by: Kayla Bolton
Thursday, August 13, 2020 | 8:25 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thirty Six Champions Crowned at
2020 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
Stilez Robertson Earns Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (August 13, 2020) – An action-packed five days of racing at the 2020 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship signified the culmination of an extensive journey for the world’s most talented amateur racers. From Tuesday, August 4, through Saturday, August 8, a total of 108 motos stormed out of the starting gate at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. When all was said and done, 36 AMA National Champions were crowned across the most dynamic collection of classes in the sport, with 28 individual riders hoisting a coveted AMA No. 1 plate.
Earning the championship’s highest honor, the Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award, was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Stilez Robertson. The up-and-coming racer was exceptional in the high profile 250 Pro Sport and Open Pro Sport classes, winning two of three motos in each to wrap up both titles.
Clinching the event’s Youth Rider of the Year award was Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Ryder Difrancesco. The multi-time AMA Amateur National Championship titleholder was a dominant force in the Supermini divisions, amassing an undefeated record across Supermini 1 and Supermini 2 by sweeping all six motos he entered.
Another rider seemingly untouchable en route to an unblemished 6-0 record was Yamaha/Rock River/bLU cRU Amateur Motocross Team rider Levi Kitchen. After entering the event a bit under the radar, he charged to convincing victories in every moto of both 250 B Limited and 450 B Limited. That earned Kitchen Amateur Rider of the Year honors and made him one to keep an eye on in the future.
Former Pro Motocross racer Brandon Scharer enjoyed a memorable week at Loretta Lynn’s as well. The SOBMX Yamaha rider took home an impressive championship triumph in a deep Junior (25+) field, winning the final two motos to secure the title, which made him an obvious choice for Vet Rider of the Year.
Off the track Christopher Harris was awarded $632 from the Ryder Schnowske Memorial Scholarship Fund for his sportsmanlike conduct at the Lincoln Trail Regional Championship race. Harris was battling for the lead when he and another rider came together, causing both to crash. Harris got back to his bike and was about to take off again when he heard yelling from the other rider. As Harris looked over, he saw that his fellow competitor was stuck under his bike, unable to push it off. Seeing this, Harris jumped off his bike to help his counterpart. This act of kindness is exactly what Ryder Schnowske’s family had in mind when they established the scholarship.
In taking a look at the statistics from the week of action at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, California prevailed with the State Championship, capturing 11 class championships. Bakersfield’s Stilez Robertson (Open Pro Sport, 250 Pro Sport), Winchester’s Dakota Bender (250 C Jr.), Hesperia’s Kris Keefer (Senior 40+), Berry Creek’s Jaydin Smart (51cc 4-6 Limited), Temecula’s Haiden Deegan (Mini Sr 1, Mini Sr 2), Bakersfield’s Ryder Difrancesco (Supermini 1, Supermini 2) and Granite Bay’s Maximus Vohland (125cc 12-17 B/C, Schoolboy 1) were the California natives that brought home AMA No. 1 plates in Tennessee.
2020 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Champions:
CLASS NAME | FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | CITY | STATE | BRAND |
Open Pro Sport | STILEZ | ROBERTSON | BAKERSFIELD | CA | HQV |
250 Pro Sport | STILEZ | ROBERTSON | BAKERSFIELD | CA | HQV |
250 B | MATTHEW | LEBLANC | BREAUX BRIDGE | LA | YAM |
250 B Limited | LEVI | KITCHEN | WASHOUGAL | WA | YAM |
250 C | ALBERT | HABERLE IV | ATCO | NJ | KTM |
250 C Limited | JACOB | HENRY | CORTLAND | NY | KTM |
250 C Jr. (12-17) Limited | DAKOTA | BENDER | WINCHESTER | CA | HON |
450 B | MATTHEW | LEBLANC | BREAUX BRIDGE | LA | YAM |
450 B Limited | LEVI | KITCHEN | WASHOUGAL | WA | YAM |
450 C | CAMERON | HORNER | BOZEMAN | MT | KAW |
125 C | GARRETT | ALUMBAUGH | NEWARK | TX | YAM |
College (18-24) | MICHAEL | HICKS | FENTON | MO | KTM |
Junior (25+) | BRANDON | SCHARER | HAMER | SC | YAM |
Vet (30+) | NICHOLAS | HAYES | CHESTER | VA | KAW |
Senior (40+) | KRIS | KEEFER | HESPERIA | CA | YAM |
Senior (45+) | JOE | BUSKIRK | HANNA CITY | IL | SUZ |
Masters (50+) | KEVIN | WALKER | KINGSPORT | TN | SUZ |
Mini-E (4-6) Jr. | KADE | NIGHTINGALE | MOUNDS | OK | KTM |
51cc (4-6) Shaft Dr LTD | GRAYSON | PORCO | BARBERTON | OH | YAM |
51cc (4-6) Limited | JAYDIN | SMART | BERRY CREEK | CA | COB |
51cc (7-8) Limited | GAUGE | BROWN | CYPRESS | TX | COB |
65cc (7-9) Limited | DARREN | PINE | CROSBY | TX | COB |
65cc (7-9) | GAGE | DUNHAM | GOLDEN | CO | KTM |
65cc (10-11) Limited | SETH | DENNIS | MINNEOLA | FL | KTM |
85cc (10-12) Limited | LUKE | FAUSER | MIDLAND | PA | KTM |
85cc (10-12) | LUKE | FAUSER | MIDLAND | PA | KTM |
Mini Sr 1 (12-14) | HAIDEN | DEEGAN | TEMECULA | CA | KTM |
Mini Sr 2 (13-15) | HAIDEN | DEEGAN | TEMECULA | CA | KTM |
Supermini 1 (12-15) | RYDER | DIFRANCESCO | BAKERSFIELD | CA | KAW |
Supermini 2 (13-16) | RYDER | DIFRANCESCO | BAKERSFIELD | CA | KAW |
125cc (12-17) B/C | MAXIMUS | VOHLAND | GRANITE BAY | CA | KTM |
Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C | MAXIMUS | VOHLAND | GRANITE BAY | CA | KTM |
Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C | CHANCE | HYMAS | POCATELLO | ID | KAW |
Girls (11-16) | KATIE | BENSON | GREER | SC | KTM |
Women | JORDAN | JARVIS | CLAYTON | NC | KAW |
65cc (10-11) | SETH | DENNIS | MINNEOLA | FL | KTM |
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, 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.
- Facebook: @LorettaLynnMX
- Instagram: @LorettaLynnMX
- Twitter: @LorettaLynnMX
About the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
The Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the world's largest and most prestigious amateur motocross racing program. This year due to COVID-19 the qualifying system was broken into a five-week Regional Championship system. 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. 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 is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). For more information, 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.