Levi Nelson continues to establish himself on the track.
The 18-year-old motocross racer, in just four years on the B.C. Motocross Association circuit, has gone from a junior rider with the Cariboo Motocross Association to being on the brink of turning pro.
Nelson, who began riding when he was six years old, finished second in the Intermediate GP division and third in the Intermediate MX2 events at October’s BCMA provincial championships at Kamloops’ Whispering Pines motocross track.
Nelson races in the Intermediate 250cc class.
“They call it intermediate but it’s for anyone under 24 years old,” Nelson said. “Intermediate is all the kids trying to turn pro.”
The 10-race series sent Nelson to races around the province including events in Kamloops, Penticton, Smithers, Terrace, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Prince George and Kelowna.
At this year’s Williams Lake races in June, Nelson took several first-place finishes.
“Next year we’re planning on going to the Western Canadian Amateur Nationals [in Raymond, Alta.],” Nelson said. “If you do well at that, if you finish in the top three, you go to the Canadian Amateur Nationals [in Walton, Ont.]. and that’s one of the biggest events in Canada.”
And if all goes according to plan and Nelson can avoid injuries, the local rider said he plans to turn pro.
In the meantime, in order to keep riding and keep busy over the winter, Nelson is racing in the Future West Arenacross Series.
About two weeks ago Nelson was in Penticton competing in an arenacross event.
“I was leading the whole way and on the very last corner on the last lap I fell,” he said. “Someone dropped his bike and it was just bad luck.”
Nelson’s next race is the arenacross Regional Competition at Heritage Park in Chilliwack on Jan. 20. On Jan. 27, Nelson will again be back on the track in Chilliwack for another event.
He added the support he’s received from his local sponsors has been phenomenal.
“Heino Seibert at Spectra Power Sports, he gives me a [Kawasaki] KX250F and he lets me use that for the year,” Nelson said.
He added Peterson Contracting, Integra Tire and local motocross professional Brock Hoyer have been a huge help.
“Brock helps me with training and pretty much everything else I need,” he said.