Image: Supplied.

Day three is in the books at the 2020 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship and, as the motos continue to unfold, the title picture across all 36 classes is beginning to take shape.

As both the heat and humidity at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch continues to climb with each passing day, the challenge of winning will become increasingly difficult.

The headline class on Thursday was Open Pro Sport, in which Yamaha Rock River bLU cRU Amateur Motocross Team rider Mason Gonzales kept Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Stilez Roberston at bay, with Preston Kilroy (BarX Chaparral Suzuki) third.

With two motos down and one remaining, Gonzales and Robertson sit tied atop the overall classification, setting the stage for an epic showdown on Saturday afternoon to see who prevails with the AMA national championship.

Following a competitive opening moto for the 250 B class, it was TLD Red Bull KTM’s Nick Thrasher who won this time out, topping first race winner Matt Leblanc (Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing) and his teammate Nick Romano.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Jett Reynolds appeared to be in full control of the moto, but just past the halfway point his race came to an end following a scary incident in the Ten Commandments roller section.

The second moto of the 125cc B/C class saw TLD Red Bull KTM’s Max Vohland stand atop the podium again, cruising ahead of Gage Linville (MTF KTM) and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Talon Hawkins. Vohland carries a two-point edge over Linville entering the final moto.

Vohland was even better out the gate to start the second Schoolboy 1 B/C class moto, seizing control of the lead and going on to win over Hawkins and Yamaha Rock River bLU cRU Amateur Motocross Team’s Larry Reyes Jr.

The Women’s class returned to the track on Thursday, won by SBG Racing Maxxis Babbitt’s Online Kawasaki’s Jordan Jarvis in front of Tayler Allred (Orange Brigade KTM) and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Tayla Jones.

With a dominant performance in the opening moto of Supermini 2, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Ryder Difrancesco won again today over Evan Ferry (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) and EBR Performance KTM’s Benjamin Garib.

With his decisive wins through his first three motos of the week, KTM Orange Brigade’s Haiden Deegan was one of the hottest riders at Loretta Lynn’s entering the second Mini Sr. 1 moto on Thursday. He again won, over Logan Best (Triangle Cycles bLU cRU Yamaha) and KTM rider Thomas Wood.

Also winning on Thursday included Levi Kitchen (450 B Limited), Cameron Horner (450 C), Gabriel Goettler (250 C), Jacob Henry (250 C Limited), Dakota Bender (250 C Jr. Limited 12-17), Kris Keefer (Senior 40+), Brandon Scharer (Junior 25+) and Michael Hicks (College 18-24).

In addition, Katie Benson (Girls 11-16), Kade Johnson (85cc 10-12), Gage Dunham (65cc 7-9), Darren Pine (65cc Limited 7-9), Travis Schneider (51 Limited 7-8), Jaydin Smart (51 Limited 4-6), Anderson Waldele (51 Shaft Drive Ltd 4-6) and Kade Nightingale (Mini-E Jr. 4-6) took victories.

Day four of the 2020 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship continues Friday, 7 August, where the first set of champions will be crowned. Broadcast coverage of every moto can be seen exclusively on Racer TV.

Detailed results