Motocross: Fast track to the top

Not even a shocking record of breaking his arms five times can keep Australind motocross sensation Sam Reeves off his bike.

Reeves, 19, has been forced to overcome a number of injury setbacks including breaking his left arm four times and his right arm once — perhaps the best indication of the lengths he is prepared to go to in his bid to make it in the sport.

But it all appears to be paying off for the tough teenager, who will from June 3 to 5 strut his stuff against the likes of British champions Jamie Law and Bryan Mac-Kenzie, and 21-year-old American prodigy Bryce Vallee at the Manjumup 15,000 Motocross Looking back on the injuries, Reeves conceded it had been tough at times, but the setbacks had only made him want to compete more.

As a 15-year-old he even managed a rare double, breaking both his right and left arms while riding.

‘‘That really sucked for a while, I couldn’t really do anything,’’ Reeves said.

‘‘At the start (of my recovery) I was just getting through the process of mending my arms.

‘‘By the time I got home and started watching DVDs of motocross I just wanted to ride.’’

After joining South West-based motocross team McDonalds Bunbury KTM two years ago, Reeves has progressed in leaps and bounds.

He rides a KTM 350 SX-F and is one of 12 from the Bunbury team that will take part over various classes at the popular annual Manjimup event.

‘‘Just to get the experience this year will be awesome,’’ he said.

‘‘It will be nerve-racking lining up against some of Australia’s best riders.’’

‘‘I always used to watch these guys and think how good they are, now I’m racing with them.’’

Reeves, who began training in the sport as a 12-year-old, is in career best form after a strong showing over the Easter long weekend in round one of the Smarter Than Smoking WA State Motocross Championship where he finished seventh in the top flight pro-open class on an unfamiliar Kalgoorlie track.

‘‘This year I’m aiming to get into the top five in a few of the State rounds, and after Kalgoorlie I think I’m capable of doing that,’’ he said.