Kit Palmer | August 7, 2016
It’s all over in Tennessee. The 35th running of the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, presented by AMSOIL, came to a close Saturday with the 37th National Championship rider being crowned after more than 100 motos being played out at the Loretta Lynn’s Ranch near Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, August 1-6.
Jalek Swoll was one of the few double-class winners. Photography by Rob Koy
Loretta Lynn’s Wrap-Up
Of the 37 titles that were available only a few riders took home more than one, two being the maximum a rider could claim (racers are allowed to ride just two classes at Loretta’s). Plenty of rain early in the week played havoc with the results thanks to the mud and less than ideal conditions that some of the racers had to endure. The second half of the week was primarily dry but traditionally hot.
Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Jordan Bailey was one of just three riders who claimed two titles. He nabbed his in the very competitive 250 B and Schoolboy 2 (13-16) B/C classes. The rider from Orlando, Florida, had a great week. His worst finish in six motos was second. In all, he pulled three moto wins and three second-place finishes.
Husqvarna rider Jalek Swoll of Belleview, Florida, also earned two gold medals in the 125 (12-16) B/C and Schoolboy 1 (12-16) B/C classes. Like Bailey, Swoll won three motos and took second in three motos.
Kawasaki Team Green’s Jett Reynolds was the only other rider to pull the double. The kid from Bakersfield, California, shined in the mud (and dry) and earned Amateur National Championship titles in the 85cc (9-11) Limited and 85cc (9-12) classes. He took two moto wins, three seconds and a third over the week.
The Masterpools pulled off a double of sorts. Brothers Ty and Jake each took home to Texas a title. Ty got his in the Mini Sr. 2 (12-14) class and Jake in the 450 B class.
Beside Jake Masterpool, very few other riders swept (1-1-1) their classes. KTM’s Mitchell Falk managed the feat in the 250 B Limited class, as did John Grewe (Kawasaki) in the Masters 50+ class and Arik Swan (Kawasaki) in the Vet 30+ class. Seth Dennis (Cobra) went 1-1-1 in the 51cc (4-6) Limited class, as did Joe Shimoda (KTM) in Supermini 2 (13-16), Kevyn De Pinho (Yamaha) in 51cc (4-6) Shaft drive L, and Tayler Allred (KTM) in Girls Jr. (9-13).
Amsoil Honda/Factory Connection Chase Sexton of La Moille, Illinois, will begin his pro career next week as a member of the GEICO Honda Team at Unadilla and will do so leaving Loretta Lynn’s with a big overall victory in the Open Pro Sport class, where he rode a 250F to victory with 1-1-2 moto scores. He also to runner-up honors in 250 A, finishing second to a very fast Bradley Taft on the Horton Racing Yamaha YZ250F.
Taft went 1-2-1 and will also make his pro debut at Unadilla on a CycleTrader.com/Rock River Yamaha.
Minnesota’s Jerry Robin used consistency to win the 250 All-Star A/B (14+) division. A 2-3-3 on his SOBMX Yamaha was the key to his success.
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