AMSOIL Swapmoto Race Series Profile | Greg Starkey

Greg Starkey
Age: 28
Classes: Vet Open & 25+ Novice
Hometown: Redondo Beach, California

There’s an idea that motocross is limited to just the blue-collar crowd, but believe us, that couldn’t be further from the truth. We’ve met riders of every age, size, and social or professional background with the Swapmoto Race Series, and all of them share a common interest in the sport. That’s especially so in the Vet Classes, where every rider has an occupation that funds their weekends at the track and no two are exactly the same. On one gate you could meet a plumber, a barber, a computer support technician, a financial advisor, a roofer, and a hospital staff member. At some point in time, you’re going to need their advice or assistance, and it’s always good to find someone with a shared interest. That’s exactly what we did when we needed an accountant for our new company.

Greg Starkey is a life-long rider from Redondo Beach. Through the week, Starkey works at the Torrance firm Richardson Kontogouris Emerson (RKE) LLP as a CPA and on the weekend, he lines up in the Vet Open and 25+ Novice classes at the Swapmoto Race Series. “I’ve ridden since I was 10 years old. I grew up riding in the desert, but only started to ride at tracks five years ago,” he shared between motos at Milestone MX Park. “I did my first race ever when I was 18 years old. It was at Pala Raceway for a GP. On the first lap I laid the bike over and snapped a titanium footpeg off, so I figured my racing days were done.” A spot on the track team at USC meant that Starkey had to park the bike for a few years, but once he received his degree, he became a regular at the Southern California riding spots and decided to try racing again with our series. “Being a desk jockey, you have to come out every now and then to dust the cobwebs off. It’s something that I really look forward to. In the desert, you can cruise and relax. But at the track, you’re wide-open the whole time. Your body is tense and the adrenaline is wide-open, but it’s a lot of fun.”

As with any motorcycle enthusiast, Starkey wanted to find a way to tie his career with his passion. When Swap posted an Instagram Story that explained how we were in need of some business assistance for SML, Starkey saw it as his opening and replied. “I’ve been trying to meet Donn for years. Out of the blue, Donn posted something on Instagram that said he needed a CPA and I thought, ‘Well maybe he will respond. I’m a moto guy, so this may work.’ So I sent him a direct message and we met up after that,” said Starkey. What exactly does a CPA do? Starkey said that he has an array of responsibilities that can be a help for any sort of business. “A CPA wears a lot of hats. We are business advisors, we work with the strategy of the company. It’s not always about the taxes. We want to help you bring the most money possible in and we can help in every industry. Swapmoto Live is my first moto client, but I’m trying to break into the sport with our business. If anyone is looking for advice or a second opinion, they can look me up and I’ll be more than willing to help!”