Shan Moore | November 29, 2023
The Thor Mini O’s, presented by Pro Circuit, now in its 52nd year and one of the five events that make up the prestigious American Motocross Championship Majors, finished up the year crowning 43 MX and 44 Supercross class champions. In addition, seven special awards were handed out for outstanding achievements in different age groups. More than 6000 entries for the Unlimited Sports MX-organized event were filled out, with each racer competing for national championship status.
Tayce Morgan (810) leads the 85cc (9-11) MX pack into the first turn.
Photography by Rob Koy
The first three days were devoted to supercross, while the final days were devoted to motocross.
A light rain was falling when the motocross races started, and in the Mini E (4-8) class, Levi Meyer and Jett Rau each came into the event with a first under their belts from the heat races. Rau grabbed the holeshot to start the main event, with Ryan Ciciretti in second. Ciciretti (1-2) made a dramatic pass on the final lap of the final moto to take second ahead of Rau (1-3) for the overall win ahead of Rau and Meyer (5-1).
Tristian Prueitt was the top 85cc rider and earned the Pro Circuit Platinum Pipe Award.
In the final moto of the 85 (9-11) Limited class, Easton Graves came in with a win, as did Husqvarna’s Ryder Darrigo. At the drop of the gate, Graves grabbed the holeshot, followed by fellow KTM riders Nolan Ford and Jackson Vick (second in moto one).
Ford did his best to reel in Graves. However, Vick was on the move as well and passed Ford on lap three to take over second place. At the finish, it was Graves with the win, followed by Ford, Vick, GasGas’ Colt Martin and Husqvarna’s Braxtyn Mes.
In the final moto of the 85cc (12-13) Limited, Husqvarna’s Tristan Prueitt came in with a first in his heat race and would run away with the main event to claim the overall.
Drew Adams swept the motocross 250cc and 450cc Pro Sport classes and won the Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C class. He was presented the Dunlop Silver Tire and Engine Ice awards.
In the 250cc Pro Sport division, Monster Energy/Team Green Kawasaki’s Drew Adams took the overall win after going 1-2. Fellow Team Green rider Krystian Janik took second overall with a 4-1 and TiLube Honda-mounted Trevor Colip third with a 2-4.
Adams (2-1) also took the overall victory in the 450cc class, with Janik again taking second with a 3-2. Phoenix Honda rider Heath Harrison was third overall with an 8-3.
Munn Racing KTM’s Mike Brown dominated the senior classes, winning the Senior 40+ MX, and Senior 45+ MX, on the supercross course. “Brownie” also won the 40+, 45+ and Vet 35+ classes.
In the supercross Pro Sport classes (riders at the highest level), NSA Yamaha/Rock River rider Avery Long won the 250 main, with Adams finishing second and Janik taking third.
Avery Long topped both the 250cc and 450cc Pro Sport classes in the supercross division.
Long also holeshot the final 450 Pro Sport race ahead of Suzuki rider Cory Carsten, Janik, Harrison, and GasGas’ Gage Linville. Long extended his lead as Harrison moved up after Linville and Janik (DNF) went down. At the finish, it was Long, Harrison, Linville, Gordon and Carsten.
In the B classes, Ryder Malinoski (Husqvarna) grabbed the holeshot in the 450 B class but was passed on lap three by KTM’s Luke Fauser to take the lead, while Yamaha’s Hayes Edwards held third. Fauser took the lead on lap two, while Yamaha’s Landon Hartz moved into third ahead of Edwards. After a bit of bar banging, Yamaha’s Landon Gibson took third away from Hartz, and at the finish, the order was Fauser, Malinoski, Gibson, Hartz and Edwards.
Jaydin Smart earned the Thor Bronze Boot Award as the top 65cc racer.
In the Vet 30+ SX division, Harrison took a clear-cut win after passing Mike Brown and Steve Roman on lap one to take a clear-cut lead. Roman pushed Harrison to the finish but when the checkers fell it was Harrison, Roman and Brown in that order.
One of the biggest classes was the Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C class, and it was Owen Covell (Husqvarna) with the early lead, followed by Seth Dennis (KTM) and Will Canaguier in third, although Canaguier quickly moved around Dennis to take second. Canaguier picked up the pace on lap three, moving into second when he passed Dennis and latched onto Covell’s rear fender. On Lap four, Covell and Canaguier bumped into each other, almost sending both riders to the ground; however, both riders maintained their positions, and at the finish, the order was Covell, Canaguier, and fellow Husqvarna riders Brennon Harrison and Wyatt Bass, with KTM’s Austin Schafer in fifth.
Reven Gordon (105) leads the start of the 250cc Pro Sport MX moto two.
KTM’s Seth Dennis was the winner in the Supermini 2 division, after taking the early lead, while highly regarded Carson Wood came out of turn one last after a run-in with another rider. Dennis led for the race ahead of KTM’s Wyatt Thurman and Wyatt Duff with Vincent Wey sitting all the way back in sixth.
On lap two, Wey made a big move, working his way all the way up to third behind Thurman and Dennis. The order remained the same to the finish, with Dennis taking the win, ahead of Thurman and Wey, who was pushing Thurman for second.
The top B rider, Landen Gordon, earned the Scott Golden Goggle Award.
GasGas’ Eidan Steinbrecher led the 65cc (10-11) class into the first turn ahead of Joey Vicari and Landon Lee to start the main event. On lap two, Husqvarna’s Connor Feather made a bold move to pass Lee for third. The top four held their distance for the remainder of the race, with the final order being Steinbrecher, Vicari and Feather.
After all was said and done, many awards were handed out:
Thor Bronze Boot Award: Jaydin Smart, 65cc (7-9) MX, 65 (7-11) MX and 65 (7-9) Limited MX, fourth in 65 (7-9) Limited, and third in 65 (7-9) SX classes.
Pro Circuit Pipe Award: Tristan Prueitt, 85cc (12-13) MX, 85cc (12-13) SX, 85cc (12-13) SX, 85cc (9-13) SX classes; Mini Sr. 1 (12-14) SX; 85cc (12-14), Mini Sr. 2 (13-15) MX.
Scott Golden Goggle Award: Landen Gordon, 450cc B Limited SX, 250cc B MX; Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C, 450 B Limited.
Engine Ice & Dunlop Silver Tire Awards: Drew Adams, 250cc Pro Sport MX; Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C; 450cc Pro Sport MX.
Nihilo Award: Beckham Smith, 51cc (4-8) Limited.
Diamond Award: Will Canaguier, 2nd 125cc (12-17) B/C; 3rd Schoolboy (12-17) B/C.
SUPERCROSS
250 Pro Sport
- Avery Long (Yam)
- Drew Adams (Kaw)
- Krystian Janik (Kaw)
- Jaxon Pascal (Hon)
- Ricci Randanella (Kaw)
450 Pro Sport
- Avery Long (Yam)
- Heath Harrison (Hon)
- Gage Linville (GG)
- Reven Gordon (Kaw)
- Cory Carsten (Suz)
MOTOCROSS
250 Pro Sport:
- Drew Adams (Kaw) 1-2
- Krystian Janik (Kaw) 4-1
- Trevor Colip (Hon) 2-4
- Reven Gordon (Kaw) 5-5
- Dylan Rempel (Kaw) 7-7
450 Pro Sport:
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- Drew Adams (Kaw) 2-1
- Krystian Janik (Kaw) 3-2
- Heath Harrison (Hon) 8-3
- Collin Allen (Yam) 7-4
- Jesse Wessell (Hus) 5-6
VIDEO | Official Moose Racing Mini O’s 2023
