GNCC Racing: Jumping straight into it, you’ve won every youth bike race you’ve entered this year. What do you think has been the key to your success so far this season?

Travis Lentz: Coming off last year, I knew what it would take to win. I have been working with Jacob Fetty for the last couple of years, and he’s helped me get better physically, my nutrition dialed in and helped me through my injuries, which was key this year. I was able to go to the Shoals and ride all winter, which helped a lot. Coming from Illinois, with the cold weather during the winter, there isn't as much opportunity to ride. I believe that I have more fun during the races than most of my competitors. I feel like keeping it fun during the week riding helps keep me invested in the sport and not dread training or losing the love for the sport.

When the season started, did you expect to win? Especially in such a dominating fashion?

I definitely had a lot of pressure coming into this year with such a great year last year, a lot of people did look at me as the kid to beat. I was pretty confident that I would be able to win this year because when I moved up to YXC1 for the last 4 rounds last year I was running right there with the top kids. Coming into this year, I did have a goal of going 13-0, and it was going great until I got hurt, but I’m looking at the bigger picture of the championship.

You missed one round due to injury, but other than that, you’ve been undefeated. Does that add pressure going into each round, or do you use it as motivation?

With how great my season was going and knowing I had what it took to win sucked that I couldn’t do anything about it (injury) at the time besides sit there and watch the race go by. It definitely motivated me to come back and push at Mason-Dixon.

Let’s backtrack a little bit take us back to the beginning. What got you started riding and eventually racing GNCC?

My dad raced when he was a kid, and we had a dirtbike and a little quad that we would always mess around on. Once I got on a dirt bike, I ended up falling in love and had my first race when I was 5. I did a bunch of local races growing up, and a bunch of our local people always talked about Ironman GNCC. My family had no clue what it was at the time, so in 2020, we ended up just going for fun and trying it out. I ended up winning, and then we decided to do the full series in 2021.

What’s next for you after youth racing, and what are your long-term goals in the sport?

After youth, I will be racing 250 A lites at GNCC and 250 A at NEPG. The huge end goal would be to race GNCC on the XC1 row. I like pro motocross, too, so I would love a chance on that platform. These are huge goals, that's for sure, but I’m definitely going to try my best to achieve them.

What’s been your favorite track to race so far this season, and why?

My favorite track this year is definitely a tricky question, but I'm going to say Old Gray. The dirt was perfect, and the track flowed very well. It was a slower, technical track, which I prefer.

Everyone has a rider or riders that they look up to. Who’s someone who stands out to you?

Someone who definitely stands out to me is obviously Grant Davis right now. He’s young and is killing it in the PM race from the second row, even physically pushing to the front. If Grant didn’t have any bike problems this year, I don’t think he would have been beaten at all.

We are on Summer break. What plans do you have for the break?

My summer plans don’t really change because now is the time I am starting to prepare for next year. I did go to Holiday World for a couple of days this past week, but besides that, I'm just making sure I get all my training in through the week.

Even though we are on break, we know that doesn’t mean you aren’t still training. What does a typical training week look like for you, both on and off the bike?

Typical weeks consist of riding either by myself or with Cooper Duff, bicycling, and lifting. When I get all my training done for the day, I get my bike washed and get it ready for the next day. Cooper and I normally just have fun the rest of the day.

Finally, we know you can’t do this by yourself. Who are the people and sponsors you’d like to thank?

My family is a huge support for me. My parents are there at all the races. My dad is my mechanic and tears the bike down after every race. I couldn’t do it without Tanner, Gas Gas, and Jay Hall at Halls Cycles. Jacob Fetty, Fly Racing, Factory Connection, Dunlop Tires, Maxx Decal, 100% goggles, Trex Throttle, IMS products, ODI grips, Ryno Power.