Chris Meadows juggles life as an 8th grade student while racing in the Super-mini(14-15) class. Meadows had a rough year last season, filled with bad luck. But this season, things have changed for the 14-year-old rider. He's second in the points standings, taking 1st in the last three rounds and in Georgia. Meadows goal is to win the Youth Championship and maybe, one day soon, get factory support.

Did you just get out of school? Yeah like, 20 minutes ago
What grade are you in? I'm in 8^th grade. I'm 14.

So do the kids at school know that you race? Or that you're doing so well? Some of them do. I don't really brag about it or anything. My friends know about it. But no, not everyone really knows.

What's it like juggling school and races? I'm sure that can get hard. It's pretty rough. I miss a lot of days at school. The school doesn't really like that. I didn't get a court order it was just a letter I got threatening action if i missed any more school. I only missed 8 days. Dad says we should just do home schooling.

Last year had bad luck some bad luck. How did you feel about the year? Last year didn't go too well. I always had speed but didn't have the luck on my side. I also didn't have the money to do as well.  It was good and everything. I won the 85 12-13 class and I should have moved up to the big wheel 12-13 class the next year but dad and I decided it would make me a better rider to just move up to the front row(14-15) and try to podium a few races and learn the speed. I was only 13 last year and still could have rode the 12-13 class but wanted to put all my efforts into getting faster for this year's run at the overall title and so far things are working out great.

How is this year going? This year has been great. I had bad luck in North Carolina. All the races I've been too though went pretty good.

Why do you think you're doing so much better? I guess it would have to go back to last year. I'm a lot more confident knowing that I was able to pace with the leaders last year coming in to this year. I know I can beat them.

What's the competition like in that class? We're all pretty good friends. I don't think any of us would ride dirty or anything. It makes you feel a lot better when you win. No one is going to try to take you out of anything.

So no trash talking? Everybody tells me congrats and everything. There's never really trash talking or anything. Everyone is being a good sport. I've raced with Lane Michael since we were on 65s and Trevor Barrett  two or three years now. It makes it more fun.  You know you're not going to get taken out. You can trash talk after but it's just joking around. Nothing hurtful.

How did the Titan go for you? It was good. It was muddy and everything. I kind of like the mud. I use it to my advantage. I know how to ride in it, what to do when I'm stuck,how to read the terrain and pick good lines.

Isn't it a little more tough with a smaller bike? It's not that bad because the track is usually dozed. The dozer goes through and cleans everything up. So it's not too bad.

So do you race any other series? I have a local series. District 11. I ride a 125 in that. It keeps me in shape more or less. It's fun to do. I know a lot of people there.

What other training do you do besides the district races? I work out a lot. I do a lot of endurance training and muscle toning and strengthening for the big bikes.

How did you get started in GNCC? It was probably five years ago. There is a GNCC about 20 minutes from my house, the John Penton. My dad and I wanted to try it. In the race I was staying with Lane a little bit then I got stuck. It made my dad realize we could do this and do well at it. Last year, I raced 7 of the 13 rounds.

Do you plan to race all the rounds this year? I'm going to try. I didn't race at Florida. We don't want to go to Unadilla because it's a long drive.

Thad DuVall, Corey Buttrick and Kailub Russell all have factory rides now after winning the youth championship. Is that where you want to be eventually? I'd love to be with a factory. That's the whole goal. I want to do well this year to get some support this year so I can have the nice bike and the nice gear. My main goal for this season is win the youth championship. It's probably the only one I have right now.

What are you doing to make sure you can get the championship? I'm training and riding every day. I'm trying to get faster so I can ride with people.

Who do you usually travel with to the races? Mostly it's my mom, dad, little brother and sometimes my grandpa.We go down there together. It helps a lot too to have the support. My Dad is a good mechanic.

What keeps you racing GNCC, or racing at all? I've been doing good. If I wasn't doing very good I probably wouldn't run the series. I think when I was 4 I got a bike and Dad helped me out a lot with it. He gave me tips and plans for the race. He was a big help.

How do you feel about Mountain Ridge? It's going to be fast. I like the rocks. I hope I can do good there. Hopefully get another win.

If you had to choose between the mud or rocks? Mud. It's easier for me to ride in I guess.

Well, Chris. Thanks for the interview. Thanks! I'd like to thank my sponsors too. They help me alot. Brian Jasper and Formation Cementing Zanesville, Ohio
Jerry Sode @ MX Motorsports
Matt Ruff @ Tucker Rocky
MSR
Scott Googles
Floor-n-Moore
Athens Sport Cycles
And most of all Mom,Dad,Miles and Grandpa