Mr. Staten

 

The man behind The Rocket - His dad Slim Staten. Photo courtesy Rex Staten, 2025. 

    Slim here is riding one of Rocket's YZ400's on a practice day.  When Rex used to go practice, he had 2 bikes and he would ride one for an hour and then his dad would have the other one ready for him to jump on and keep practicing for another hour. While Rex was out rocketing around the practice course, Slim would make pit adjustments, fuel up and such to have the #2 bike ready to out again for Rex's punishing 1 hour rides again back to back. Rex didn't stop to rest, he jumped on the #2 bike and took off again. This happened all day long. Rex always rode an equivalent of 4-5 continuous long motos on his practice days. Nobody worked out more and harder than The Rocket thanks to his blue collar race ethic to win at whatever it took, and his sometimes very tough, but loving dad.

ROCKET REX YZ250

 Here is one of Rockets Saddleback practice bikes fully restored to Rockets specs. The machine resides in a private museum.

Click for website review of this historical YZ.

 

 

Before and After

Staten Wears Well

 

Lifetime Acheivement Award

At Glen Helen, the Rocket standing proud

next to his largest trophy.

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS REX!

Staten Ripping Deadman’s

Before Rex became known as ‘The Rocket’ he was tearing up the High Desert dirt at Deadman’s Point MX in Apple Valley, Ca. Photo courtesy Robert Stephenson Sr.

Join the Deadman’s Point MX Group on FaceBook. Click here.

ROCKET REX Tribute by MOTOCROSS ACTION MAGAZINE