CLINTON TWP — He's taken home trophies that stand taller than he does.

But Clinton Township youngster Travis Bartley isn't all about winning — though he does it a lot.

“I just like to go fast,” the 8-year-old said.

A dirtbike rider since age 3, Travis has been doing competitive motocross events since he was 6. He made his racing debut at Switchback.

His father, Brian Bartley, did some dirtbike racing in his younger days.

“There wasn't much available for kids in the sport back then,” Bartley said. “I did some woods racing and that was about it. Now it's all over the place.”

And Travis has been all over the place.

He was top point-getter in the PAMX series this season, a set of seven motocross races across the Pennsylvania region, in the 50cc riders ages 7-8 division. He won three of those events.

Travis also qualified to race in the KTM Junior Racing Program May 1 at the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross Championship race in Salt Lake City, Utah. Youth riders apply online for those KTM Junior Racing events.

“At every Monster Energy Supercross event, which involves the best pro riders in the world, they have a junior program,” Bartley said. “You apply by sharing video footage of racing starts, obstacles and information on your training program.

“We went through the process, but, honestly, I was shocked when we got word he was accepted.”

Travis finished sixth out of 15 youth riders at that event.

“He was out there with some of the best young riders in the country and he was one of the youngest riders there. It was a great experience for him,” Bartley said.

Travis said in a statement that “I had fun meeting other really fast kids that race, but it was especially exciting to race because I got to ride on the same track as the supercross pros.”

PAMX has a fall series that Travis will compete in. That's the series that crowns the state champion.

Besides that, Bartley said the family will travel to other individual races for the balance of the summer.

“This really is a family sport,” Bartley said. “You don't just show up at a race and start riding. A lot goes into this and we're a team.

“Travis trains the equivalent of 10 hours a week. There's prep work on the bike, a lot of details we all take part in.”

The 50cc dirtbike Travis rides goes as fast as 45 miles per hour. He does some training with Mad Mike Jones and Steve Roman in Butler.

Bartley said the family's next goal is to qualify Travis for the Loretta Lynn Nationals in 2022.

Jones sees that as a distinct possibility.

“Travis has a lot of drive,” Jones said. “He wants it. He's a fighter and has no fear out there.”

Jones emphasized that the “no fear” factor is important.

“Motocross is definitely a family sport, but it can be a dangerous sport,”he said. “If a kid takes to the track with fear that he's going to get hurt all of the time, he's not going to succeed. It's hard getting to the top.

“I've had 26 operations. I've been life-flighted 10 times. But I've also won 13 motocross championships and two gold medals in the X Games.”

Bartley said he and his wife use Travis' budding racing career as motivation in school as well.

“He knows if he doesn't work hard in school, get good grades, he's not getting on that bike,” Bartley said. “You have to be a nice kid, show sportsmanship when you lose, do things the right way. He knows all of that.

“If he wants to continue with this — and he does — he has to conduct himself in a proper way. Even though he's tired after a race, he's old enough to help clean the bike, load up the bike. He's learning responsibility.”

Jones agreed.

“Travis finishes on the podium, among the top three, in pretty much every race he's in,” Jones said. “When you finish second or third, you get off your bike and go congratulate the winner.

“When you win, the second and third-place riders should do the same for you.”

Travis also plays baseball and football. But there's no secret what his favorite sport is.

“I want to keep doing this for a long time,” he said.