WAIALE'E — Despite constant drizzle and muddy trails, hundreds of helmet-wearing dirt-bike riders raced around the Kahuku Motocross Park yesterday, a day after a man died from injuries suffered there.

"The sport is dangerous, but so is crossing the street," said John DeSoto, former city councilman who was at the park Sunday and has been riding for more than 50 years. He's broken his back in two places, dislocated his shoulder, had three knee surgeries and sustained 11 concussions. "Even when you wear the proper (safety) attire, those things can happen. That's the kind of sport it is. It's a risk."

He was taken in critical condition to Kahuku Hospital, where he died. An autopsy is scheduled today to determine the cause of death.

Many riders at the park yesterday said they didn't know Souza personally, but any death within this community, they said, is hard to take.

"It's sad that an incident like this happened," said DeSoto, 60. "But it's part of the sport. ... Hopefully it will make people realize and understand the risk they're taking."

POPULARITY SURGE

Motocross, an offshoot of the British event called Scrambles, has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, particularly with its exposure on ESPN's X Games.

Over the decades it has evolved to include sub-disciplines such as Supercross and Arenacross. Freestyle events, made popular by X Games vets Chuck Carothers and Travis Pastrana, incorporate jumping and aerial acrobatics.

The Hawai'i Motorsports Association, which oversees the Kahuku park that is on state land, has grown from about 300 registered members 10 years ago to more than 1,000 today.

Nationally, there are about 250,000 registered members of the American Motorcyclist Association, according to its Web site. The average age of its members is 40.

At the Kahuku Motocross Park, riders range in age from 4 to 80, said Allen Kirkpatrick, a volunteer marshal.

'A FAMILY SPORT'

Though people have been riding dirt and trail bikes in Hawai'i for decades, veteran riders say there are more people getting into the sport now than ever before.

"It's become such a popular sport," said veteran rider George Demesillo, 55, of 'Ewa Beach, who's been riding at the park since it opened more than 30 years ago. "There are guys coming here I never seen before. ... It's really grown from how it used to be."

He said the bulk of new riders are spouses, children and grandchildren of park regulars, who turn weekends into family outings complete with tents, folding chairs and coolers.

There are between 300 and 500 people who head to the North Shore race park every weekend. Monthly races draw thousands.

"It's really a family sport," said park regular Thad Kamaka'ala, 50, of Punalu'u, whose two children compete in motocross. "A lot of people are coming up here now and bringing their kids. You see a lot of families at the races with grandma and grandpa watching. It's good fun."

As with any sport, motocross can be dangerous. It's not unusual for riders to get injured, sustaining everything from concussions to broken bones, said park marshals.

Yesterday, 17-year-old Lucas Luehrs flew over his handlebars while riding in the same area where Souza was injured. He hurt his right shin and waited for his dad to pick him up.

Gena Demesillo, 16, remembers watching paramedics carry away a man who got injured during a trail ride. The sight traumatized her.

"I saw his face, and it was horrible," said the Waipahu High junior who's been riding for 10 years. "I'm a lot more cautious now when I ride."

SAFETY FIRST

There are dozens of caution signs at the park, reminding riders to wear helmets and heed speed limits on roadways.

Volunteer marshals roam the more than 400 acres to ensure riders are wearing full safety gear — helmets, goggles, boots, long-sleeve shirts and pants — and riding safely.

Still, accidents happen. And with the growing number of riders, particularly novice ones, coursing throughout the park, it's impossible to always prevent them.

"Every sport is dangerous," said Kamaka'ala, who has broken his ankles and cracked his ribs while riding. "But if you use common sense, it's a nice sport."