mmg.com.au

It’s been a long time coming for Deniliquin motocross rider Rielly Lynch (pictured), but the youngster is now on the fast track to success.

The nine year-old, who has been riding for six years, has finally started his own racing career, and has already competed in two events this year.

It hasn’t been an easy ride, though - Rielly has had to overcome several health problems in his young life, and his father, Colin, couldn’t be more proud of his son.

‘‘He was born premature and was flown to Melbourne straight away,’’ Colin said.

‘‘He spent quite a bit of time at the Royal Children’s Hospital and has already had 20 operations in his lifetime.’’

Fortunately, it has been four years since Rielly’s last operation, and the young speed demon has had plenty of time to focus on his love for motorbike riding.

Rielly’s father said it was through former local Jarryd McNeil that the his son got started in motocross.

‘‘He’s followed Jarryd’s career right from the start. We used to go out and watch him ride at home and Rielly just took a loving to it straight away,’’ Colin said.

McNeil is now based in the United States, but Rielly still keeps in contact with him through Facebook and was lucky enough to catch up with him while he was on tour in Australia with the Nitro Circus last year.

Rielly has also met some his other heroes, including Travis Pastrana, Cam Sinclair and Blake ‘Bilko’ Williams.

The Deniliquin South School student rides on a makeshift track in his back yard, and says he tries to ride ‘‘at least every night.’’

But Rielly leads a busy lifestyle, with homework, swimming practice and muay thaialso featuring on his weekly schedule.

Along with the many dirt jumps on Rielly’s home track, there is also two ramps, which Colin says are off limit for the time being.

One was given to Rielly by McNeil, while the other was built by local Daniel Barling.

‘‘We’ll just focus on racing at the moment before we move on to the freestyle stuff,’’ Colin said.

‘‘He’s already broken his arm once - although that didn’t keep him off the bike.’’

Rielly’s first competition, an arenacross event, was under lights at Swan Hill last month.

Competing against 15 other riders, the future star fared well in his three races, finishing with a ninth and two fifth placings.

‘‘It was really good, I loved it,’’ Rielly said.

‘‘But it was a lot scarier with heaps of people riding around me.’’

Two weeks ago he was back at it, competing in a two-day event at Cobram.

‘‘I had two races on the Saturday and another two on Sunday. There was 13 kids all up and I finished ninth overall,’’ Rielly said.

‘‘They had just soaked the track and it was real muddy.’’

The promising motocross rider already has a fane page on Facebook, as well as some local sponsors.

Morris Lubricants, CJ Cycles and Fred’s 4x4 have all jumped on board to support Rielly, while local man Alan Hay has also helped the youngster get started.

‘‘Alan has been great in setting up both of Rielly’s bikes,’’ Colin said.

‘‘We want to say a big thank you to him, and also to Peter Tunny who has been helping him out with riding techniques and offering his advice.

‘‘Everyone has been great and we’re always looking for more sponsors.’’

Although he is just starting out, Rielly knows where he wants to go. He has big dreams and said he’d love to do make it to the big time, just like his heroes.