Brandon Sommers is new to the Yamaha line up this year, but has spent the past few years making a name for himself on the racing circuit and is looking forward to his first year as a pro racer. Sommers grew up riding three-wheelers and dirt bikes brought home from his dad's local motorsports store -- Mr. Sommers encouraged his son's hobby but said no to racing until he was an adult. As soon as Sommers turned 18, his dad became one of his sponsors and biggest supporters as he tried his hand at motocross racing. The father-son team’s attempt at two-wheeled racing was short-lived -- once Sommers threw a leg over an ATV he was hooked. Sommers' first ATV race was the Buddy-Up Cross Country Series in 2003. He started out going full-throttle and ended up with arm pump early in the race, forcing him to slow his speeds a little. Then he got stuck in a mud hole for 20 minutes before someone could pull him out. Not the best start for an aspiring racer, but that didn't deter Sommers – he went on to be one of the best amateur racers around. Sommers started training in the beginners C-class in 2003, moving up one class each year as he won championship after championship. Last year, he won 10 nationals before signing with Yamaha to begin his professional racing career. "I'm hoping to have solid races throughout my first year with Yamaha," Sommers said. "I want to focus on not getting caught in the moment, but being able to keep my head on straight with all the awesome riding I get to do." Watch for Brandon on his Yamaha YFZ450 in the 2008 GNCC Series and select other races across the country in 2008.