Local Racer Competes for National Spotlight in AMA National Motocross Championship
Historic Loretta Lynn Ranch Set to Host Largest Amateur Motocross Championship
By: Jess Hoyer
Colman, SD: Colman’s Camdyn Hoyer just made his dream come true. The 7-year-old dirt bike racer has qualified for the largest amateur motocross race in the world, the 36th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, presented by AMSOIL, to be held this August at the historic Loretta Lynn Ranch. Hoyer took on over 22,000 hopefuls from across America to earn one of just 1,482 qualifying positions. Hoyer will be the very first South Dakota kid to compete in the 50cc class.
“The Amateur National at Loretta Lynn’s is the event every motocross racer in the country wants to compete in,” said Event Director Tim Cotter. “A win at Loretta’s gives a racer instant national notoriety and can serve as a springboard to a lucrative professional motocross career.”
Most of America’s top professional motocross racers, including James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and Ryan Dungey, have won AMA Amateur National titles at Loretta Lynn’s.
Camdyn Hoyer, who attends Chester Area School in the 1st grade, has been riding dirt bikes since he was 5 years old.
Camdyn’s older brother Callyn Hoyer, who is 9, made it past the Local division in the 7-8 class and moved on to regionals in IL where he finished his Lorretta career for the year. For now he will focus on his 65 for next years races. He will be cheering loud for his little brother and be helping him train for his big event over the next couple weeks.
With the help of sponsors such as Hoyer Construction, Storm Racing, Al & Janet Dorn AKA Nana & Papa, Aunt Rachael & Uncle Tim Feekes, Ahrendt Designs, Paul & Becky Beirne Family, Falcon Plastics, Deanna Hoyer AKA Granny Dee, Hoyer Farms, Spearfish Canyon Fireplace and Spa, Jami and Jen Jensen and Lance Anderson who help pay his way to the races, Hoyer has had the opportunity to pursue his dreams. He has won 19 races in the last 2 years and competes nearly every weekend at local tracks such as Fiddler Creek in Homer NE, SVCC in Renner SD, Spring Creek in Millville MN, Dirty Dozen MX in Kellogg MN, MotoCity Raceway in Little Falls MN, 4GMX winter series in Rapid City SD or “in AMA local to national races across the country”.
Hoyer will make the long journey to Hurricane Mills, Tennessee along with his mom and dad/mechanic Clark and Jess Hoyer two sisters Jennilee and Jayda, big brother Callyn Hoyer and grandma Dee Hoyer. In the meantime, Hoyer will have many family members and friends cheering him on from back home in SD. The race runs July 31st-Aug 5th, 2017. Hoyer and his family will be camping onsite for the week-long event, and will participate in many non-racing evening activities.
Hoyer is just one of the over 22,000 racers across the country who spent the last four months qualifying for the event. The top finishers in Area Qualifiers and Regional Championships earn a gate position in the National Championship race at Loretta Lynn’s. Racers may enter a wide variety of classes, from minicycle classes for children as young as four, all the way up to a senior division for riders over 50. There are also classes for women and classes for both stock and modified machines. In total, there are 38 different classes of competition. Hoyer will compete in the highly competitive 50cc Limited 4-6 class.
The track is built on a section of Loretta Lynn Ranch and Campground in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. The course contains a variety of jumps, corners and other obstacles designed to test the skills and stamina of the racers. The motocross track is used only once a year for motorcycles, so there is no hometown advantage. Racers compete in three 15-20 minute races over the course of the week per class, sometimes in grueling temperatures. Proper training and preparation are paramount.
Most riders attend the event with the help of their families. In fact, many consider the event their family’s summer trip, nicknaming it the “World’s Greatest Motocross Vacation.” Besides the races, the week-long event hosts many family-friendly activities, including swimming, talent show, concerts, and live entertainment.
The race action will be broadcast live daily at www.RacerTV.com, July 31st-Aug 5th, for a total of 40 hours of live coverage. In addition, two highlight shows featuring the event will air on NBC Sports Network in the fall.
For additional information on the Amateur National, visit the official website at www.mxsports.com or call (304) 284-0101. Also, follow the official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for exclusive content and to catch the latest news.
About the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the world’s largest and most prestigious amateur motocross racing program. The national qualifying program consists of 59 Area Qualifiers (February through May) and 13 Regional Championships (May through June), hosted at select motocross facilities across the country. 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. Nearly 22,000 racers attempt to qualify in 38 classes for the 1,482 available positions at the National. 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, please visit www.mxsports.com.
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