Wednesday Race Report: Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, presented by Lucas Oil

by:
Thursday, August 1, 2019 | 7:00 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kayla Bolton
(304) 284-0084
[email protected] 

Wednesday Race Report: Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National
Motocross Championship, presented by Lucas Oil
Swoll and Shimoda Earn Moto Wins in Open and 250 Pro Sport Classes 

HURRICANE MILLS, Tenn. (August 1, 2019) – The 2019 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, presented by Lucas Oil, continued yesterday, July 31, at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Day two of racing started out with the 450 B Limited class where Husqvarna’s Jace Kessler would earn the first win of the morning. 

Joshua Varize earned the Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C moto one win Wednesday morning.
Joshua Varize earned the Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C moto one win Wednesday morning. Christian Munoz

When the Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C took off it was Hunter Cross gaining the early lead, but it wouldn’t take Joshua Varize long to take over the number one position. As the race wore on, Varize would continue to hold onto the lead ultimately finishing 11.851 seconds ahead of Gage Linville and Wyatt Liebeck. Linville had worked his way from a 14th place start to second, while Liebeck consistently ran in fourth before making the pass to take over third before the checkered flag flew.

As the 65cc (7-9) class came off the gate it was Vincent Wey shooting out into the lead position. However, Wey would fall to 16th and then 29th by the fourth lap and Landon Gibson would take over the lead followed by Cole Blecha. Once Gibson took over the first place position, he was not looking back and ended up placing a 29 second gap over the rest of the field. Blecha would hold on for second with Trinn Batchelor working his way up to third place. 

The Open Pro Sport moto one was full of great battles, coming down to the very last tenths of a second.
The Open Pro Sport moto one was full of great battles, coming down to the very last tenths of a second. Derek Garcia

Grabbing the Bell Helmets Holeshot Award in the Open Pro Sport class was Tyson Johnson, but Parker Mashburn was hot on his heels making the pass for the lead early on during the first lap. Hardy Munoz came into second with Grant Harlan and Dylan Greer behind him. As the race continued on Munoz would make a mistake and let Harlan get around him. Harlan would then set his sights on Mashburn, as he caught him Munoz would make a push forward from the third place position. Pierce Brown, Jalek Swoll and Carson Mumford were all working their way through the pack with Jett Lawrence also on the hunt to front of the pack. 

Harlan continued to try and turn it up, but Mashburn continued to hold him off. Munoz began receiving pressure from Swoll and Lawrence, as he tripled through the ten commandments. Things were heating up in the Open Pro Sport class, Lawrence had moved into the patiently waiting area behind Munoz and Swoll as that duo battled. Swoll beat Munoz to the inside line, and after Munoz makes a small error Lawrence makes the pass stick. Swoll had caught up to Harlan and was able to beat him to the inside line before the ten commandments and shoot past him with Lawrence following him around Harlan too. 

Jalek Swoll earned the Open Pro Sport moto one victory. 
Jalek Swoll earned the Open Pro Sport moto one victory.  Derek Garcia

Swoll would then set to work on getting to the front and making the pass on Mashburn for the number one spot. Swoll did just that as they were out on the eighth lap, making the pass stick over Mashburn, who would now face pressure from Lawrence. As the white flag went out it was Lawrence coming through ahead of Mashburn, and gaining momentum towards Swoll. It was an all-out sprint to the finish line as the duo would come across the finish line .066 seconds apart. Swoll would clinch the Open Pro Sport moto one win with Lawrence and Mashburn rounding out the podium.

Ryder Ellis launched over the jump to grab the moto one win in the 51cc (7-8) Limited class.
Ryder Ellis launched over the jump to grab the moto one win in the 51cc (7-8) Limited class. Christian Munoz

Cobra’s Ryder Ellis jumped out to grab the lead early on in the 51cc (7-8) Limited class. Ellis would lead from start to finish, with Darren Pine and Gage Dunham rounding out the top three. In the 51cc (4-6) Limited class it was Bode Bradford, who also claimed the lead on lap one and did not look back as he led each lap of the race. Jaydin Smart and Alex Campigli came through second and third. When the 51cc (4-6) Special Limited class took to the track it was Kade Nightingale leading his group around the track as the green flag flew, until the checkers came out. Rounding out the podium would be Kayky De Pinho and Jet Capps. The last of the 51cc classes was the 51cc (4-6) Shaft Drive Ltd. Class. This race saw Braxton Bradock and Cooper Jennings battling throughout the last couple of laps, however it would be Bradock who earned the moto win with Jennings and Bryson Howell coming through second and third.

As the second motos started during Wednesday afternoon it was the 250 Pro Sport surprising the fans that lined the fence. Jalek Swoll would grab the Bell Helmets Holeshot Award, with Tyson Johnson and Joe Shimoda starting the moto off strong. Problems looked like they were arising for Swoll as he faded back, with Jett Lawrence making his way to the front. Lawrence’s teammate, Shimoda, followed making way to the second place position after running wheel-to-wheel Swoll for a lap. Munoz and Brown also make their way past Swoll, but things were heating up at the front of the race. Shimoda had caught Lawrence and was working to make the pass stick. Lapped traffic was coming into play as Shimoda flew around the outside line and making the pass on Lawrence to take over the lead. Lawrence was trying to fight back, but could not make the pass back around before the checkered flag flew. Shimoda took the 250 Pro Sport moto two win with Lawrence coming in second and Brown making his way up to third. Lawrence holds the overall lead with Brown and Munoz sitting second and third overall.

Haiden Deegan (#38) came through to win the second moto in the 85cc (10-11) Limited class with Daxton Bennick (#1) coming in second.
Haiden Deegan (#38) came through to win the second moto in the 85cc (10-11) Limited class with Daxton Bennick (#1) coming in second. Christian Munoz

Haiden Deegan came out with the lead early on in the second moto of the 85cc (10-11) Limited class. Daxton Bennick came through in second, but would try to push throughout the moto. Deegan and Bennick would battle, but Deegan would ultimately take the moto two win. Bennick would come through in second with Drew Adams holding onto the third place position for the duration of the moto. Deegan currently sits first in the overall standings, with Bennick in second. Adams is third overall after finishing third in the first two motos.   

The 2019 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by Lucas Oil is taking place now through August 3 at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. 

Wednesday Class Winners:

  1. 450 B Limited – Jace Kessler
  2. 85cc (10-12) – Daxton Bennick
  3. Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C – Joshua Varize
  4. 65cc (7-9) – Landon Gibson
  5. 450 C – Tyler Foster
  6. Supermini 1 (12-15) – Maximus Vohland
  7. Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C – Jarrett Frye
    *Open Pro Sport – Jalek Swoll
  8. 51cc (7-8) Limited – Ryder Ellis
  9. 51cc (4-6) Limited – Bode Bradford
  10. 51cc (4-6) Special Limited – Kade Nightingale
  11. 51cc (4-6) Shaft Drive Ltd. – Braxton Baldock
  12. Senior (45+) – John Bowlin
  13. 65cc (10-11) – Luke Fauser
  14. Vet (30+) – Jeff Loop
  15. 450 B – Matthew LeBlanc
  16. 125 C – Sebastian Balbuena
    *250 Pro Sport – Joe Shimoda
  17. 85cc (10-12) Limited – Haiden Deegan
  18. Mini Sr. 2 (13-15) – Ryder DiFrancesco
  19. Masters (50+) – John Grewe
  20. 250 B Limited – Preston Kilroy
  21. 65cc (10-11) – Landen Gordon

For more information on the AMA Amateur National, visit the series official website at www.mxsports.com or call (304) 284-0101. Join the conversation on the event’s social media channels, along with receiving the most up-to-date news and exclusive content.

About the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship

The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by Lucas Oil is the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross racing program. The national qualifying program consists of 54 Area Qualifiers (February through May) and 13 Regional Championships (May through June), hosted at select motocross facilities across the country. The qualifying system culminates in the National Final (first week in August) hosted annually since 1982 at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Nearly 20,000 racers attempt to qualify in 36 classes for the 1,512 available positions at the National. Christened "The World's Greatest Motocross Vacation", the National event serves as a launch pad for some of the biggest names in professional motocross and supercross, including Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, and Ryan Dungey. The national program is produced by MX Sports, Inc., a West Virginia-based race production company and sanctioned by AMA. For more information, please visit www.mxsports.com

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join