Wish Comes True for 14 Year Old Motocross Fan from Belgium

What could be more exciting than racing for a million dollar purse – the largest purse in motocross racing? If you’re 14-year-old Witze Boeykens from Belgium, the answer is, “attending your first-ever Monster Energy Cup in person”. An avid motocross fan and racer, Witze has dreamt of the day where he would have the opportunity to attend a Monster Energy Supercross race and to come face-to-face with his racing heroes. Thanks to a partnership with The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America as well as Make-A-Wish of Southern Nevada, his wish came true at the 7^th annual Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas, NV on October 14, 2017.

The Monster Energy Cup is a one-off, hybrid supercross/motocross race that attracts riders and fans from all over the globe. Unique in format, this event has both nothing and everything on the line, all at once. Imagine having the opportunity to race some of the toughest competitors in the world in a race that technically doesn’t count for anything – no series points are awarded and no champions crowned – yet from the moment the gate drops, riders are approaching the task at hand with a WFO mentality. Oh, did I forget to mention, the riders are racing for the Monster Million. That’s right, should a rider navigate his way to winning all three of the Main Events in the evening, they will go home with the largest purse in professional racing in the United States. One class, 22 riders, three Main Events, and one million dollars on the line. Although no official points are up for grabs, the Monster Energy Cup is the first event of the year where we are likely to see riders under their new tents for the first time, if they’ve signed new contracts for the upcoming season, as well as the first-look at everyone with their newly crowned professional numbers. Many riders are excited to show off the progress they made during the season in order to earn their new racing numbers and based on the sell-out crowd, it’s evident that fans are excited for the event as well. Since it’s inception, the Monster Energy Cup has packed Sam Boyd Stadium as fans from all over the world watch anxiously to see if this will finally be the year that a rider, once again, wins the Monster Million.

Just after birth, Witze was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis – a progressive, genetic disease that limits his ability to breathe and increases his potential to contract infections. Although his illness has forced him to be in and out of hospitals many times over the course of his young life, not once has Cystic Fibrosis ever slowed the motocross racer down. When he was approached by Make-A-Wish, Witze immediately knew what he would wish for – an opportunity to attend what he described as “the coolest race in motocross”, the Monster Energy Cup. Getting to spend the weekend with the family and documenting their experience at the Monster Energy Cup, I learned that Witze is a positive, outgoing, and determined young man who absolutely loves riding dirt bikes. Monster Energy Cup is a guaranteed unforgettable time for all fans, but in this instance, Feld Entertainment went above and beyond to provide an even greater world-class experience for the Boeykens Family as they helped fulfill Witze’s wish.

Wish Kid, Witze Boeykens (14), dad, Peter Boeykens, mom, Evi Foubert, and sister, Thannee Boeykens (17) were whisked away from their hometown in Bornem, Belgium to travel to Las Vegas, Nevada to witness, first-hard, the 7^th annual Monster Energy Cup. Their trip started with an invitation to the Pre-Race Press Conference where a wide-eyed Witze sat in the front row, mere feet from his racing heroes. An opportunity usually reserved only for members of the media, Feld Entertainment Inc. stepped it up a notch to make Witze’s experience one he’ll never forget. After the Pre-Race Press Conference, Witze was invited to participate in a one-of-a-kind experience where he got a mini riding lesson from none other than Ricky Carmichael, the “Greatest of all Time”. Although he is an avid rider in his home country, as a motocross fan, you don’t pass up the opportunity to learn from the GOAT. With a smile as wide as the start line, Witze suited up in some 2018 Thor motocross gear aboard a KX250F. After a quick lesson from Ricky Carmichael, Witze was ready to hit the track. Already elated that he had been given the opportunity to travel to the United States to attend the Monster Energy Cup, having the chance to ride on the very same track as the professional riders was the icing on the cake. Watching his family watch Witze have a chance to ride alongside Ricky Carmichael lit up their faces as bright as fireworks on the Fourth of July. After speaking with Witze’s mother, I learned that although Witze suffers from a respiratory illness, his doctors encourage him to continue riding his dirt bike. Not only does the riding seem to aide in keeping his lungs as healthy as possible, but it keeps his mental state much more positive than when he’s not riding.

Word spread quickly that a Make-A-Wish kid was attending the Monster Energy Cup and many of the teams were eager to step up and make Witze’s experience even more elevated than the specially designed starting gate. Team Honda HRC aided in presenting Witze with one of the most cherished experiences of his entire trip. Thanks to Team Honda HRC PR manager, Mandie Fonteyn, Witze was invited for a private tour of the Factory Honda rig – the same rig that his favorite rider, Ken Roczen, pits out of during the season. Witze and his father, Peter, looked happier than a child on Christmas morning as Mandie gave them the grand tour. “Here’s the drawer where we keep all of our sprockets. And if we need an extra set of bars we get them here,” said Fonteyn. As each drawer opened, the Boeykens family was more impressed and more in awe of the resources the factory riders have in order to go out and race their best race each and every weekend. Then Mandie showcased the titanium foot pegs used by the team riders that are created from a single block of titanium – making them incredibly light, but also astoundingly strong. Certainly not the most “trick” piece of equipment on the factory racing machines, but nonetheless impressive. The Boeykens family was having a remarkable time exploring through what Peter and Witze would consider a “dream garage and workspace” when Mandie surprised Witze with the perfect finishing touch to the tour. Holding her phone out for Witze to see, she pushed “play” on a special video message she had received from none other than Ken Roczen. Witze’s wide-eyes and shy smile quickly became overpowered by a smile that extended from ear to ear and could light up a room. Unfortunately, with all of his injury rehab and preparation for the 2018 season, Ken Roczen was unable to attend the 2017 Monster Energy Cup, but he still wanted Witze to know he was thinking of him and that he wished he could’ve been there in person to meet this remarkable 14 year old. As I continued to click away on my shutter, it was clear to see that Witze and his entire family were nothing less than elated by their experiences thus far while attending their first-ever Monster Energy Cup event.

As day turned to night and qualifying turned in to the Main Events, the already exciting day was just scratching the surface for the level of excitement that was to unfold when we dropped the gate. Ultimately, in a battle royale of epic proportions, Marvin Musquin ended up victorious in not one, not two, but all three of the motos – which meant that for only the second time since it’s inception, a racer would ride off into the evening a million dollars richer. It was the seventh annual running of the Monster Energy Cup and only the second time in history that a rider had won the Monster Million – lucky number seven, indeed. After watching the dominating performance by Frenchman, Marvin Musquin, it wasn’t long before the sold out stadium “renamed” the million-dollar purse to the “Musquin Million”. Will this be a preview of what’s to come in 2018? Who knows? But one thing is for certain, Witze Boeykens and his family had an unforgettable time at the Monster Energy Cup, a weekend of memories they will cherish forever thanks to the incredible team at Feld Entertainment Inc. and everyone who is part of the Monster Energy Supercross family.