THE FRONT ROW with Jason Elliott, July 20, 2013

Three years ago, Ryan Breece was just getting his feet wet in the world of motorcross racing at the national level.

Now 18 years old, he's not just racing for the second time at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

He'll be racing for his future.

BREECE QUALIFIED for the 2013 Amateur National Motocross Championships July 28 to Aug. 3, advancing after finishing second in both the 450 B Stock and 450 B Mid-Stock races at the North Central Amateur Regional June 14-16 in Millville, Minn.

Breece won a national championship in the 250 C Stock Race in his last appearance in 2010. A top-three finish in this year's race could land him a professional riding deal.

"If I win, I'll be able to go pro," Breece said. "It would actually be a big achievement for as long as I've been in it and actually make it worth my while. It would be like having all my goals accomplished."

While he could opt to go pro regardless of how he places, the option of joining a factory team with a top-three finish is appealing.

"My endurance has improved over the last three years," Breece said. "You have pressure on you the entire time from the other racers and really have to ride as fast as you can for as long as you can."

The warm weather also was a factor the last time he competed in Tennessee.

"It gets to you pretty bad," Breece said. "But if you're training for that and if you're settled into what you're doing, then it can be pretty good."

Breece competes in up to 15 events during the course of the year.

It was his last race - at regionals in June - that might slow him down.

"I had a bad crash my last race and got knocked out and had a broken (right) hand," Breece said. "I needed a cast because it was pretty bad."

The cast was removed on Monday.

"I'm already riding," Breece said. "I'm fighting the pain and soreness each time I ride, but it will be worth it at the end. I'll be all ready to race at nationals and contend for a title."

SHOULD THINGS not work out professionally, Breece will continue attending the University of Idaho for the fall semester, where he'll study to become a orthopedic foot doctor.

"I'm enrolled right now," Breece said. "But if I turn pro, then I won't be going to school for at least a year and will try to live the motorcycle dream."

In order to help with costs to travel to Tennessee, Breece is holding fundraisers in the coming days, with a garage sale and car wash today at Northern States Wholesale on Kathleen, as well as at Caruso's on Ironwood from 4 to 8 p.m on Monday, where he'll sign autographs.

In addition, he's also providing lessons for interested riders.

"It's been an awesome experience," Breece said. "Just knowing that you've got the knowledge. It's a lot better to teach someone than to keep it to yourself."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]