High Ridin’ Todd Bannister
by Luke Schmaltz
Todd Bannister is a competitive dirt bike rider, participating in the Monster Energy AMA (American Motocross Assn.) Supercross Championship.
For the uninitiated, this extreme iteration of motocross features pyrotechnics, huge jumps, and hairpin turns on a track of dirt and mud that looks like it is designed to punish as much as it is to entertain.
Meanwhile, stadiums full of exuberant fans cheer on their favorite riders and savor the carnage when the inevitable body-mangling pileups take place.
Road Worthy
Although he was born in Colorado Springs, Bannister currently resides in Eaton, Colo. That is, when he isn’t out on the road pushing his personal boundaries to further his position in the overall rankings.
Bannister competes as a “privateer” which means he is not a corporate-sponsored, factory-backed rider with a huge team of technicians, an enormous budget, and the high-profile hoopla that comes with all of the hype.
To the contrary, Bannister exudes positivity, humility, and a genuine smile that no doubt makes his handful of sponsors, his family and his fellow member of Team Faith proud to be in his corner.
Doggone Exciting: Colorado hero, shown with his riding companion, competes in the Supercross circuit with a winning smile.
Vision And Purpose
Team Faith was founded in 1994 by Brian O’Rourke, a former high-level competitor in the sport who now serves as Manager and Team President.
O’Rourke’s vision is to imbue the tremendous impact extreme sports stars have on young people with a positive, constructive message.
After all, athletes in Supercross and other arenas are highly influential, especially through social media, and O’Rourke vows to “influence the influencers with the message of Christ.”
Emulate Your Hero
O’Rourke’s team consists of Road Pastors, Pit Pastors, mechanics, former riders, his wife and PR Director Monica, and a handful of professional riders. As a rider for Team Faith, one of Bannister’s roles is to spread the good word while competing at his highest level in Supercross.
While being guided by his team’s evangelical endeavors, Bannister also looks to his personal Supercross hero, Trey Canard, for human inspiration. Canard is a former five-time Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion (among other accomplishments) while also holding the unofficial title of “The Unluckiest Rider Ever.”
His crash reel plays like a cautionary video shown in a driver’s education class or something a doting parent would show to a child showing interest in motorcycles. Yet his personal faith and positive outlook always helped him overcome adversity and forge onward.
Returns From Injury
Up In The Air: Bannister soars above the track in dirt bike competition. The sport requires monstrous jumps and pinpoint landings. Photo: Dave Black
“That guy [Canard] is such an awesome dude,” Bannister begins. “His faith with Jesus has taught me a lot. I like to put that towards my racing and my career, especially with my team [which is] a ministry. He always had such a great attitude on life no matter what. Whenever he had something go wrong, he put his best foot forward and just kept on going. I always put [him] as someone to strive to be like,” Bannister explains.
Just like his hero, Bannister recently suffered a shoulder injury which sidelined him for most of the 2022 season.
April 30th at Empower Field at Mile High marked his return to the Supercross track and doing so in his home state made the event extra special.
“Colorado has its own feel,” Bannister explains. “The track here [at Mile High] is a little harder packed and the altitude has an effect too. It’s high altitude and I like it,” he says with a grin.
Breaking Bread
Feeding The Faith: Team Faith spreads the good word and feeds hungry riders at event competitions.
Understandably, Bannister likes high-energy music, and orchestrates his pre-race ritual accordingly. “I’m a really big punk rock guy,” he explains. “I also like pop-punk, so I usually go for a lot of Blink 182.”
As a member of Team Faith, Bannister also participates in the weekly ministry-based practice of feeding anyone and everyone in the race paddock (race team staging area) who might need a meal. With all of the privateer racers on a budget, it can amount to quite a few people.
“My favorite thing we cook that I like is the chicken because it’s healthy,” he laughs, “I go with that and a salad. I keep it kind of light because I have to race. I don’t care who you are, you’re always going to be nervous to a certain extent, so I try to keep the food down.”
Hometown Hero
A hometown hero, Bannister is quick to describe his love for his home state, “Colorado has its own feel. Nothing is like home,” he says.
“This sport requires huge jumps,” he notes. When Bannister is soaring above the track, for just a moment, he says, “A lot is happening really quickly … you just pinpoint a line and you do it in, literally, like, half a second.”
He sticks the landing and rides on.