Lind boy juggles motocross with school

LIND - A local boy is finding time to get straight As in his sixth-grade classes while racing motocross around the state.

Merrick Shepard, 11, is a lifelong Lind resident and a sponsored Motocross Champion.

He is the son of Vernon Shepard, an Adams County Road Department grader operator, and lifelong Lind resident Megan Shepard, the chief nursing officer at Odessa Hospital.

Merrick said his sport helps him keep his grades up.

"It also helps me in math, like fractions when working on bikes," he said, noting he has "met a lot of pro riders that I watch on TV."

Merrick is one of the only children racing in his division racing a 250cc motorcycle.

His father said racing is something they can share for years to come.

"As a dad, I love to watch him doing something he loves and enjoys," he said. "Winning isn't that important, just that he takes what he has learned and applies it to the competitions."

Merrick said he enjoys racing and has made a lot of friends in the sport.

The Lind-Ritzville Middle School has been motocross racing since he was 3 years old and has went on to win several awards and trophies.

Beginning in 2016, Merrick placed third in the Ephrata MX.

He then went on to win more trophies for second and third place, and won a first-place trophy at the Airway X Supercross in 2019.

Merrick has had multiple professional instructors, including as Gary Strode, Steve Lamson, Tommy Weeck, the late Alex Harville, Ryan Breece, Eric Waunch and Kyle Bisconer, he said.

He's also found sponsorship.

Experience Powersports and Rocky Mountain ATV have sponsored Shepard since 2017.

He has been to multiple motocross schools such as My Moto Coach, Eric Waunch MX School, and Dirt First Safety Training.

Merrick competes in several classes, including supercross, motocross, hare scramble, flat track and arena cross, he said.

He has had a couple of setbacks, such as a broken wrist, and and closed tracks due to COVID mandates.

Although Merrick was unable to compete for two months due to a football injury, he still went to motocross activities such as the Alex Harville Memorial Parade and Loretta Lynn's event.

Off the track, the young rider likes swimming, hunting, fishing and playing video games.

He also likes working on motorcycles, playing basketball, riding BMX bikes and playing football.

His next race is Nov. 13 at the WHR Arenacross at the Monroe Fairgrounds in Monroe.