By Claire Cornelius

On a whim, 8-year-old Lake Havasu City local Torey Matajcich stumbled into the world of off-road racing when she participated in her first race while camping with her family.

“I got last place,” Matajcich said. “I came off the track and I was not very happy. It sparked something in me that was like, ‘I want to win.’”

Since that fateful day, Matajcich has been in pursuit of that victorious feeling. Her dedication culminated in her achievement when she first clinched the WORCS Racing Women’s ATV Pro championship in 2018. Impressively, she didn’t stop there; Matajcich went on to defend her title for five consecutive years.

That first championship win is her proudest moment of her career.

“After a few rough years with injuries and mechanical issues, winning the championship was a huge achievement for me,” Matajcich said.

Integral to Matajcich’s journey has been the unwavering support of her stepfather, who has played a pivotal role in both her life and successful racing career. From turning wrenches on her ATV to providing valuable insights into her rides, he has been a constant source of guidance and encouragement.

“He always wants the best for me and I definitely couldn’t do it without him,” Matajcich said.

Matajcich’s journey in off-road racing has offered her a unique perspective on the challenges it presents.

“I’ve played many sports, and all of them have been hard,” Matajcich said. “But racing has a huge mental part to it because it’s such a dangerous sport.”

Matajcich’s devotion to off-road racing has been all-encompassing.

Photo courtesy Torey Matajcich

“It’s been my whole life,” Matajcich said. “And a lot of people don’t realize that I’ve given up all school events like dances and college. My whole childhood has been racing.”

Matajcich gives back to the members of the off-road racing community who have made that same sacrifice by hosting training sessions for all age groups.

Among the nine races that WORCS organizes in a season, the event hosted in Lake Havasu draws the largest crowd.

“Havasu is such a hot spot for racing,” Matajcich said. “The race on the island is such a cool destination and we have the water jump where the riders jump over the water right by the lake.”

The next WORCS race in Lake Havasu is slated for the weekend of March 15, at Crazy Horse Campgrounds.

Photo courtesy Torey Matajcich and Harlen Foley with Dirt Nation Photography