Most teenagers want to be rock stars.

Lewis Mortimer isn’t most teenagers.

With dirty blond hair hanging down his forehead, he’s got the look of a California surfer, even the relaxed speech of a West Coaster, but on his 125cc 4-stroke Honda motocross bike racing on the dirt track, you’ll miss him if you blink because he’s that blur of red leading the pack of competitors who are more than twice his age.

The St. Dominic student, who lives in Gravenhurst on a quiet street in a residential neighbourhood, has an undeniable penchant for speed and risk whether it’s dirt bikes, snowmobiles, snowboards or skateboards.

When he talks about the sport of motocross his eyes light up. To the chagrin of his father Mike, he spends nearly every waking second  reading, watching and racing motocross.

“If I didn’t (motocross) I don’t know what I’d do,” he said.

He is a real student of the sport, studying other riders during televised races for racing lines and tactics.

Mortimer has been involved with racing since he was seven years old, racing on a 50cc bike. Now as a 15-year-old he races as an independent of Dirthead Racing in the 125cc A class, but often rides in the open class, otherwise known as the GP where motorcycles with stronger engines are in the field.

He can’t even recall his best memory in the sport since every race is a great moment. He loves everything about it, from the racing to the camaraderie of the racers and the attention of the spectators. As far as any formal training, he has only participated in three one-week motocross race school sessions.

Last year even a broken leg did little to quash the teenager’s enthusiasm.

Mortimer’s leg was broken when it was caught against the rear wheel, pulling it back and in toward the wheel. Seeing his leg twisted left him in shock at the time, but despite the injury that resulted in two surgeries, he is as determined as ever to achieve his dreams.

Father and son travel in a Winnebago that is older than Lewis. With an enclosed trailer, housing the bike and gear, trailing behind the motorhome, the Mortimers drive thousands of kilometres every year in pursuit of victories on the CMX racing circuit.

As far as long-term dreams, he couldn’t think of anything better than a professional contract with the Honda Factory team.

“Honda is the way to go,” he said, smiling.

Besides making a living as a racer, Mortimer hopes he can compete in races only seen on television that garner tens of thousands of spectators in such cities as Las Vegas.

This year, he adds, is a break from the usual trend of his riding skill progression. Usually when he gets a new bike his results suffer the first few races due to the adjustment period with the bike. But lately he has been on fire, taking two victories (125A and GP A - open category) in a stronger field while finishing with two-second place finishes in the lower classes (125B and GP B). Recently he captured first place in the 125 A and a third in the GP (open class) at his last race.

“It can only get better,” he said.

There are four races left in the CMX series and the next race is in Parry Sound at the Ontario Camp of the Deaf on Oct. 7.