Photo/ Kim North St. Clairsville resident Carter Gray is pictured with his Golden Ticket to the 42nd Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Motocross Championships in Hurricane Mills, Tn., on July 31-Aug. 5. However, before the 11-year-old competes for a national title, he will represent Team USA MX in Verdun, France.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – A Belmont County youth will be riding in the biggest race of his life next month.

Carter Gray, an 11-year-old from St. Clairsville, is one of only nine riders selected to represent the United States in mid-July at the MX Masters Kids Championships in Verdun, France.

“I’m really excited to be able to represent the United States in such a big competition in France,” Gray said. “It feels good to be chosen for such a big event. I’m honored.”

While Gray has been riding motocross for almost 5 years now, he’s never had an opportunity like the one he will on July 15-17.

“The team manager for Team USA, Conrad Eigenmann, messaged us and asked if Carter would like to join Team USA to race in France for the MX Masters Kids Championship,” Carter’s father, Scott Gray, explained. “There will be approximately 30 countries involved.”

The younger Gray is a Cobra Elite factory rider. He will compete in the 65cc 10-11 age division, as well as the 65cc 10-11 Limited. There are nine classes involved.

“The Cobra company is sending him a bike over to France before we get there,” Scott, noted. “We will get there and get accustomed to it and go from there.”

Carter, his dad, his training partner, Micah Grubbs and his father from the Cleveland area, and their trainer, Clay Elliott of Berlin Center, will fly out of Pittsburgh on July 11 and land in Paris.

“We’ve got to get there and get stuff set up with the bike. We’ll stay a day in Paris and see the Eiffel Tower and some other things … just make a trip out of it. Then we’ll go to Verdun and they have a team practice day.”

The Grays wanted to thank Clark Hergenrother of Ohio Congressman Bill Johnson’s office for working with them on acquiring a passport and visa for the younger Gray, who received the documentation in about 15 days.

Only nine riders nationwide were selected to wear the Red, White and Blue. Gray is trained by former motocross rider Clay Elliott at DrivenMX, who’s been training young ones full time since 2016. He’s worked with Gray more than anyone, and Elliott said it’s easy to work with someone with a passion for the sport.

“Carter loves riding,” Elliott said. “So, when he’s here training, it doesn’t feel like he’s working. It’s just what he wants to do. That’s been the most fun part about it.”

Elliott and Gray have been training multiple times a week for months preparing for the race in July, an experience not just rewarding for Gray, but maybe even more so for Elliott.

“The little success that we have with each kid is definitely more fulfilling and satisfactory on my end than my personal racing was,” Elliott said.

Gray appreciates all the support he has received to make this moment come true.

“They’re such a big part of my support,” Gray said of his family. “My brothers, mom, dad, mimi and pappy, they all sacrifice a lot for me.”

After going overseas Gray will be headed to Hurricane Mills, Tn., to compete in the 42nd annual Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championships. It will be his fourth time competing in the Volunteer state.

“My goal is to win at Loretta Lynn’s this year,” Carter Gray said.

He punched his ticket to the event after winning the recent Mideast Regional at Baja Acres in Millington, Mich. He finished first in the 65cc Limited division by winning three of four motos. He was second in the other. In the 65cc, he took second with three first and a seventh in four races.

Though the younger Gray was born and still technically lives in St. Clairsville, he’s not home much because his training and riding is taking him to all kinds of places before he’s even a teenager.

Gray actually became hooked on motocross when he was just 2, his mimi, Mary Beth Schambach, recalled.

“His (deceased) cousin, Evan Timko, would come to our house and watch SuperCross and Carter would watch it with him,” she said. “Then Evan took him to his first race when he was two-and-a-half years old. He then bought him a Honda CR50 with training wheels for Christmas one year, and Carter has been hooked ever since.”

And now he’s off to France.

Gray and his family would like to thank his sponsors for their continued and dedicated support: Bridge Tavern, Kirk’s Ice Cream, IC Cab, Cobra Motorcycles, DrivenMX Training, Og Optics, PR2 Racing, VP Racing Fuels, Roost MX, Motoseat, Dunlop Tires, Acerbics, MX Tire, Route 66 MX, Mullicoproducts and Maas Training.