After clipping on his white and black Fox boots, freshman Justin Belley squeezes his head into his red Shoei helmet. He pulls on his gloves, closes his eyes and puts his hand over his heart. “The Star-Spangled Banner” plays through his ears as the racing crowd patriotically sings along. Once the anthem finishes, the racers group at the start line. Belley’s heart pounds and his breath quickens, then a shot fires and the race begins.

“Motocross is a sport that takes a lot of guts,” Belley said. “When you’re flying through the air it can be really nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time.”

Since he was eight years old, Belley has raced his red crf250r Honda dirt bike once or twice every week. He saw an advertisement on TV for motocross and decided to give it a shot. He has raced ever since.

“Motocross is the most physically demanding sport and it feels good to know that I’m a part of it,” Belley said. “It’s not a wimpy sport like football or soccer. In soccer you get tapped and fall to the ground, and in football you have giant pads on. In motocross, you just have your jacket, pants and helmet.”

Belley competes with people 16 years old and up in races and jumps. On some of the jumps he gets as high as ten to 40 feet in the air.

“Motocross is a very dangerous sport,” Belly said. “I’ve only broken my collarbone and gotten a few concussions, which is pretty lucky. Some people get beaten up real bad and have to go to the ER. When I’m flying through the air, I just think to myself, ‘land on two wheels.’”

Belley races with his friends at the Austin Del Valle Motocross Track. He’s been attending this race track for the seven years that he’s been involved in motocross and plans on continuing there.

“At the start line I get pretty nervous,” Belley said. “Everyone is lined up within a foot of each other, but once the race begins I feel free. I don’t have to worry about school, or homework or chores, all I have to worry about is crossing that finish line.”

To train, Belley does everything from lifting weights to road and mountain biking. He competes in practice motos, which are basically practice races, with his friends at the Austin Del Valle Motocross Track.

“I plan on competing professionally because I can make the big bucks doing something that I love to do,”Belley said. “Every time I get on my bike, everything seems more peaceful. I feel like Motocross was what I was meant to do.”