Introducing Zalbert Brothers NEATV Youth Riders

ATV Scene took some time to sit down and talk to two brothers who are starting to work their way through the ranks of the NEATV youth classes. Brayden and Riley Zalbert from Long Island, NY who travel throughout New England with their mom Erica and step dad Steve.

So, how did you guys get into riding, then take the next step into racing?
Brayden: When I just turned three my parents bought me a power wheels quad and I would ride over rocks on dirt and ride crazy until the batteries died. By the time I was four my parents bought me a real quad and I would ride on the track. I was still so little when I would get on my quad  I would fall right back off because the helmet was so heavy.
Riley: We went to Capeway Rovers and we saw Steve race and from then on I always wanted to race just like him.

Who started riding first?
Brayden: I started racing first. I started riding at three, but I raced a full season before my brother did when I was five.

What is a typical race weekend like for you guys?
Riley: Friday, When we arrive at the track Steve finds a good parking spot, then Brayden and I put the blocks of wood under the jacks, we level ,then we take all the mats and tables out we do our track walk to prepare us for practice, Saturday; at around 7:15am  Brayden and I go outside to the trailer , unload quads , do tire pressure , fuel ,get into riding gear and wait until practice starts ; at around 2:30 Steve and I go through the quads to make sure we are ready for the race. We redo fuel , tire pressure , and we have our “prep talk” and wait until the gates drop. After the races we go back to the trailer we get undressed help Steve with the quads put them back into the trailer; Sunday: Brayden and I wake up at 7:15 go out to the trailer redo the air pressure and fuel get dressed and wait until the races. After the races we go back to the trailer load the quads fold the mats and the tables and leave after watching a couple of races.  Mom makes us go to bed around 9 (or at least we have to be inside at 9pm) both nights.
Brayden: Yeah, what Riley said.

How do you manage to get all your home work done over the long race weekend?
Brayden:  After where done helping Steve when we get there I will go in the bus and do my homework and finish it
Riley: On the drive to the track I do all my homework

How has the season been going for you both?
Riley: For this season so far I have won two races two seconds and I DNFed one race
Brayden:  Pretty good. I started the first race in 50 modified and my mom let me ride my 70 in the second race. In that race there were 14 kids and I finished 5th. The next race there were 9 kids in the 70 and I finished 3rd so I was done with 50’s after that. I have been doing pretty good in the 70 class, finishing 3rd or 4th every weekend.

So you guys get the quads all dirty, who cleans them?
Riley: We wash our own quads and start them
Brayden: I start to wash mine, but Steve usually comes over and finishes or gets the spots I missed

Who is your mechanic, and who does all the bike prep?
Riley: Our mechanic is our dad Steve and his friend Shane Gendreau who both work on my quad countless hours to make sure I can ride.
Brayden: Steve and Shane and sometimes little Shayn Gendreau.  Riley helps me but I can do my air in tires now.

When your not on the quad, what keeps you guys busy during the race weekend?
Riley: During the weekend if we are not on the quad we are either working on the quads or hanging out with friends.
Brayden: We can hang out with our friends at the track when we are not working on quads and only on Fridays after we set up and after our race on Saturday night.  We bring our bicycles and hang out with our friends.
Riley and Brayden would like to thank their sponsors for making all this possible.
Lou Russo Photography, Nac’s Racing, Walsh Racecraft, Motowoz, Sf Racing, Southside Polaris, Fly Racing, Faast, Maximum RPM, Gendreau Motorsports, ODI, Renthal, Hot Rods, Cylinder Works, Vertex, Pivot Works and Swenson Racing Brayden finished 3rd overall in the 70 limited class and Riley finished 1st overall in the 90 auto class. Both boys will be moving up in class next year. Brayden will be running a 90 mod shifter quad and Riley will be running a 250 powered machine.

 

 

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