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Racing at the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship kicked off on Tuesday with an opening day that featured a full slate of 23 motos.

The action at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch started bright and early and signified the first opportunity for title hopefuls to make their first statement for the week that lies ahead for 36 different classes.

Arguably the most high-profile class at the Ranch, a lot of attention centered on the first Open Pro Sport moto. It was Yamaha’s Daxton Bennick took an assertive opening moto win by a double-digit margin, while Avery Long (Yamaha) closed out the moto strong with a late pass on Parker Ross (Honda) for the runner-up spot.

Fresh off a win at the first Scouting Moto Combine of the year early in July, Husqvarna rider Casey Cochran carried the momentum into the opening moto of 250 B, winning with an advantage of more than from Drew Adams (Kawasaki) and Enzo Temmerman (Kawasaki).

Coming into Loretta’s Husqvarna rider Vincent Wey was poised to be one of the top mini-bike contenders, along with Cole Blecha (KTM), Jonathan Getz (GasGas), Colby Lessar (KTM) and Jayce Wolf (KTM). All riders were in the mix across both Mini Sr. 1 and Mini Sr. 2.

The first of the two classes to hit the track was Mini Sr. 1 and it was Wolf who made his presence felt first, winning from Getz, Blecha and Wey, who went down while leading. When the gate dropped on Mini Sr. 2, Wey turned the tables to win, with Getz and Blecha again filling the podium.

A pair of AMA Pro Motocross champions headlined the battle across both opening motos in the Senior and Masters division, as Mike Brown and Jeff Emig squared off. When the dust settled on this pair of motos, the legends each came away with a moto win – Brown in the Seniors (40+) and Emig in the Masters (50+).

Additional winners on Tuesday included Broc Pearson (Vet 30+), Nicolas Israel (450 B), Makai Olerich (125 C), Darren Pine (85cc 10-12), Kade Nightingale (65cc 7-9 Limited), Chase Haynes (450 C), Leum Oehlhof (250 B Limited), Jackson Vick (65cc 10-11 Limited), Tiger Wood (125 Jr B/C), Heath Harrison (Junior 25+), Damion Holmes (250 C), Kyleigh Stallings (WMX) and Jaxon Pascal (College 18-24).

The Micro 1 Shaft Dr. Ltd. win went to Ollie Johnson, Micro 2 Limited to Kameron Buckman, Micro 3 Limited to Abshur Hall and Micro-E to Levi Meyer.

Detailed results