If you are not a serious dirt bike enthusiast you may not even know that Ross Neely, 18 of Chester just did it again. I had the privilege of 
standing there as the our local rider passed by even the best of riders to win the Virginia City Grand Prix for the second time. He also took first place when he was 16. This time everyone seemed to take extra notice of this young rider, especially when he was interviewed with champions Kawasaki factory rider Justin Soule and Irving Powers, who took 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. While this race is not part of the (W.O.R.K.S), which provides point standings on the pros, it is still an easy view into the future for this rider according to the many race enthusiast I spoke with. Moto Mouth with these three guys staged high above the crowds called Virginia City’s top three winners the next regime.
It was fun to be part of the local group on hand to see this apt-to-be historic interview. “Moto Mouth” the well known announcer each year at V.C. hurled questions at Ross like, “So, no private school? No home school? You’re just a regular kid doing homework at night?” Ross smiled humbly as he agreed that pretty much summed it up. That and riding every chance he gets, working out, that kind of stuff.
“Where on earth do you ride that prepares you for a race like this?” asked the rugged voiced announcer from the announcer’s stage now lifted high for all to see. (The Virginia City Grand Pix held each April is over 150 miles.) Ross explained that he was currently snowed in at home, so he was riding in the Doyle area a lot. Ross rides with his dad often and a bunch of hard core motocrossers who love riding the rugged mountain and desert terrains with Ross. Ross’s parents, Pete and Michelle Neely, have dedicated the tons of time and resources needed to help their son rise to the winners circle and Ross showed his appreciation to them for all to hear.
On May 16, Neely competed in a W.O.R.K.S. race at Honey Lake Motocross track in Milford, CA. He took second place in the Pro 2 event, and 12th overall within the Pro 1 and Pro 2 class combined. Justin Soule who placed 2nd in V.C. took 4th place in the Pro 1 class at Honey Lake. Good luck to our local rider Ross Neely!
