Carlos Serrano is not only a father and a respected member of the community; he is also a world champion motocross competitor and professional NASCAR racer.
Today, the lifelong Tucson resident is sharing his knowledge with the public through Serrano Motorsports at 4532 S. 12th Avenue, Tucson. Serrano focuses exclusively on dirt bikes and quads, offering service, technical guidance and a commitment to safety and mentorship.
Serrano’s passion for motocross began early. At the age of 12, he received a mini-bike that he used to deliver newspapers before school.
With the money he earned from his paper route, he soon purchased a 125cc motorcycle.
“I would take it out to the desert to ride after school,” Serrano said. “I met a guy out there who had a real motocross bike. He lent it to me and showed me local races I could enter.”
That was at age 15, after he transferred to Sunnyside High School, which offered a nine-weeks-on, three-weeks-off academic schedule. This allowed him to compete in races, including those in California, during the breaks.
“I won my first eight races in a row. From then on, I have never looked back,” said Serrano, who graduated from Sunnyside in 1975.
Professionally, Serrano advanced rapidly, securing factory sponsorships and competing at the highest international levels. He participated in motocross, supercross, superbikes, and the International Grand Prix before retiring from full-time competition in 1987.
“Carlos is considered by many to be the most successful off-road racer that Arizona has ever produced,” said Randy Burnett, a former motocross racer and enthusiast.
“I thought I was fast, but Carlos was at a whole other level. He was faster than my dreams.”
Carlos Serrano races on his factory Moto Villa in Germany in 1983.
Serrano’s career highlights are numerous. He competed successfully throughout the United States, Europe and Latin America. For example, in 1980, he won the Gran Premio de Amistad in Mexico and both the 125cc and 250cc classes at the Copa de Cuba.
He raced in the 1983 250 World Championship Grand Prix motocross series across Europe as a factory-sponsored rider, qualifying consistently in the top 10 and leading the British Grand Prix.
He also won the 1983 Italian International Championship series, the 1982 Coors Regional Championship series in Oklahoma, the 1983 Arizona Grand Prix in Phoenix, and the 1985 Phoenix Grand Prix. He also competed in the nationally televised ABC “Wide World of Sports Superbikers” event in 1981 and 1982.
“When Carlos raced, the whole park (Tucson Motocross Park) stopped what they were doing to go to the fence and watch him,” said Tony Ciaravino, a longtime friend.
His transition to off-road car racing in 1986 was also successful, as he competed in American Desert Racing Association (ADRA) events in Arizona and Mexico, earning several victories.
In the 1990s, Serrano also raced stock cars in the NASCAR Winston Racing Series at Tucson Raceway Park, where he won numerous main events and was honored with awards, such as Rookie of the Year and Best Team Player.
He also received the Legends and Heroes Award at the AMA Supercross World Championship in Phoenix and, in 2012, was formally inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame.
Serrano credits his accomplishments to his family members and the many individuals who gave him decisive support.
“So many people helped me, like Jack Dillon and Ken Saunders of Eastside Cycles, who continuously overextended their help and sponsorship, and Tucson attorney Walter Nash, who handled my publicity and promotion,” Serrano said.
Serrano’s connection to Tucson is deeply rooted. He was born at St. Mary’s Hospital and continues to reside just two blocks away. One of his sons now works as a registered nurse at the same hospital. His second son serves as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force and works at the Pentagon, while his third son is a representative for a major house paint company serving Arizona.
The building that houses Serrano Motorsports has been in his family for generations. It originally served as the site of a steel manufacturing and welding business run by his grandfather and later his father. Serrano and his siblings worked in that business, gaining hands-on experience with metal fabrication, painting and industrial equipment. The space later became a veterinary supply store, Serrano’s Ranch Equipment. When his father’s health began to decline, the business evolved into Serrano Motorsports in 2000.
Serrano Motorsports is now an off-road shop dedicated to dirt bikes and quads. The business focuses heavily on repair work, restoration, and maintenance. Many of the bikes that Serrano works on have been idle for extended periods and are brought back to excellent working condition under his care.
Carlos Serrano shares riding time with his grandson.
“I love what I do,” he explained. “I know dirt bikes so well because I raced for 25 years as a pro motocross rider.”
He considers operating the shop to be his dream job. The customer base is also diverse, ranging from young riders and beginners to experienced competitors and longtime enthusiasts.
Among them is Hirotsune Tashima, a sculptor and head of the ceramics department at Pima Community College.
“Carlos is just amazing,” Tashima said. “He is truly one of the most accomplished motocross competitors in the world. To have him here in Tucson, working on my dirt bike and giving me guidance on my riding is unbelievable.”
In addition to his expert technical work, Serrano stated that he is dedicated to educating and mentoring young riders. He instructs them not only in bike handling and racing but also emphasizes the vital importance of safety.
“My whole life I have always tried to push safety,” Serrano said.
“I show young people how to ride safely, always wear appropriate safety gear and avoid risky activities, such as speeding past cars, doing wheelies, consuming alcohol and so on.
“Riding is dangerous, just by itself. If you are not putting safety first, you may become a statistic. The trick is to grow old and not be a statistic.”
Friend and fellow racer Tim Dolan agreed.
“Carlos is not just a great rider, racer and person,” Dolan said.
“He is a great storyteller. He helps a lot of riders. So many people come to his shop purely for his expert advice, and he often communicates that in the form of captivating stories from his life and career.”
Serrano also remains highly active in the riding community. At 68 years old, he continues to ride every weekend, whether with friends or alone. “There are a lot of really beautiful mountains here in Tucson,” he said. “I mostly ride in those mountains. There are so many beautiful places to see here locally.”
He is also very involved with the Trail Riders of Southern Arizona, an off-road nonprofit riding group with over 150 members that has been in existence for more than 20 years. The group regularly organizes rides and fundraising events.
Serrano’s commitment to the sport and to Tucson remains as strong as ever. “I am really grateful for all that the sport and my life and family in Tucson have given me,” Serrano said. “It has been a great life.”
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