competition, not single events. Their father said the trophies have helped “put Winslow on the map” in a positive way as the boys earn recognition at races nationwide.
Their parents, Katie and Craig Johnson, say racing quickly became a family lifestyle rather than a hobby. In one stretch alone, Craig estimates they logged about 3,500 miles in just three weeks traveling to competitions. Their schedule regularly takes them to Idaho, Utah, Nevada and around Arizona, with annual trips to Las Vegas, Nev., where the WORCS season traditionally concludes. This January they will begin a new season with a competition in Blythe, Calif.
At home, the signs of that commitment are everywhere. ATVs, parts and gear fill their space. Shelves in the family room overflowing with awards from years of competition, “We don’t even have room for all of them,” Katy said about the boys’ various trophies.
Both boys race in the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS), a demanding circuit that Grand Prix-style off-road racing. Landen also competes separately in technical “pro sections,” where riders must maneuver over logs, tire and other obstacles. Laps average around 10 minutes and riders are given only two practice laps before race day and the course changes for each competition.
At the season-ending awards in Las Vegas earlier this month, Landen finished the season third overall in the Open A division, an adult class that Landen says only one other person his age competes in with most of them being adults. Lane earned a second-place overall season finish in his 250cc as well as also finishing second place in the 250cc sport model races. Those results capped a year of racing that began months earlier and included events across multiple states.
Lane and Landen don’t race the same machines they roll off the showroom floor. Like most competitive riders, their ATVs begin as stock four-wheelers and are steadily upgraded over time for racing, a process that has become as much a part of the sport as the races themselves.
Landen, who now competes in adult divisions, has taken an increasingly hands-on role in that work. “There’s endless stuff you can do for the motor, you can buy every part of it aftermarket,” Landen said, describing the difference between a factory ATV and one built for competition. He now works on his own four-wheeler, handling more of the mechanical side of things, a shift that Craig undoubtedly embraces.
Craig still plays a central role on race weekends, serving as pit crew for both of his sons. From the pit area, he handles last-minute checks, repairs and adjustments while the boys focus on racing.
Both boys race under the rules of the American Motorcyclist Association, where performance upgrades are common and safety standards are strictly enforced. Boots, knee pads, helmets, gloves and full racing suits are required, offering protection through long races that combine high-speed sections with technical obstacles.
Despite the intensity, the season is carefully managed. They have a break in competitions over the summer, though the boys still compete in about 10 events throughout the year. Landen has already earned national sponsorships that allow them to purchase racing gear at discounted rates. He is also sponsored by a local company, Arizona 66 Trading Company in Winslow.
For Lane and Landen Johnson, ATV motocross has been a constant presence throughout their childhood. The boys attend an online school specifically designed to accommodate motocross riders and their travel schedules. Between the miles logged on highways, the hours spent in the pit and practice laps at home, racing has steadily taken hold of the Johnson family’s routine. It is not a schedule built around convenience or comfort. It is simply life for a family fully committed to life on four wheels.
