Anthony Charette is the son of former CMC Pro and longtime San Diego motocrosser, David Charette. David Charette spent his childhood on the Southern Californian symbols of moto legend such as, Carlsbad Raceway, Saddleback, Escape Country and the original Four Corners track. Four Corners was on the Barona Mesa, just a few miles from it’s predecessor Barona Oaks, which now sits on the Barona Indian Reservation near Ramona, California. David Charette rode the popular bikes of the time, starting on a Hodaka Super Wombat, moving on to a Penton 125, and after taking a break from racing, came back on a Maico 400 to win a CMC Golden State Title in the early eighties. To say that Anthony Charette had a motocross influence, is a mild understatement at best, as he was raised around roost.

Charette’s moto beginnings like many before him started on the mini track at Barona Oaks, racing in the 50 First Timers on the workhorse of mini bikes, the Yamaha PW50. However as evident by seeing him in person, he is a tall individual, and was as a child and out grew the PW50 within a month of racing and on to the 60’s.

Racing on a 60 at eight and a half years old, he was soon up to 80’s by the time he was nine and a half years old. Motoing at Barona Oaks regularly he had his first motocross series title at 10 years old in the 80 (7-11). At eleven years old the Charette family was racing other tracks on the Southern California scene, and ventured out to see how he would do on the Amateur circuit against racers of National caliber. Qualifying for the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championship at Hurricane Mills, Tennesse, he was jinxed by the ever-present injury troll six weeks before Loretta’s, breaking his arm.

As he approached thirteen years old, he received a Yamaha YZ125 for Christmas, shortly thereafter he switched to KTM. The KTM decision was treated with sweetness at round one of the 2001 Perris Raceway Fall Series, as he won his first Novice race ever. He then rolled on to grasp the Fall title. Turning fourteen as he entered the 2002 Amateur Nationals the jet blast was at full ignition with the tall lanky teenager qualifying for Loretta’s. After showing promise in 2002, Charette move up to the Intermediate class and was again on a tear locally and qualified for Loretta’s for his second year in a row. Combating injuries Charette had a slow year in 2004.

The golden days were soon to arrive as Charette came into his own and be recognized as a Nationally ranked racer in 2005. The Charette family hit the road in big time fashion, touring the country for great results and they got them. At the Lake Whitney Spring Classic, Charette had his best overall for the event in the 250cc + Open Amateur, scoring a 7th overall. He had some top five finishes in motos of other classes, with his next best overall a 12th in the 4-Stroke 201-650cc. At Ponca City, Oklahoma, in August the tiger was unchained. Showing up at 2005 Ponca he was there to win as he ripped the qualifiers in the 125 Intermediate going 2-1 to finish 1st in his division, then raced to a 5th overall in the main. The 250 4-Stroke Non-Pro class was another strong performance as he got a 2nd in his qualifier, going to the main for a 3rd overall. The Ponca success was a high point of Charette’s racing career and peaked his confidence and enthusiasm to keep on pushing.

Charette’s exercise regime could put the screws to alot of sesoned athletes who would dare to train with him, on an average day he does an extended time of spinning, onto the tread mill for three miles, and hit the ground running anywhere from three to six miles. He alternates this with days of upper body workout, three miles of road running, and ten miles of cycling. He also rows twice a week on Mission Bay in a single man sculling boat, joining the crews for some group rowing every so often. Charette is on to something here, rowing or sculling like Charette does, is known to be as beneficial as any exercise on the planet for a full body workout and aerobic benefits. A lot of Charette’s training come in the form of what else but track time. He rides anywhere from three to five times a week, a lot of this has to do with helping out with track testing for Team KTM. He has also included the full package of training vision by paying attention to his diet, doing his best to stick to fruits and vegetables and stay away from fast foods, the occasional order of French fries is not completely out of the question though.

Like atypical teenager Charette has other interest like motocross, well that was his first answer, but I coaxed him into telling me some other likes, paintball, RC cars, and mountain biking were the answers. He has been home schooled for over two years now carrying a 3.0 GPA. He is well into the trigonometry level in math, and has his eyes set on being a Mechanical Engineer.

I asked how he felt his chances of becoming a top flight pro were? He said he has a chance, just need to keep up the effort required to get there, adding, “be awesome to make it, sponsors have helped me a lot, stay focused.” His plans for the rest of 2006 are the World Mini’s in Las Vegas, Mammoth, Ponca City, , Loretta’s, and of course the local tracks. He plans on staying in the A class until Loretta’s is over, and we will be hitting the rest of the National circuit. He will continue to saddle KTM’s 4 strokes.

Charette would like to thank KTM, All American KTM, Fox , Scott, Motorex, Precision Concepts, Kenda, Monster, Universal, Sponsorhouse, Rick Moore Photography, Cahuilla Creek MX, and most of all Mom and Dad who have supported him throughout the moto dream.