Eleven years ago, Brad Kelly made a last-minute decision that would change his life.

With just two kids entered into motorcycle race at the River Bottoms in Marysville, and with no practice and little time to waste, Kelly entered.

After leading much of the way in the first moto on a bike his father had picked up at a garage sale, Kelly's chain snapped. And after leading in the second moto, he crashed.

"I was just winging it," he laughed. "I finished second in a race with just two kids. But I've been racing ever since."

Kelly isn't exactly winging it in 2008.

Instead of riding that second-hand '94 KX 60 dirt bike at the River Bottoms, the 20-year-old Yuba City native is on a YZ 250 as a pro rider in the American Motorcyclist Association Motocross Championship circuit.

Kelly just began his third season on the circuit, and with a little luck, he could be near the top of the standings in the coming years.

After a brief stint in the AMA in 2006, Kelly went to all 12 national events in 2007.

But it was a bumpy ride.

"Last year was my first full year. I had a lot of problems with my bike and just a lot of bad luck overall," Kelly said.

He only qualified to race in three of the events, never once earning points.

But this past weekend, Kelly showed what a little perseverance can do.

In the opening national event of the year, Kelly finished within the top 12 (out of 30 competitors) in the first group to qualify for the points race at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernadino, and then was just seconds off from earning his first points as a pro. He would finish 33rd out of 79, 13 spots from earning points and a possible shot on a team.

"Glen Helen is not only the toughest track on the circuit, but some of the fastest riders come from California. And being that it was the first round, and everyone was healthy and ready to go, I was real happy to qualify," he said.

Kelly, just a few top 20 finishes and some solid points away from getting picked up by a team, still has plenty of support.

The pro rider has 19 sponsors, including four Mid-Valley companies: No-Toil Industries, Honda-Yamaha Sports Center, Coker Precision Graphics and Factory Photo.

"I'm doing eight of the national events this year," Kelly said, admitting that gas prices have taken its toll not only on competitors, but on the sport as well. "I would do them all like I did last year, but I just don't have the money it takes to get out to some of the farther ones."

Kelly will visit Sacramento next before making a tour to Texas, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Washington, Minnesota and Massachusetts, in the next three months.

"I just want to get on a team, where I can make a living at this," he said. "Once that happens, it's just about getting yourself to the events, because a lot of the side work is done for you."

Contact sports reporter Bryan DeMain at bdemain@appealdemocrat.com or at 749-4796.