Corbin Brinkley, 10, has been riding for four years.

Zach Newberry

Zach Newberry, a 16-year-old Lord Botetourt High School student, and Corbin Brinkley, a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Breckinridge Elementary School are in the top 20 qualifying competitors in their age classes in the four national regions of motocross. They competed Oct. 10 and 11 in the indoor National Motocross Championship being held at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

Zach Newberry's father, Mark, and stepmother, Michelle Newberry; and Sandra Brinkley, Corbin's mom, sent photos and provided information. Jay Brinkley, Greysen Newberry, Zach's sister; and Rachel Moss, Corbin's sister, round out the motocross families.

Zach has been competing for nine years. He finished second in the region on a competition that goes pretty much year round on the indoor and outdoor circuit. "Outdoor motocross is described as a fistfight and indoor like a ballet," said Mark Newberry. He and his family spend weekends traveling the East Coast competing in motocross events. "Motocross is a family. The kids and parents and siblings are all very close," Newberry said. The points from the competition build up, so Zach has really done well this year to get to Las Vegas. The bikes are leaving on a tractor-trailer out of Baltimore and should be there already. Zach and a friend are flying out, and his parents hope to get a last-minute ticket deal.

"This is a very expensive sport," said the Newberrys. "But, they have to be an athlete to compete. In the hot summer the temperatures soar inside the protective equipment. These kids have to be in really great shape, strong, maintain good nutrition and participate in a training program. It also causes them to be disassociated with their friends and schoolmates -- that is the downside. We leave on Friday and come back on Sunday. No rec sports for them. Zach chose to give all of that up to participate in motocross."

Corbin has been riding for four years. He finished first in his age division for the region. He competes in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. His bikes have been shipped out of North Carolina via tractor trailer. His family is flying out to Vegas with him.

Corbin very well maybe the first in Botetourt County at his age to be competing in a true national championship. All four regions of the country will send their best riders to Vegas and Corbin is the east region's very best in his age class.

Here are some facts about motocross that the families shared. Motocross is the second-largest motor spectator sport second only to NASCAR. A prayer service at the typically Sunday races so the spiritual needs of families are met. At the Atlanta Motocross, 74,000 spectators came to the event

The sport attracts youngsters, mostly boys, from ages 4 and up. It is a premier sport among males aged 5 to 30. Sponsors and advertisers are very important, and it is the draw of the youthful participant and spectator that is so appealing.

The Newberrys recognized Star City Power Sports in Roanoke for all of their hard work on Zach's bikes and also Moto-solutions for the detailing work.

The Brinkleys recognized Star City Powersports of Roanoke, WebFashionsLLC.com, Food Service Partners Inc and moto-solutions.com.

The family bond at competitions is very strong. "If your child gets hurt, the other families pitch in to break up your camp and pack for you so you can go to the hospital," said Brinkley.

There are no motocross tracks in Botetourt County, so the two families travel to Glade Hill, Axton and Danville to practice. The kids are serious about their schoolwork, and for the sponsors, schoolwork is part of how they choose riders.

Hopefully both boys will do well in the competition, but getting there has been a real goal and now they have chances to shine on the national level. Stay tuned for more.

Roanoke Valley Bandits 14U win Star City Challenge

The Roanoke Valley Bandits 14U baseball team won the Star City Challenge held on Sept. 12-13 at Christiansburg High School. Team members Nathan Arnold and Adam Thompson attend Read Mountain Middle School. Two others, Matthew Burd and Luke Waldek, attend Lord Botetourt High School.

Lord Botetourt golf

The Lord Botetourt golf team won the team regionals in Clifford at Winton Country Club last week and advanced to this week's state golf championship in Williamsburg. Clay O'Connor finished second in the medalist round but lead the Cavalier team with a 73. Ben Matthias shot a 75. The Cavs finished with 308 -- six shots ahead of Jefferson Forest.

Read Mountain Middle School football

The team has worked hard during summer practices and their work has paid off. Our RMMS cheerleaders entertain the crowd during halftime with a dance routine to "Thriller." GO STARZ!! The coaches for the Gray Team are Greg Craft, Chris Jewell and Shay Keesee.