Two tickets to Tennessee

The Torres family truckster is heading back to Tennessee.

Seventeen-year-old Camas motocross rider Alex Torres earned two tickets to the AMA Amateur National Championships, July 26 to Aug. 1, at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, in Hurricane Mills.

Jose and Jill Torres are looking forward to this road trip with their son before Alex begins his senior year at Camas High School.

“We are going to camp out for a few weeks while we drive across the country. It’s going to be a blast,” Jose Torres said. “This might be our last family vacation before Alex goes off to college. His mother and I are ecstatic to have this special time with him.”

Alex Torres has molded into a stronger, faster and more confident rider. He said it wouldn’t have been possible without support and encouragement from his parents and friends.

“Three or four months ago, I went to a race in California. I wasn’t fit. I couldn’t get through the whole moto without getting tired,” Torres said. “I started working out on the rowing machine, running every day and eating the right food at the right time. Being able to go 100 percent every race has helped me get to where I am now.”

Torres made huge gains between his area qualifier back in February and the Northwest Regional June 6 and 7, at Washougal Motocross Park. He rose to second place in the Schoolboy 2 and 450 B classes.

“Making it to nationals in two classes instead of just one makes me feel like I accomplished something more,” Torress said. “I knew I had the speed. I just wanted to push the whole time, and hope for the best outcome. That’s exactly what happened.”

Torres’ first trip to Tennessee in 2013 was an eye-opening and hair-raising experience. He wasn’t prepared for the atmosphere, tricky track layout, or the heat and humidity.

“The first time, I wasn’t in the right mindset,” Torres said. “Every one there is really fast. It’s the top 40 riders in the nation. You definitely have to be on your game the whole time.”

This time, he’s going back to Loretta Lynn’s Ranch with more knowledge and experience. He hopes to crack into the top 20, maybe even the top 10.

“I’ve been training hard for this every day,” Torres said. “I would love to do well, and race as hard as I possibly can.”

Sponsors helped the family fund Alex Torres’ bikes, equipment and racing travel expenditures. They include the Bent Lever Motosports shop, in Vancouver, Power Yamaha and MotoStuff.com. Tony Stumpf serves as his mechanic.

Alex Torres still looks up to his father, who was an amateur racer back in his heyday. Today, Jose Torres is just a fan living vicariously through his son.

Tennessee is the ultimate destination for this Camas motocross family.

“I’m looking forward to traveling across the country with my family. Seeing things you don’t get to see and doing things you don’t get to do on an ordinary day,” Alex Torres said. “Big races like these take you out of reality. Hopefully, I’ll continue to keep racing and doing well while I’m in school.”