Cycle News Staff | August 5, 2022
The first championships of the week have been handed out as Friday’s racing at the Monster Energy AMA Amateur Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch has concluded. A total of 19 classes contested their third and final motos on the penultimate day of the event, from which 18 different riders hoisted AMA #1 plates as new National Champions.
On Saturday evening the 29 different athletes who became newly crowned titleholders of the event’s 36 classes were celebrated at the awards ceremony, where their efforts from the past week were recognized in front of their family, friends, teams, and peers. Additionally, GASGAS Factory Amateur Team rider Caden Braswell received the prestigious honor of the Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award as the most promising talent in amateur motocross, while NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team’s Avery Long earned AMA Amateur Racer of the Year honors and Husqvarna Factory Amateur Team’s Casey Cochran was named AMA Youth Racer of the Year.
With a two-point lead entering Saturday’s final Open Pro Sport moto, all eyes were on Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Ryder DiFrancesco as he looked to overcome his hardship from the 250 Pro Sport class and end his amateur career with one of Loretta Lynn’s most high-profile championships. Unfortunately, another challenging third moto resulted in additional heartbreak for the California rider.
When the third and final moto got underway it wasn’t a surprise to once again see Phoenix Racing Honda’s Heath Harrison out front with the STACYC Holeshot, followed closely by Monster Energy/SlamLife Racing Honda’s Cole Martinez and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Talon Hawkins. DiFrancesco, meanwhile, started his moto in 16th place, but crashed in the early laps and dropped outside the top 30, which added an insurmountable amount of pressure with his championship rival battling for the lead.
Cole Martinez dominated the 25+ and Open Pro Sport divisions. Photos: Align Media
Out front, Harrison and Martinez duked it out like the veteran racers they are. Martinez was able to make the pass for the lead after a couple laps and then slowly started to build a gap. Harrison then asserted his hold of second. As the moto wore on, GASGAS Factory Amateur Race Team’s Caden Braswell was on a torrid charge through the field after starting in 11th place. Braswell’s climb up the running order moved him into third late in the moto and allowed him to put pressure on Harrison in the closing stages.
Martinez never faced a serious challenge the rest of the way and took an unexpected moto win, which resulted in a surprise Open Pro Sport title. Braswell fought to the end and earned a runner-up finish, while Harrison followed in third.
Martinez and the SLR Honda team.
In his first appearance at the Ranch in over a decade, Martinez captured one of the most coveted Loretta Lynn’s class championships with 4-3-1 moto finishes and seven total points.
Braswell finished with a quiet runner-up effort in Open Pro Sport with 7-1-2 moto finishes and 10 points. That, combined with his championship effort in 250 Pro Sport ultimately brought him the Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award.
Caden Braswell earned the Nicky Hayden Horizon Award.
While things didn’t necessarily work out in his favor in 250 B, Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Haiden Deegan was certainly on point all week in Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C. Entering Saturday’s finale, the second-generation racer handily won the first two motos and once again stepped up when it mattered the most in Moto 3.
Deegan was one of three riders jockeying for the lead as the field exited the first turn to start Moto 3, but he showed some early aggression to assert control of the top spot. The clear track allowed him to push the pace on the opening lap and build an early gap on KTM Orange Brigade’s Daxton Bennick.
A confident Deegan continued to add to his advantage with fast and consistent lap times that were simply too much for his competitors to overcome. In his debut with the Star Yamaha effort Deegan complete the moto sweep in Schoolboy 2, several seconds ahead of Bennick, while Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Preston Boespflug rounded out the top three.
The first “big bike” title for Deegan put the finishing touches on a challenging week in which he showed he’ll be one to watch as he continues his progression. He now has seven Loretta Lynn’s championships to his name.
Haiden Deegan won his first bike bike title in Schoolboy 2.
Fresh off a triumphant outing on Friday in the 125 Jr. (12-17) B/C class, all eyes were on Husqvarna Factory Amateur Race Team’s Casey Cochran entering the third and final moto in Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C. The Florida rider sat in a three-way tie with BJ Stevens KTM’s Noah Stevens and NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team’s Logan Best atop the overall classification as the gate dropped on Moto 3, which set the stage for a dramatic final showdown.
Fittingly, the leading trio emerged from their final gate drop at the head of the pack, with Stevens earning the STACYC Holeshot. Stevens and Best were side-by-side through the opening turns before Best grabbed hold of the top spot with Stevens second and Cochran third. In his pursuit of the lead Stevens had a slight bobble that briefly stalled his momentum after his KTM got stuck in a rut. That caused contact with Cochran as the Husqvarna rider attempted to avoid his rival and fell to the ground. Stevens was able to resume and dropped one spot back to third, while Cochran lost four positions.
That incident put Best into a comfortable spot out front, but he too encountered misfortune and went down, which handed the lead to C & G Drilling KTM’s Jeremiah Willoughby. After pacing the field for a couple laps Willoughby lost the lead to Stevens and crashed a short time later.
Stevens became the race’s third different leader and enjoyed a multi-second lead as the moto passed the halfway mark, but he soon had company as Cochran was on the charge. After moving into podium position, he wasted little time in making the pass for second to set his sights on the lead. Cochran laid down the fastest lap of the moto to erase his deficit to Stevens and after a brief battle for the position, Cochran seized control of the moto and quickly checked out. The Husqvarna rider stormed to fourth straight moto win of the week, with Stevens second and Best third.
Cochran’s emphatic victory put the exclamation point on 3-1-1 moto finishes, which resulted in his second Loretta Lynn’s championship of the week and the fifth of his career. Those performances made him an obvious choice to receive AMA Youth Racer of the Year honors.
Casey Cochran earned another championship in Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C and the AMA Youth Racer of the Year.
The battle for the WMX crown is always among the most competitive at the Ranch each summer and this year’s title fight was no different. After Fasthouse KTM’s Viviana Contreras made the opening statement of the week with the Moto 1 win, defending class champion and Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Kawasaki rider Sophia Phelps responded with a moto win of her own to move into control of the title fight. As the field entered Saturday’s final moto, Phelps sat tied with KTM Orange Brigade’s Tayler Allred, who had been the most consistent rider of the week.
As the gate dropped on Moto 3, various fortunes faced all three riders. Contreras emerged with the best start in eighth, while Allred followed in 10th. Phelps was nowhere to be found, mired outside the top 20 in 22nd place, but despite the early adversity, the Utah native’s quest had only just begun.
Trail Jesters KTM’s Korie Steede controlled the majority of the final moto and managed to open up a healthy lead that surpassed five seconds. As she led the way, the attention shifted to Phelp’s incredible climb through the field. The Kawasaki rider broke into the top 10 after just a couple laps and laid down the fastest laps on the track to continue picking off riders. She first closed in on Allred and made quick work of her main championship rival in a pass for fifth. Phelps then closed in on Contreras for a spot on the podium. She showed patience and made her move and ultimately climbed from fourth to second with a pass on both Contreras and Troy Lee Designs GASGAS’ Hannah Hodges. On the final lap of the moto Steede lost her hold of the lead in a moment of misfortune that ultimately saw her drop to fifth. That opened the door for Phelps to assume the top spot and bring home an emphatic championship-winning moto victory that seemed unlikely on the outset of the moto.
Phelps’ impressive resiliency proved to be the hallmark of her successful defense of the WMX crown, with 3-1-1 moto finishes that easily helped her earn back-to-back Loretta Lynn’s championships.
Sophia Phelps put in a come from behind charge to win the WMX title.
Saturday Moto 3 Winners
| 250 C |
Jordan Pittenger, Veradale, Wash., Husqvarna |
| College (18-24) |
Gage Stine, Woodboro, Md., GASGAS |
| 65cc (7-9) |
Sawyer Gieck, Alpine, Wyo., KTM |
| 250 C Jr. (12-17) Limited |
Ryder Bell, Haiku, Hawaii, Honda |
| 450 B Limited |
Avery Long, New London, Minn., Yamaha |
| 85cc (10-12) Limited |
Vincent Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna |
| Senior (45+) |
Gregory Pamart, Birdsboro, Pa., Kawasaki |
| 250 C Limited |
Ryder Bell, Haiku, Hawaii, Honda |
| Girls (11-16) |
Kyleigh Stallings, Austin, Texas, Husqvarna |
| 65cc (10-11) |
Maddox Temmerman, Visalia, Calif., Husqvarna |
Saturday Champions
| College (18-24) |
Gage Stine, Woodboro, Md., GASGAS |
| 250 C |
Dawson Cobb, Honea Path, S.C., KTM |
| 65cc (7-9) |
Sawyer Gieck, Alpine, Wyo., KTM |
| 250 C Jr. (12-17) Limited |
Ryder Bell, Haiku, Hawaii, Honda |
| 450 B Limited |
Avery Long, New London, Minn., Yamaha |
| 85cc (10-12) Limited |
Landon Gibson, Peachtree City, Ga., KTM |
| Senior (45+) |
Jimmy Jarrett, Star, Idaho, KTM |
| 250 C Limited |
Ryder Bell, Haiku, Hawaii, Hond |
| Girls (11-16) |
Kyleigh Stallings, Austin, Texas, Husqvarna |
| 65cc (10-11) |
Maddox Temmerman, Visalia, Calif., Husqvarna |
Click here for complete 2022 Loretta Lynn Ranch Motocross results.
Friday
A solid week at the Ranch put Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Ryder DiFrancesco in position to wrap up one of Loretta Lynn’s most high-profile titles on Friday. A moto win and a runner-up finish provided a much-needed edge for the California rider entering Moto 3, but he still needed to put forth another high-level performance in order to potentially secure his first 250cc crown. Unfortunately for DiFrancesco, the heartbreak of racing left him wondering what could have been at the end of the moto.
For the second straight moto Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Talon Hawkins surged to the early lead with the STACYC Holeshot to open Moto 3, with DiFrancesco tucked into second and his main championship rival, GASGAS Factory Amateur Race Team’s Caden Braswell, in third. The top three were separated by mere bike lengths in the early stages of the moto, which allowed Braswell to pass DiFrancesco as the Kawasaki rider searched for a way around Hawkins. Braswell’s pursuit of the lead continued, and he soon seized control of the moto. The move by the GASGAS rider put the pressure on DiFrancesco to respond, but the Kawasaki rider lost ground to Hawkins in his pursuit of second.
As Braswell added to his lead out front, DiFrancesco started to receive pressure from fourth place and suddenly pulled off the track. He then removed his goggles and made the slow ride back to the mechanics area with an apparent issue with his motorcycle. DiFrancesco got off his bike and made a lonely walk to his pit.
Braswell’s already promising fortunes took a more positive turn with DiFrancesco’s heartbreak and put him in line for the biggest title of his amateur career. Braswell continued to add to his lead and never looked back en route to what is arguably his most memorable moto win, several seconds ahead of NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team’s Jayden Clough, who made a late pass on Hawkins.
With his 3-2-1 moto finishes Braswell captured his third Loretta’s championship in his first appearance as a member of the GASGAS squad.
Cayden Braswell got better as the week went on, going 3-2-1 in 250 Pro Sport. Photos: Align Media
A wild week of action in 250 B meant the championship was still up for grabs entering Friday’s final moto. Following a big win in Moto 2, KTM Orange Brigade’s Daxton Bennick led the way, albeit slightly over NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team’s Evan Ferry and Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Preston Boespflug.
As the gate dropped on Moto 3 the rider most expected to also be in the championship hunt, Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Haiden Deegan, vaulted out to the early lead. Due to a DNF in the opening moto Deegan was not in the mix for the title, but the final moto presented an ideal opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the Ranch.
As Deegan led the way, the trio of championship hopefuls slotted in behind him and engaged in a tense battle. Bennick and Boespflug occupied the remaining podium spots, with Ferry right behind. These three riders continued their fight until Ferry encountered misfortune and went down, which dropped the Yamaha rider outside the top 10.
With Ferry out of the picture, the title fight came down to Bennick and Boespflug. After persistent pressure, Boespflug got the opening he needed halfway through the moto and made the pass for second. Deegan extended his lead in the late stages of the moto and wrapped up a challenging outing in 250 B with his first moto win in the class. Boespflug finished in second, with Bennick third.
By virtue of his 4-1-3 moto finishes Bennick secured his first “big bike” title at the Ranch and the fifth Loretta Lynn’s championship of his career, with his Moto 2 win proving invaluable in edging out Boespflug by a single point.
A suspenseful finish to 250B saw Daxton Bennick take the title.
After a dominant Thursday in which he captured two moto wins, Husqvarna Factory Amateur Race team rider Casey Cochran entered Friday’s final moto of the 125 Jr. (12-17) B/C class with a ton of confidence, some late week momentum, and a comfortable lead in the overall standings.
When the gate dropped for the third and final time it wasn’t a surprise to see Cochran emerge from the fray with the lead and STACYC Holeshot, with NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team’s Logan Best right behind him. While Best did well to try and keep the pressure on Cochran in the opening laps, the Husqvarna rider was simply too good and added to his lead little by little. By the halfway point of the moto Cochran had opened up a double-digit advantage over the field.
With Cochran well on his way to victory, the battle for second heated up between Best and BJ Stevens KTM’s Noah Stevens. The two riders traded the position several times over the course of the moto, where Best ultimately got the upper hand.
Another dominant performance capped off a tremendous surge to close out the week for Cochran, where his wire-to-wire win secured his first “big bike” championship in emphatic fashion. Best finished second, with Stevens third. Cochran’s 2-1-1 moto finishes brought him the fourth Loretta Lynn’s championship of his career in his first appearance as a member of the Husqvarna squad.
Casey Cochran earned his first bike bike title in 125 Jr.
Captivating battles highlighted both 85cc (10-12) and Mini Sr. 1 (12-14) all week long and culminated with a pair of thrilling final motos on Friday that didn’t see either championship contender at the head of the pack.
In the 85cc (10-12) class Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Caden Dudney entered Moto 3 with a two-point advantage over KTM Orange Brigade’s Seth Dennis. The two riders had been the ones to beat with every gate drop, but when the checkered flag flew it was Dudney who prevailed with his third Loretta Lynn’s title in his first outing with Kawasaki. As the gate dropped on the final moto it was second-generation racer Vincent Wey who emerged at the head of the pack aboard his Husqvarna Factory Amatuer Team ride, followed by Future MX KTM’s Carson Wood and Dennis. Dudney, meanwhile, started just outside the top 10 in 11th place. In his pursuit of second Dennis crashed and dropped outside the top 10, which effectively ended his title hopes. Wey and Wood continued an exciting battle for the lead that came to a heartbreaking end for Wood after he tipped over mere moments after making the pass on Wey on the final lap. Wey carried on to take an exciting moto win while Dudney showed patience, stayed out of trouble and worked his way through the field to finish a distant second.
Later in the afternoon both Dudney and Dennis returned to the starting gate for the final Mini Sr. 1 (12-14) moto. This time Dennis held the slight upper hand with a single-point edge over Dudney, which meant the better finisher would ultimately secure the championship. Off the start it was RJR Motorsports KTM’s Cole Timboe out front ahead of STR Racing/Tapthouse Husqvarna’s Deacon Denno. Dennis emerged in seventh, which sat him six positions ahead of Dudney in 13th place. As Timboe began to open up a gap on the field, the paths of Dennis and Dudney crossed in the early laps as they both fought their way forward. Dudney had some better lines and after a couple slight bobbles by Dennis it allowed the Kawasaki rider to get by for what was fifth place at the time. Dudney continued to gain ground and climbed all the way into second in the closing laps while Dennis remained a couple spots back in fourth. Timboe went on to take a convincing win with Dudney not far back in second, while Dennis’ fourth-place finish left him on the wrong end of the title fight.
The pair of come-from-behind runner-up efforts by Dudney were enough to secure each respective championship, with an eight-point margin in 85cc (10-12) and a single point in Mini Sr. 1 (12-14). His impressive resiliency in the final motos capped off the memorable debut at the Ranch with Team Green, which brought Dudney his third and fourth Loretta Lynn’s championships.
Caden Dudney captured a pair of championships in 85cc (10-12) and Mini Sr. 1 (12-14).
Friday Moto Winners: Moto 2
| Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C |
Haiden Deegan, Cleveland, N.C., Yamaha |
| Girls (11-16) |
Lachlan Turner, Gardnerville, Nev., KTM |
| 65cc (10-11) |
Braxtyn Mes, Temecula, Calif., Husqvarna |
| Supermini 2 (13-16) |
Tiger Wood, Cairo, Ga., GASGAS |
| 450 B |
Matti Jorgensen Jr., Pompano Beach, Fla., KTM |
| 125 C |
Lance Geis, Jordan, Minn., KTM |
| 65cc (7-9) Limited |
Alex Campigli, Valley Springs, Calif., GASGAS |
| Mini Sr. 2 (13-15) |
Jesson Turner, Kemp, Texas, KTM |
| 450 C |
Blake Broderick, Rapid City, S.D., KTM |
| 250 B Limited |
Drew Adams, Chattanooga, Tenn., Kawasaki |
| 65cc (10-11) Limited |
Maddox Temmerman, Visalia, Calif., Husqvarna |
| Micro 2 (4-6) Limited |
Jarrett Tincher, Elk View, W. Va., Cobra |
| Micro 3 (7-8) Limited |
Jaydin Smart, Berry Creek, Calif., Cobra |
| Micro 1 (4-6) Shaft Dr. Ltd |
Boone Lloyd, Bedford, Va., Yamaha |
| Micro-E (4-7) Limited |
Abshur Hall, Morganton, N.C., KTM |
Friday Champions
| 450 B |
Avery Long, New London, Minn., Yamaha |
| 125 C |
Dawson Cobb, Honea Path, S.C., KTM |
| 65cc (7-9) Limited |
Alex Campigli, Valley Springs, Calif., GASGAS |
| Mini Sr. 2 (13-15) |
Kade Johnson, Hideaway, Texas, Yamaha |
| 450 C |
Lance Geis, Jordan, Minn., KTM |
| 250 B Limited |
Blake Gardner, Canyon Country, Calif., KTM |
| 65cc (10-11) Limited |
Chase Dashiell, Fairfax Station, Va., KTM |
| Micro 2 (4-6) Limited |
Talon Rogers, Peoria, Ariz., Cobra |
| Micro 3 (7-8) Limited |
Jaydin Smart, Berry Creek, Calif., Cobra |
| Micro 1 (4-6) Shaft Dr. Ltd |
Boone Lloyd, Bedford, Va., Yamaha |
| Micro-E (4-7) Limited |
Cooper Langdon, Encinitas, Calif., GASGAS |
Click here for complete 2022 Loretta Lynn Ranch Motocross results.
Thursday
Day three of the Monster Energy AMA Amateur Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch is wrapped up. After a thrilling first moto that saw NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team rider Gavin Towers and Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Ryder DiFrancesco go bar-to-bar to the checkered flag, Thursday’s Moto 2 presented a major opportunity to move into an advantageous position in the quest for one of Loretta Lynn’s most high-profile class championships.
Ryder DiFrancesco won the second 250 Pro Sport moto. Photos: Align Media
While Towers emerged with the early advantage, there’s no doubt that DiFrancesco has consistently been the fastest rider at the Ranch this week, even if his results don’t necessarily show it. The one thing holding DiFrancesco back was his starts, but he turned that fortune around to start Moto 2, where he emerged in second behind Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Talon Hawkins.
The lead pair showed tremendous pace early in the moto, which allowed them to build a gap over the rest of the field, where Towers led the way running in third. Despite consistent and relentless pressure from DiFrancesco, Hawkins showcased why he’s another one of the sport’s top prospects by continuously fending off the Kawasaki rider. The gap between the leaders hovered between one to two seconds and as they started to encounter lapped traffic it allowed GASGAS Factory Amateur Team’s Caden Braswell to make it a three-rider affair.
Braswell’s pressure on DiFrancesco from third forced the Kawasaki rider to pick up his pace and he responded with a pass on Hawkins in the closing minutes of the moto. On the ensuing lap Braswell made the pass on Hawkins for second. Once out front, DiFrancesco continued to push as Braswell kept him within striking distance. The Team Green rider successfully captured his second moto win of the week by a few bike lengths over Braswell, while Hawkins rounded out the top three.
Back-to-back podium finishes for DiFrancesco and Braswell have them atop the overall classification after two motos. The 2-1 finishes and three points for DiFrancesco gives him a slight edge over Braswell’s five points following 3-2 finishes, while Towers also remains in the mix at five points with his 1-4 moto finishes.
Daxon Bennick was happy to win the second 250 B moto.
After a dramatic opening moto that saw a mixed bag of luck for many of the class’ top riders, 250 B returned to the starting gate for its second moto still very much up for grabs. MJ Racing’s Matti Jorgensen took the Moto 1 win, while Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Preston Boespflug, NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team’s Evan Ferry, and KTM Orange Brigade’s Daxton Bennick were in the mix as well. Meanwhile, Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Haiden Deegan was simply looking to make a statement after a DNF in the opening moto.
Off the start, Ferry did what he needed to do and put his Yamaha into the lead with the STACYC Holeshot. Bennick slotted into second, while Jorgensen settled into third. Unfortunately, the Moto 1 winner encountered misfortune and went down in a rut, which dropped him outside the top 10 and put EBR Performance Yamaha’s Julien Beaumer into third.
Back out front, Bennick picked up on faster lines and started to apply pressure on Ferry. The KTM rider made the move happen just a few laps into the moto and quickly put some distance between he and the Yamaha. As that unfolded, Deegan was on a charge from a 10th-place start that saw him make a savvy pass on Beaumer for third. Deegan then put in a long and persistent pursuit of Ferry for second and successfully moved into the runner-up spot in the closing stages of the moto.
Bennick’s pace out front made him the class of the field in this moto and while Deegan made it seem close at the finish, Bennick’s control of the moto was never in doubt as he took the win and control of the overall classification. Deegan’s rebound ride was good enough for second, while Ferry finished third.
With 4-1 moto finishes Bennick’s five points gives him a one-point edge over Ferry with six points following 3-3 finishes. Boespflug sits quietly in third, with 2-5 finishes and seven points.
Jeremy Fappani is dominating the Supermini 1 (12-15) class.
After trading first moto wins in the two Supermini classes, KTM Orange Brigade’s Jeremy Fappani and Rides Unlimited KTM’s Leum Oehlhof were once again the front-runners as Supermini 1 (12-15) raced its second moto on Thursday.
Much like the first moto in this class, the outcome was all but decided off the start as Fappani once again rocketed to the STACYC Holeshot and put some distance between he and GASGAS Factory Amateur Race Team’s Tiger Wood. Meanwhile, Oehlhof started his moto deep inside the top 10 and was forced to battle through the pack just to keep pace with his rival.
Fappani continued to add to his lead and soon sat more than 10 seconds clear of the field. He brought home another convincing wire-to-wire win while Oehlhof once more put forth an impressive ride of his own to make a late pass on Wood to secure a runner-up finish.
Fappani’s 1-1 finishes and two points could be all he needs to fend off Oehlhof, who sits two points back with 2-2 finishes and four points. CN
Thursday Moto Winners
| 250 B Limited: |
Drew Adams, Chattanooga, Tenn., Kawasaki |
| 65cc (10-11) Limited: |
Chase Dashiell, Fairfax Station, Va., KTM |
| Junior (25+): |
Cole Martinez, Camp Verde, Ariz., Honda |
| 250 C: |
Dawson Cobb, Honea Path, S.C., KTM |
| WMX: |
Sophia Phelps, St. George, Utah, Kawasaki |
| College (18-24): |
Kayden Palmer, Washington, Utah, GASGAS |
| 65cc (7-9): |
Alex Campigli, Valley Springs, Calif., GASGAS |
| 250 C Jr. (12-17) Limited: |
Ryder Bell, Haiku, Hawaii, Honda |
| 450 B Limited: |
Avery Long, New London, Minn., Yamaha |
| 85cc (10-12) Limited: |
Landon Gibson, Peachtree City, Ga., KTM |
| Senior (45+): |
Jimmy Jarrett, Star, Idaho, KTM |
| 250 C Limited: |
Degan Gale, Washington, Utah, Husqvarna |
| Micro 3 (7-8) Limited: |
Jaydin Smart, Berry Creek, Calif., Cobra |
| Micro 1 (4-6) Shaft Dr. Ltd.: |
Levi Meyer, Okeechobee, Fla., Yamaha |
| Micro-E (4-7) Limited: |
Levi Leddy, Oxford, Fla., GASGAS |
| Micro 2 (4-6) Limited: |
Landon Conn, Grants Pass, Ore., Cobra |
| 250 Pro Sport Moto |
Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Kawasaki |
| 250 B |
Daxton Bennick, Morganton, N.C., KTM |
| 125 Jr. (12-17) B/C |
Casey Cochran, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna |
| Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C |
Casey Cochran, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna |
| Supermini 1 (12-15) |
Jeremy Fappani, Scottsdale, Ariz., KTM |
| Mini Sr. 1 (12-14) |
Seth Dennis, Groveland, Fla., KTM |
| Masters (50+) |
Mike Brown, Bristol, Tenn., KTM |
Click here for complete 2022 Loretta Lynn Ranch Motocross results.
WEDNESDAY
Day two (Wednesday) of the Monster Energy AMA Amateur Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch is in the books, and it was a day that the 250cc Pro Sport riders got to get things started for their first moto.
After an impressive win in Open Pro Sport, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Ryder DiFrancesco was arguably the rider to beat in 250 Pro Sport. While the California native came up short in his bid for another moto win, he was once again impressive with a come-from-behind effort that saw him overcome an opening-lap tip-over and an 11th-place start to just narrowly missing out on victory by mere bike lengths.
Gavin Towers won the opening 250cc Pro Sport moto. Photos: Align Media
The battle for the first moto win began as a hotly contested affair between GasGas Factory Amateur Team rider Caden Braswell and NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team rider Gavin Towers. Towers made the first move and prevailed with the STACYC Holeshot, but Braswell went on the attack early and took over the top spot. The GasGas rider set a strong pace through the opening laps to assert himself out front, but misfortune caused him to lose valuable ground and drop from first to third.
Towers assumed the lead and relied on his experience to manage the advantage, with consistent lap times that allowed him to keep Team Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas at bay through the middle of the moto. As Towers continued to control the lead, DiFrancesco jumped into the mix with both Hymas and Braswell, and got the better of both riders.
The final lap of the moto was filled with tension as DiFrancesco closed onto the rear of Towers’ Yamaha and looked for a way around. The two riders were side-by-side entering the final corner, but Towers held on for the Moto 1 win. Braswell made a late pass on Hymas to grab third.
Following a heartbreaking start to the week in Tuesday’s 250 B opener, Wednesday was a new day and an opportunity for redemption for Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Haiden Deegan in the first moto of Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C. He would, once again, have to go bar-to-bar with the likes of NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team rider Evan Ferry, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Preston Boespflug, and KTM Orange Brigade’s Daxton Bennick.
Haiden Deegan won the Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C moto one.
As the field roared out the gate to start moto one of Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C it was Boespflug who rocketed out front to take the STACYC Holeshot and assume the early lead, while Deegan, Bennick and Ferry gave pursuit. Unfortunately for Ferry, a solid start was erased when he encountered misfortune on the opening lap and dropped outside the top 10 in the running order.
Deegan looked to track down Boespflug for the lead early, but a slight bobble allowed Bennick to briefly assume second. Deegan reset and went back on the attack. He ran the fastest lap of the moto to reclaim the spot from Bennick and then made an easy move on Boespflug a short time later to climb from third to first on a single lap and seize control of the moto.
From that point forward Deegan maintained a firm hold of the lead as Boespflug and Bennick battled it out for second. The KTM rider eventually made the pass and was able to keep Deegan honest through to the finish, but the Yamaha took the checkered flag by several seconds for his first moto win of the 2022 event. KTM Orange Brigade’s Mark Fineis rounded out the top three.
The first wave of second motos included Open Pro Sport, which brought many of the Ranch’s top riders back onto the track for a second time on Wednesday. Following a win in Moto 1 and an impressive runner-up effort earlier in the day to start 250 Pro Sport, all eyes were on DiFrancesco and his Team Green Kawasaki, as he looked to move one step closer to his first “big bike” crown.
The result of the second moto was one of the most exciting races of the week thus far. In his third gate drop of the week, Hymas finally put his Honda at the head of the pack to open the second moto. The Idaho native looked comfortable pacing the field and built a multi-second advantage in the early stages, but both Braswell and DiFrancesco were on the move after each started inside the top five. It wasn’t long before the lead trio was separated by less than two seconds.
Braswell made a savvy move to get by Hymas and take over the lead, which then put Hymas into the clutches of DiFrancesco, who dropped his rival to third. At that point, the battle was one between the GasGas and Kawasaki riders. A brief off-track excursion by Braswell handed the lead to DiFrancesco, but moments later the rear end of the Kawasaki went up and over and sent DiFrancesco into the ground. Braswell moved back the lead and carried on to the finish as DiFrancesco remounted in fourth.
Braswell took a wild and dramatic victory by several seconds over NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team’s Jayden Clough, who put in a strong charge over the second half of the moto to finish second. Hymas earned his first podium result of the week in third. DiFrancesco soldiered home to fifth.
Despite the adversity of moto two, DiFrancesco still leads the way in the overall classification. His 1-5 moto finishes totals six points entering the final moto, while Braswell (7-1) leads a four-way tie for second at eight points with Clough (6-2), Monster Energy/SlamLife Racing Honda’s Cole Martinez (4-4), and Pure Outlaw Yamaha’s Gage Linville (2-6). CN
Other Wednesday Moto Winners
Moto 1
| 65cc (7-9): |
Sawyer Gieck, Alpine, Wyo., KTM |
| 250 C Jr. (12-17) Limited: |
Ryder Bell, Haiku, Hawaii, Honda |
| 450 B Limited: |
Avery Long, New London, Minn., Yamaha |
| 85cc (10-12) Limited: |
Landon Gibson, Peachtree City, Ga., KTM |
| Senior (45+): |
Jimmy Jarrett, Star, Idaho, KTM |
| 250 C Limited: |
Ashton Arruda, Westport, Mass., Yamaha |
| Girls (11-16): |
Kyleigh Stallings, Austin Texas, Husqvarna |
| 65cc (10-11): |
Maddox Temmerman, Visalia, Calif., Husqvarna |
Moto 2
| Vet (30+): |
Brandon Haas, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha |
| 450 B: |
Avery Long, New London, Minn., Yamaha |
| 125 C: |
Micah Grubbs, Chardon, Ohio, KTM |
| 65cc (7-9) Limited: |
Alex Campigli, Valley Springs, Calif., GASGAS |
| Senior (40+): |
Mike Brown, Bristol, Tenn., KTM |
| Mini Sr. 2 (13-15): |
Kade Johnson, Hideaway, Texas, Yamaha |
| 450 C: |
Lance Geis, Jordan, Minn., KTM |
Click here for complete 2022 Loretta Lynn Ranch Motocross results.
TUESDAY
The 41st Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is officially up and running. Day one from Loretta Lynn Ranch took place Tuesday, August 2, with the first of three rounds of motos playing out, which will eventually determine 36 AMA National Champions by the end of the week.
So far, the weather is typical here—hot and humid but no rain so far.
Ryder DiFrancesco got his Loretta Lynn’s week started with a win in Open Pro Sport. Photos: Align Media
The Open Pro Sport class was one of the highlights of the day. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated showdown between rivals Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Ryder DiFrancesco and Team Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas didn’t quite pan out. Hymas had a bad start and would later fall, letting DiFrancesco focus on leader Heath Harrison on the Phoenix Racing Honda.
DiFrancesco eventually found his stride, got out in front, and led the way to the finish. Hymas finished deep in the field.
Gage Linville (Pure Outlaw Yamaha) later worked his way into second, where he would finish the moto ahead of Gavin Towers (NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team), Cole Martinez (Monster Energy/SlamLife Racing Honda) and Patrick Murphy (Yamaha).
In 250 B, MJ Racing KTM’s Matti Jorgensen took the win, followed by Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Preston Boespflug and NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team’s Evan Ferry.
Mike Brown was a double winner in 40+ and 50+.
Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Haiden Deegan was in this one, as well, but was forced to retire early with a mechanical when he and Ferry got too close, and Ferry’s footpeg destroyed Deegan’s rear spokes.
Former Pro Motocrosser Mike Brown came away with a pair of wins in the Senior 40+ and Masters 50+ divisions. Kris Keefer was second in Senior 40+ and John Grewe took runner-up honors in Masters 50+.
Other Tuesday Moto Winners
August 2, 2022
| Vet (30+): |
Brandon Haas, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha |
| 450 B: |
Dayton Briggs, Riverside, Calif., KTM |
| 125 C: |
Dawson Cobb, Honea Path, S.C., KTM |
| 65cc (7-9) Limited: |
Sawyer Gieck, Alpine, Wyo., KTM |
| Mini Sr. 2 (13-15): |
Heath Fisher, Australia, Husqvarna |
| 450 C: |
Lance Geis, Jordan, Minn., KTM |
| 250 B Limited: |
Enzo Temmerman, Visalia, Calif., Kawasaki |
| 65cc (10-11) Limited: |
Elliott Bowsher, Clinton, La., Husqvarna |
| Junior (25+): |
Cole Martinez, Campverde, Ariz., Honda |
| 250 C: |
Bly Dusza, Castle Rock, Colo., Kawasaki |
| WMX: |
Viviana Contreras, Wildomar, Calif., KTM |
| College (18-24): |
Gage Stine, Woodsboro, Md., GASGAS |
| Micro 1 (4-6) Shaft Dr. Ltd.: |
Levi Meyer, Okeechobee, Fla., Yamaha |
| Micro-E (4-7) Limited: |
Cooper Langdon, Encinitas, Calif., GASGAS |
| Micro 2 (4-6) Limited: |
Jett Rau, Big Sky, Mont., Cobra |
| Micro 3 (7-8) Limited: |
Kannon Zabojnik, Rowlett, Texas, Cobra |
Click here for complete 2022 Loretta Lynn Ranch Motocross results.
