Six weeks and 15,000 kilometres with some big motocross competitions in between. It was a supreme summer road trip for Vernon 12-year-old Mitchell Bradbury.
Until the last day of the Parts Canada TransCan Grand Nationals at Walton Raceway in Ontario when Bradbury crashed in an 85cc class race and broke his left collarbone.
“I kind of blacked out but I remember getting run over by two bikes,” said Bradbury, entering Grade 7 at Vernon Christian School. “I’ll have this sling on for a while, but I hope to be ready for the Arenacross at the beginning of October in Armstrong.”
Bradbury, accompanied by his father, Neil, on the summer trek, watched the Grand National 65cc finals from the hospital. He was in seventh place in a huge field when he crashed.
Sponsored by Golden Tire and Vernon Motorsports, Bradbury jumpstarted the summer by going undefeated at the Western Canadian Championships at Temple Hill Motocycyle Park in Raymond, Alta. He won all six rounds in the 65 and 85cc categories.
From there, it was on to Quebec for the Eastern Canada Amateur finals in Deschambault.
“The track was loose and sandy with lots of ruts,” said Mitchell. “It takes a whole different style of riding so the Eastern riders had an advantage. We got there a week early to practise, but it rained and we couldn’t get on the track.”
Bradbury crashed in three of six motos in the 85cc class, but had a third, fifth and sixth in the other three to end up fourth overall.
“I had some problems with my sparkplugs.”
He was impressed with the treatment of all the riders.
“They gave you a bottle of water as soon as you finished and they interview you. They prepped the track so well and it felt like one of the AMA events.”
He entered a pair of pro-ams in Moncton and finished third overall and then went to Ulverston, Ont. where he won the 65 and 85cc divisions.
Then it was the Grand Nationals in Walton, where two of the top American riders showed up. Bradbury posted a pair of fourths and a 12th in the 65cc and an 18th in the 85cc. He endured mishaps in his other motos.
Along the way, Mitchell toured Quebec City and bought a Honda pit bike while in P.E.I.
He now moves up to the 12-16 year division where they only ride 85cc bikes.
“This will be a full development year,” said dad Neil. “He will try and podium with the big boys.”
Mitchell, who is coached by pro Jeff Pettis of Prince George (ninth-ranked Canadian), hopes to qualify for the Loretta Lynns American Worlds in the next two years.
“You win at that and you’re going to Vegas,” he smiled.
Bradbury has been riding since he was four and has a bedroom full of trophies. He won $1,000 in equipment and accessories adfter being named the B.C. Motocross Association Road Warrior of the Year.
His mom, Tammie, missed this year’s road trip, but went on last summer’s 20,000-kilometre vacation.
