Speedy Gets His Bike

When Livermore Police Officer Rich Hill responded to a report of a burglary in Springtown in January, he knew taking a police report wouldn't be enough.

Not after seeing a boy trying to cope with the loss of his motocross bike.

"You can just see the look on his face," Hill said of the boy, known as Speedy. "He was devastated."

Speedy, born Justin Johnson, has been riding dirt bikes since age 3. He's now 6.

The young rider was gearing up for his first race after his mom, Jill, and dad, Ed, recently granted permission.

"We were upset and disappointed over being burglarized," Jill said. "But it was also disappointing to see (Speedy's) dream of doing something is now gone. He had been asking to race for a couple years."

Jill and Ed planned on getting Speedy a replacement bike, but they had no idea it would arrive so fast.

Enter Officer Hill.

Maybe it was because he too rides motocross. Or maybe it was seeing the devastated look on Speedy's face.

Whatever the case may be, one things for certain: Hill pulled his resources together to get Speedy a new bike.

"I have a good group of friends and we ride all the time," Hill said. "Everyone was all for it and in 24 hours we were able to raise enough to purchase a replacement bike."

Hill is a member of the Bay Area chapter of the Over the Hill Gang motocross group. Donations were made from officers and members of the Over the Hill Gang's Bay Area and Sierra chapters.

A member of the club had a bike for sale similar to the one stolen from Speedy. He decided to sell it at a cheaper price as part of his contribution.

Hill then took the bike to his friend Chris Conley, who owns the the Rub It Graphics shop in town.

Conley donated a set of graphics to model the bike after one used by Speedy's favorite pro rider, Chad Reed.

Shane Bernal, who owns Bernal Racing in town, gave the bike a tune up and made sure it was safe and ready to go.

On Feb. 12 Hill invited Speedy and his family to the tracks of Club Moto Motocross to present the bike to Speedy.

The owners of Club Moto also donated a free session for Speedy to test out his bike.

"It was a group effort," Hill said. "People know how devastated a kid can be, especially after having something they are really passionate about taken away from them. I just did what I thought needed to be done."

And it's a gesture the Johnsons won't forget.

"For them to take a completely horrible situation and completely turn it around is incredible," Jill said. "Officer Hill went way over and beyond anything we expected, and we're very appreciative."

As for Speedy?

He's expected to compete in his first race in March.