Amateur National Motocross Champions celebrate at award ceremony

The 43rd running of the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship showcased an action-packed week of racing from Loretta Lynn Ranch. More than 1,400 athletes competed across 36 different classes for 108 motos and 32,839 laps across five days. In the end, an exceptionally competitive field provided incredible racing and some memorable moments, and 31 different racers emerged as AMA National Champions.

Following the 108th and final moto, athletes, friends, family, and members of the industry joined the annual awards ceremony. This celebration of the 2024 Loretta Lynn’s champions also recognized memorable feats and breakthrough accomplishments at the Ranch, with specialty awards handed out to select racers who stood out in their efforts over the course of the week.

The 2024 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship award ceremony celebrated the newly crowned champions and breakthrough performances.

Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award

No award in amateur motocross is more prestigious than the Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award, which is given to the most successful and promising prospect at Loretta Lynn’s. Drew Adams is the newest addition to a decorated list of racers. Adams had the speed, patience, and savviness to carve his way through the field and climb up the running order. He passed 30 riders to finish just off the podium in fourth during the first 250 Pro Sport moto and proceeded to rattle off five straight moto wins across 250 Pro Sport and Open Pro Sport to capture the AMA National Championship in each of Loretta Lynn’s most high-profile divisions.

Amateur Rider of the Year

Texas native Caden Dudney joined his teammate as a dual-class champion. He started his week with a quiet third-place finish in 250 B but went on to win his remaining five motos across 250 B and Schoolboy 2 to capture each AMA National Championship. By virtue of his overall effort across both classes, Dudney was named AMA Amateur Rider of the Year.

Youth Rider of the Year

Owen Covell enjoyed his own breakthrough week by earning the first AMA National Championships of his young career. The Massachusetts native took advantage of an unparalleled level of consistency to capture his maiden title in 125 Jr. and then capped off an incredible week with a dominant performance in Schoolboy 1, where he was one of just seven racers to compile a 1-1-1 sweep of the motos in a single class.

Vet Rider of the Year

The highly anticipated return of beloved former pro Andrew Short to Loretta Lynn’s proved to be well worth the wait. Just a year and a half removed from a broken back that threatened to end Short’s ability to ride a motorcycle again, the longtime Texas resident competed at the Ranch for the first time since he graduated from the amateur ranks 23 years ago. Riding a KTM, Short immediately joined the list of contenders in the Senior (40+) class. By virtue of his incredible triumph against the Ranch’s most formidable foe, Short was recognized as AMA Vet Rider of the Year.

State Championship

Since 1982, California has dominated the AMA State Championship, as “The Golden State” has amassed more than double the number of championships of any of the other 49 states. That reign of dominance continued in 2024, as California captured seven class championships over the course of the week to once again claim the trophy and remain the standard bearer for producing motocross athletes.

2024 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Champions

• Vet (30+): Brandon Haas, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha
• 450 B: Diesel Thomas, Raymond, Neb., Yamaha
• 125 C: Carson Asay, Vancouver, Wash., KTM
• 85cc (10-12): Braxtyn Mes, Temecula, Calif., Husqvarna
• 65cc (7-9) Limited: Kannon Zabojnik, Rowlett, Texas, Cobra
• Senior (40+): Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
• Mini Sr. 2 (13-15): Dane Pappas, Livermore, Calif., GASGAS
• 450 C: Jamieson MacDonald, Grafton, Ont., Canada, KTM
• 250 B Limited: Grayson Townsend, St. George, Utah, Kawasaki
• 65cc (10-11) Limited: Carter Gray, St. Clairsville, Ohio, Cobra
• 250 Pro Sport: Drew Adams, Chattanooga, Tenn., Kawasaki
• Mini Sr. 1 (12-14): Ries Seeba, Wrightwood, Calif., KTM
• Masters (50+): Mike Brown, Bristol, Tenn., KTM
• 250 B: Caden Dudney, Athens, Texas, Kawasaki
• 125 Jr. (12-17) B/C: Owen Covell, Plymouth, Mass., Yamaha
• Micro 2 (4-6) Limited: Trey Geary, Imperial, Neb., Cobra
• Micro 3 (7-8) Limited: Tate Brush, Atwood, Tenn., Cobra
• Micro 1 (4-6) Shaft Dr. Ltd.: Wyatt Tedesco, Checotah, Okla., Yamaha
• Micro-E (4-7) Limited: Mickey Fluhart, Brandywine, Md., Cobra
• Junior (25+): Jacob Hayes, San Antonio, Fla., Honda
• 250 C: Ryan Jaramillo, Los Lunas, N.M., Yamaha
• Girls (11-16): Lachlan Turner, Gardnerville, Nev., GASGAS
• College (18-24): Noah Stevens, Danbury, N.C., KTM
• Supermini 1 (12-15): Grant McDonald, Cairo, Ga., KTM
• 65cc (7-9): Kannon Zabojnik, Rowlett, Texas, Cobra
• 250 C Jr. (12-17) Limited: Drew Roberts, Kemp, Texas, Yamaha
• 450 B Limited: Diesel Thomas, Raymond, Neb., Husqvarna
• 85cc (10-12) Limited: Nolan Ford, Fairfield, Calif., KTM
• Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C: Owen Covell, Plymouth, Mass., Yamaha*
• Open Pro Sport: Drew Adams, Chattanooga, Tenn., Kawasaki
• Senior (45+): John Boruff, Maynardville, Tenn., Kawasaki
• 250 C Limited: Austin Ellis, Grass Valley, Calif., Honda
• Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C: Caden Dudney, Athens, Texas, Kawasaki
• WMX: Kyleigh Stallings, Yukon, Okla., Kawasaki
• 65cc (10-11): Jaydin Smart, Berry Creek, Calif., Cobra
• Supermini 2 (13-16): Aidan Zingg, Hemet, Calif., KTM

For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, visit the series’ official website at mxsports.com.