With one dad's bike in pieces and another's sitting in a thief's garage, midwestmotocross.com Editor James Holter and Senior Correspondent Mike Keefe Sr. pounced on an opportunity to get their eager sons some early season riding time in mid-February.

While the mud was too deep and thick at much of Fox Valley Off Road in Wedron, Ill., for these high-strung Polinis and their 10-inch wheels, there were a few dry or frozen strips through a field that made for some good drag racing. Using some old banners laying next to what owner Gerhard Ward is promising will be a mini track one day, a marker for cornering practice was easily made.

When both bikes and riders got warmed up and broken loose, the play riding was quick and furious. Blocks were laid down. Riding partners were out-gunned. And tearful motocrossers trying to exact revenge for a previous pass had to be forced from a make-shift track to warm away the numbness in their hands. The determination was just like that found in a real race, but in a flat field with what amounted to garbage playing the part of imaginary berms. Do these kids care? Yes. They care.

So, if you're watching the weatherman or pondering the actions of groundhogs, we have some good news for you. It's officially time to ride. What's the science? That's easy. Just ask any motocrosser. Winter ends when the anticipation of spring begins.