I’m gonna defend Travis on this one. I like the guy, personally and professionally. When my son began racing some 12 years back, Travis was just a coupple of years older than he was and he took him under his wing, so to speak. He was a such a motivator and encourager. His love for the sport and for the younger kids was always evident. He has always had a bit of daredevil in him, just ask Deb Pastrana, and he’s doing what he loves to do. There’s no harm in that as he doesn’t put anyone at peril other than himself. Watch 199 Lives; The Travis Pastrana Story to get just a bit of a feel for who he is. He really is a great all around guy. Young and foolish perhaps, but a great guy and a fantastic entertainer.
I don’t doubt that he’s a decent person and I didn’t say anything about him personally—just that the show is stupid. Back-flipping lawn tractors is not a sport. Duct-taping your fat friend to an office chair and pushing him down a hill is not a sport. I may be a bit of purist when it comes to off-road racing. Because of that, I can’t stand watching these shows that give motorcross racers a label of being young and stupid.
I just think the show is dumb, for money and show, and played out. People getting rich for being idiots. It’s what our society has come to.