Champions crowned on final day of Loretta Lynn's
Bennick the 2023 Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award recipient.
The 2023 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship saw 36 titles decided on Saturday at Loretta Lynn’s, signalling another day filled with rain that added a layer of complexity to the action on-track.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Daxton Bennick had won the opening two Open Pro Sport motos and continued those winning ways for the title, also becoming the latest recipient of the Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award.
While Bennick won the final moto to complete a clean-sweep in class from Heath Harrison (Honda) and Jacob Hayes (Kawasaki), in the overall it was Bennick from Parker Ross (Honda) and Bryce Shelly (Yamaha).
With 2-1 moto scores coming into the final moto, GasGas rider Mark Fineis was in control of his own destiny in 250 Pro Sport. However, incredibly wet and muddy conditions from the rain would ultimately be the biggest obstacle to overcome for the entire field.
In the end, misfortune struck Fineis and he didn’t finish, enabling moto one winner KTM Orange Brigade’s Julien Beaumer to go on and top the moto from Gavin Towers (Yamaha) and Jayden Clough (Kawasaki), however, in the points it was a consistent Towers who sealed the championship ahead of Bennick and Ross.
The 250 B title belonged to final moto winner Krystian Janik (Kawasaki) after he won on Saturday ahead of Jordan Renfro (KTM) and Aden Keefer (Kawasaki). The overall saw Janik lead Drew Adams (Kawasaki) and Casey Benard Jr (GasGas).
After he was seen pulling off the track with apparent discomfort to his arm earlier in the week, concern surrounded whether Casey Cochran’s pursuit of championships would continue. While the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider did forgo 250 B competition, his pursuit of the Schoolboy 2 crown continued and he delivered. Victory in Saturday handed him the number one plate over Landin Pepperd (GasGas) and Enzo Temmerman (Kawasaki).
All week long the Supermini classes were headlined by impressive performances from KTM Orange Brigade’s Seth Dennis, fellow Husqvarna rider Deacon Denno and Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green Landen Gordon. This trio made their presence felt once more on Saturday, and in Supermini 1 it was Denno’s consistency that resulted in the crown over final race winner Gordon and Dennis. Supermini 2 saw Gordon take P1 ahead of Cole Timboe (KTM) and Denno.
Highly competitive racing defined both Mini Sr. classes, where a multitude of riders emerged with moto wins and spots on each moto podium. Mini Sr. 1 saw KTM-mounted Colby Lessar win the overall from Kevyn de Pinho (KTM) and Austin Camden (GasGas), while Husqvarna’s Vincent Wey won Mini Sr. 2 from final moto winner de Pinho and Jonathan Getz (GasGas).
The Senior 40+ and Masters championships were captured by Jeff Emig (KTM), making it nine victories at Loretta Lynn MX and his first since 2006, while Ronnie Renner (KTM) topped the Senior 45+ field, Broc Peterson (GasGas) won Vet 30+ and Harrison the Junior 25+ title.
Additional champions included Jeremy Fappani (250 B Limited), Robert Weiss (250 C/250 C Jr. 12-17 Limited), Jadon Cooper (450 B), Leum Oehlhof (450 B Limited), Chase Haynes (450 C/250 C Limited), Makai Olerich (125 C), Klark Robbins (125 Jr. 12-17/Schoolboy 1 12-17 B/C), Kyleigh Stallings (WMX), Jesse Wessell (College 18-24), Wyatt Thurman (85 10-12), Nolan Ford (85 10-12 Limited), Easton Graves (65 10-11), Jackson Vick (65 10-11 Limited), Nico Verhoeven (65 7-9), Jaydin Smart (65 7-9 Limited) and Mayla Herrick (Girls 11-16).
The smaller tiers were taken home by Jarrett Tincher (Micro-E 4-7 Limited, Kannon Zabojnik (Micro 3 7-8 Limited, Kameron Buckman (Micro 2 4-6 Limited and Brody Jones (Micro 1 4-6 Shaft Drive Limited). Saturday drew to a close with the annual awards ceremony at the Ranch, which celebrated the newly-crowned national champions and handed out the respective awards for the 2023 edition.