Hayden Cusworth | Being Deaf Is Just Another Obstacle on the Motocross Track

Hayden Cusworth | Being Deaf Is Just Another Obstacle on the Motocross Track

By Billy Rainford

Riding and racing Motocross is one of the most physically demanding and mentally taxing activities you can take on. Now imagine doing it with one of your senses missing. Hayden Cusworth from Simcoe, Ontario, began riding doing just that as a deaf person.

Born deaf, hearing isn’t something that was taken away after riding for years developing the skills to cope. Instead, Hayden had to ride as a complete beginner without the ability to hear what shifting through the gears sounded like. That must have been tough.

Today, he’s continuing to move forward with his riding. He’ll move to the more competitive AMO series with hopes of making it to the TransCan at Walton Raceway. But his ambition doesn’t stop there, though.

We spoke with Hayden to get to know him and what he’s been up against a little better.

Hello, Hayden. First off, can you tell us where you’re from, how old you are and how you got into Motocross in the first place?

Hayden Cusworth: I started to ride at 4 years old on a Suzuki 50cc just for fun around at the house.

Interestingly, you were actually born deaf, thought, right? Do you remember what that was like when you first ride to ride a dirt bike? It must have presented some challenges.

Yes, I was born deaf and got surgery on my cochlear on my head metals and started ride dirt bike at 4 years old. I want to become a pro racer as a career.

Can you feel what the bike is doing to let you know when to change gears?

When I was on an 85cc, Trevor McKee helped teach me that when I feel the vibration of the dirt bike to gear up and follow 1 2 3 4 5 6.

I have to assume you look up to Ashley Fiolek? She actually took my good friend to the ESPY Awards with her and her dad, Jim Fiolek, is a huge Tragically Hip fan! Was she your inspiration?

I know who Ashley Fiolek is but I’ve never met her. I would to like meet her and train with her but it’s just too far for me.

Before I forget to ask you, would you consider riding an electric bike? That would take all the sound out of the equation, no?

I rode an electric bike before but it’s kind of hard for me. I only love 2-strokes!

You took a bit of a break from riding and racing during the COVID years, right? How was it to get back to riding and racing again?

I took a long break during COVID-19. It was a long time not to practice or race and when Gopher Dunes finally opened in the summer I went to practice and it was fun on my Honda 150CRF. I got a Yamaha YZ 125 to race the new season and it was great. I was 2nd in the summer season and 1st in the fall season.

You got another ear implant, right? Has that solved the sound issue or is it still the same challenge to ride a dirt bike?

I got an ear implant but now it’s not working because it has expired. I’m getting a new ear this year so I was just feeling the dirt bike.

Right now you’re concentrating on racing the TVR series, correct? What classes do you race and how did you do last season?

I had raced TVR for many year and I’m in MX C. It was great and fun to race, but I’ll move to Amateur Motocross Ontario (AMO) this year.

What did you get up to over these cold winter months? Do you ever get to head south to train for the upcoming season?

Winter time I never go south. I really wanted to go there and maybe next year I could go to get some training time in.

Do you still go to EC Drury School for the Deaf in Milton? What are your career goals?

I used to go to school at EC Drury School for the Deaf. My goal is to race dirt bikes as a Pro career and I’m in school at Mohawk College now.

I know you really want to race the TransCan at Walton Raceway in 2025. What are your racing plans this coming summer?

I plan to go to the TransCan this summer, yes. If I’m doing well in AMO with points then yes I will go there for my goal to get a championship for the deaf.

What advice would you give someone who wanted to get into racing but is also having to overcome some challenges?

No harm in trying something that’s good for them and just dive in. Never be afraid to get into something that you never know you may like. That’s how I was when I first started.

OK, thanks for telling us your story and chatting with us. I’d like to wish you all the best achieving your goals. Good luck this season and we’ll keep an eye out for the #267 this summer.

Thank you.