It's been a breakout year for Ross Martin, who has powered to the finish line and the head of the points totals in the Pro Open and Pro Stock classes of the WPSA.

"Being consistent these next three races is going to be the key," said Martin, who's seen how easily a slip or an injury can pull someone from the lead.

As of Feb. 1 the 21-year-old from Pleasant Prarie in southeastern Wisconsin has 373 Pro Open points, ahead of Robbie Malinoski's 369 and Dave Allard's 346. In Pro Stock he is two points ahead of Malinoski's 333, and Shaun Crapo comes in third with 322.

A double victory is in Martin's sights. "I think it'll be tough for me, but I definitely think I can do it," he said. Malinoski was featured in the December edition of
Off-Road.com. He's no stranger to double wins. "The two races that really stick out for me is when I won both classes at Canturbury and Park-X," he said. And though he's healthy now, he's been no stranger to injury either.

"After Duluth, he wasn't able to ride for about a week and a half," said Scott Judnick, owner of Judnick Racing, Martin's team. At Duluth Martin wiped out and dislocated his shoulder. Martin said no one would help him the bone back into the joint right away, and Judnick was careful to observe the process when it did get done. Judnick says his job is "owner, manager, truck driver, check writer. Whatever it takes to keep the guys on the track." Now that list includes emergency medic. "Three weeks later at canturbury he dislocated his shoulder again. This time I knew what to do to get it back into place within three or four minutes of it coming out." That meant wrapping a cool sheet around Martin and pushing with another man to jam the arm back into the shoulder.

Martin was grateful. and was riding again in four days. "The longer it takes to get back in ithe longer it takes to heal," he said. The first injury happened on Saturday and he missed the Duluth Pro Stock Final. Fortunately for him the Sunday races got postponed to the next race at Gaylord and he raced in those Pro Open Finals.

Now there's no aches, pains or problems. "I'm fully 100 percent," Martin said. His machines, too, are solid. "My mechanic, Roger, has been working around the clock getting it in tip-top shape for the weekend. That's what he does all week."

Judnick said the rest of his race team is strong, too. "We've had the usual bangs and bruises and hyperextended knees with all the guys," he said. "Of course Ross is in great shape right now." Son Matt Judnick will be hoping to follow Martin or pass him into the top spot next year, Judnick said. "Matt has struggled a little bit this year. His best finish was a fifth," he said.

Dads are important in racing, and Martin's father started him on dirtbikes at nine years old. He still races motocross all summer. Last year's Pro Open Champ is also a Martin, but Ross doesn't think that Steve Martin of Wyoming, who's in fifth place in that class this year, is any relation. "I'm pretty sure we're not," he said. If they were, it may help fans and scientists isolate what builds a winner.

It was at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin that Steve Martin stood on the highest platform and won the biggest trophy. That track is just a half hour from Ross's hometown. "I think Lake Geneva is definitely one of the most demanding, hardest tracks out there, but I think that'll be a benefit for me," he said. "With Lake Geneva, the steep hills definitely are really wide and you can pick up spots quick. That's what makes or breaks the race."

That track stretches across small ski hills that stay white thanks to snow machines. Off the track the grass will likely dominate, just like there's no snow at Ross's own home.

"Yeah, it kind of sucks a little bit. But at least all the tracks we race have snow," he said. "It doesn't feel like winter." If he wins it all, would Martin use that celebrity to campaign against global warming? "(Laughs) Try to! I don't know how I'll get that to work."

Racer Profiles

Alexander LaVallee Ross Martin Ross Martin Featured Racer - Blair Morgan Featured Racer - Robbie Malinoski