Stellar MX is a rapidly growing custom motocross graphics and decals company. Many people see the big bus and the nice displays along with the graphics on the bikes of pro supercross professionals and the 2008, as well as 2009 Monster Energy Sponsors Cup Champions bikes. What many people don't know is the man behind the company, Billy Wood.


Imoto: Hey Billy, you and your family have been in the motocross industry for years, can you tell us how motocross came into your life.

BW: I was basically born into it. My grandparents started Barneys in 1946 in Illinois and then moved it to St. Pete location where the flagship store is today. Now there are three locations. My uncle Ray Hempstead and my brother K.C. Wood have done an amazing job growing the business.


Imoto: Did motocross ever overwhelm you or was it in your blood?

BW: I loved it from day one. I can remember sitting in school just watching the clock, looking forward to that final bell and getting on my BMX bike and hauling down to Barney’s to go practice. At that time there was nothing around Barney’s and my grandma owned all of the land around it so we had four different tracks. It was our Disney World! No pressure just straight up fun!!!!!!


Imoto: Throughout your racing days, when would you say you were at your best and what would be the biggest achievement for you?

BW: Probably my best would have been in 1981-82 where I had a full Yamaha support ride and was looking forward to running the outdoor nationals in the next year. That same year my cousin Todd Hempstead broke his neck at Gatorback which was devastating to me. He did make a full recovery which was a miracle in itself. Then we got the new 1982 YZ250 which had the radiator behind the front number plate. It was a piece of crap! The only person I ever saw that could ride one was Ricky Johnson. After breaking my wrist at the Winter Am and then again that summer I was really tired of getting hurt on that bike and was getting some pressure from the family to not ride. At that point I decided to go to college and did not ride a bike again again until 1992 after graduating college and was transferred there to work. I then started riding some vet stuff and won the Winter AMs a few times, a couple top fives in the Vet pro class at Mammoth and a few trips to Loretta’s which I would like to forget. I got on the podium four times for motos but never did put together a good week as I was suppose to win and put way too much pressure on myself. You would think after all those years I would have figured that out.


Imoto: If you could give one piece of advise to one child or amateur motocrosser, what would it be?

BW: Use MX to build yourself as a person and create some great friends and memories. There are only maybe 1% of people that race will make it a factory ride and actually have a career that will set you and your family up financially. Looking back it at now, it made me the person I am today by giving me self esteem and a never quit attitude. I have met and continue to meet the most amazing people in MX.


Imoto: You are still breathing motocross today with two businesses in the industry. What got you started in those adventures?

BW: After college I worked for two fortune 500 companies for 15 years and then one day the corporate world just got to me. I was tired of being told to do things that I really did not believe was right and I had enough. Just about that time Mike Floyd was selling FLMX and I thought that might be cool so we bought it. That has been really fun! Stellar came about kind of by accident. We were having problems getting stickers made and FLMX graphics so I was joking that I should just do it myself. 6 months later, we were printing our first set of graphics.


Imoto: Stellar MX is a fairly new company, what is your goal for the future of Stellar MX?

BW: It was our two year anniversary at the 2009 Mini O’s. It has been a steep learning curve!!!!!!! Not knowing anything at all about that market and having no budget to start it has been really tough. We have come a long way. Over the last year we have won 14 Amateur titles, have been on the podium twice in AMA SX with the Butler Brothers, and have won the Dade City Sponsors Cup for the last two years. Our amateur program just got stronger too with the recent signings of Jordan Bailey and Christina Older, which should both bring home some titles in 2010. We are working on some pretty big sponsorship and distributor deals which will put Stellar right there with the likes of N-Style and Factory Effex. We currently ship all over the world and have four overseas distributors and see no reason to stop there! We do not want to just stop with graphics as we plan on getting into gear and helmets in the future.


Imoto: Where will the big bus be this year in 2010 and how do people get ahold of Stellar Graphics?

BW: We will be at a few of the last Winter Ams, some of the South Florida series, Loretta’s qualifiers, Dade City Sponsors Cup, Loretta’s, some of the East Coast SX rounds, Gold Cups, Mini O’s, and of course some our Stellar Classic race which we are working on making bigger and better (secret details to come). We can always be reached on our website www.stellarmx.com , our Facebook (which we will start actively posting on now that we have our fan base built up to over 1,000) , and our office at 727-808-0357. You can also come by the bus and check us out and say hi.


Imoto: Thanks Billy! Any final words?

BW: Thanks for checking in and we look forward to a big 2010 for FLMX and Stellar MX. We are also always looking for ideas and comments on both companies as you guys are the ones that make us go.

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