Gary LaPlante, MotoVentures Owner

Gary has over 41 years experience successfully riding and racing a wide variety of motorcycles and can teach and demonstrate most motorcycle riding techniques. Gary achieved several Arizona state trials championships before becoming nationally ranked 12th in 1976 while riding for Kawasaki. After that Kawasaki hired Gary to work in R& D as a test rider and mechanic and over the next 25 years Gary has held key positions in the motorcycle industry including PR Coordinator for Kawasaki, Engineer for American Honda's Product Development Dept., and as the Aftermarket Program Director for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Gary stays fit and currently maintains his trials and desert racing skills at a vet-expert level. Gary founded MotoVentures in 1998 and will probably run it for 20 more years because he's having so much fun.

Cynthia Cuellar, Marketing Manager

Cynthia has an Associate of Arts Degree and over 25 years experience in business, and sales. Her entrepreneurial spirit brings us many creative ideas in her marketing position.  Her responsibilities include marketing communications, sales development, e-commerce, social networking, accounting and all around “right hand gal” to Gary.  She splits her time between motorcycles and her other passion-Interior Design.  Cynthia has been with us for 2-1/2 years and her talent, ideas and enthusiasm have made her a vital part of team MotoVentures.

Brandon Hamlett, Instructor/Guide

Brandon is a fast intermediate motocross and desert racer who spends a lot of time riding around Ocotillo Wells SVRA and hanging out at the Desert Ironwoods Resort. Brandon enjoys racing and mountain bike riding and is MSF-Certified and emergency medically trained. In addition to excellent fitness and riding skills, Brandon brings excellent communication and people management skills. Brandon is plotting his next adventure now that the feeling has returned to his hands after recently finishing 2nd in the Ironman class at a 12-hour off-road race!
 

Rob Hock, Instructor/Guide

Rob is an ex-pro motocrosser and mechanic with 11 years experience in the motorcycle retail business. Rob can teach and demonstrate almost any riding technique. Rob has a work background that includes Information Technology and likes riding his dual sport bike in the mountains near his home in Riverside, CA. Rob is MSF-Certified and emergency medically trained and in addition to excellent fitness and riding skills, Rob brings great communication and people management skills. Rob is staying close to the ground these days and looking forward to Supermoto racing someday soon.

Andre LaPlante, Instructor/Guide

Andre is a fast intermediate motocrosser, expert trials rider and desert racer, and all around great motorcycle rider. Andre is Gary's son and enjoys hopping up anything with an engine, and over the years, has endured countless riding/camping trips, long days at the races, and even longer bench-racing sessions afterward. “AJ” occasionally competes in Gran Prix races, but also loves motocross and trials whenever he gets a chance. Andre has great people skills and looks forward to sharing his life-long knowledge of and enthusiasm for motorcycling with anyone that dad sends his way.

Bob Fallers, Arizona Guide

Bob has been riding and racing dirt bikes in Arizona since before they had a single shocks and riding gear consisted of a helmet, hiking boots, and gardening gloves. With a lifetime of riding, hunting and 4-wheeling across the state, nobody knows Arizona better than Bob. Bob anchored our Baja 1000 race in 2004, riding in the dark for 330 miles through silt beds and booby traps to finish 6th in class. Bob is durable and reliable and about as fun and friendly as a person can get. Bob and his son Robby own FWF Steel, a steel construction business in Phoenix, AZ., and for fun they race a Class 1 Truck in SCORE desert races.

Jose Armesto, Instructor and Colorado/Utah Guide

Jose has been riding and racing all his life and one of the fastest desert/mountain racers in Colorado. Jose and riding sidekick, Marty St. Martin (longtime family friend from Phoenix), have ridden or raced on most of the popular trails in Southwest Colorado, and because of that, not many people know this part of the country better than Jose.