Youth is motocross champ

Jack Ferrell was born to race motorcycles.

"I raced when I was a kid," said his father Robb. "Actually, (Jack's) grandma raced in California. My dad always worked for Suzuki. So it's pretty much in the blood."

Sixteen-year-old Jack just proved it by bringing home the Oregon State Championship trophy in the junior 250 motocross category.

Ferrell and his dad traveled all over the state to build the points to take the title. The 12-race season is a big commitment of both time and money. Robb Ferrell says that sponsorships from Ski Inn in Sisters, the clothing and decal maker First Gear Pinned Specialties of Washington and family members was critical to keeping Jack on the track.

"I can't do it on my own," Robb said. "It costs, depending on where we go, $300-$500 a weekend."

Jack got another big hand from a fellow racer in his last race. Jack's shifter broke during warmups - and he had to make the race to contend for the title. Fellow racer Trey Meek lent jack a bike and he hit the track and earned enough points to put him over the top.

That's a typical gesture in a race culture where the riders ride hard on the track but are willing to help each other out with parts or mechanical assistance.

It's not the safest hobby for a kid to take up. Jack's been riding since he was two and racing for the past six years. He's had a couple of bad wrecks. He blew out both knees and broke his ankles in one crash and suffered a gruesome injury training in Dry Canyon.

"I got a stick through my face," he said. "I was in surgery for 2-1/2 hours."

But Jack thinks it's all worthwhile. The Sisters junior says he has "really bad ADHD" and the racing helps keep him focused. His deal with his dad is that he maintains at least a "C" average in school to stay on the track.

Despite his success, Jack is realistic about his abilities. He doesn't think he's got the skills to ride as a pro.

"I'm not good enough to go professional, compared to the other kids out there" he said.

Ferrell is aiming for school to become a dirt bike mechanic so that he can stay in the sport and use his racing experience to help him tune bikes for racing performance.

Whatever the future holds, Jack Ferrell has a giant trophy to mark a successful season - and the knowledge that he has honorably upheld the family tradition.