Slaw Dog
Welcome to Morning Espresso, an awesome piece presented by MotoSport.com. Win a one-of-a-kind 2023 Yamaha YZ250 in the MotoSport.com Ultimate Two-Stroke Sweepstakes that starts May 27 with weekly giveaways before concluding August 28 with the Grand Prize drawing. Enter here.
That’s a wrap on the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch. It was probably the most insane LL I’ve ever seen. Rain, more rain and more rain dominated the last few days, but in the end, the motos went off and we crowned an Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award winner.
Behind a perfect 1-1-1 week in Open Pro Sport and a runner-up overall finish in 250 Pro Sport, Star Racing Yamaha’s Daxton Bennick captured the prestigious award in 2023. He joins a list that includes Travis Pastrana, James Stewart, Chase Sexton and more.
Since 1997, the Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award has been awarded to the A class rider who shows the most promise as they prepare to enter the professional ranks.
Let’s take a look at EVERY Horizon Award winner in history.
1997 | NICK WEY
1ST: 250/Open A Stock
1ST: 125 A Stock
1998 | BILLY PAYNE
1ST: 250/Open A
2ND: 125 A
1999 | TRAVIS PASTRANA
1ST: 125 A
1ST: 250/Open A
2000 | BEN RIDDLE
1ST: 125 A
1ST: 250/Open A
2001 | JAMES STEWART
1ST: 125 A
1ST: 125 Modified 12-15
2002 | EVAN LAUGHRIDGE
1ST: 125 A/Pro Sport
1ST: 250/Open A
2003 | DAVI MILLSAPS
1ST: 125 A
1ST: 125 Modified 12-15
2004 | MIKE ALESSI
1ST: 250/Open A
1ST: Four Stroke 201cc — 650cc
2005 | RYAN VILLOPOTO
1ST: 125 A
4TH: 125 A/Pro Sport
2006 | JOSH HILL
1ST: 125 A
1ST: 125 A/Pro Sport
2007 | TREY CANARD
1ST: MX Lites A
1ST: MX Lites A/Pro Sport
2008 | DARRYN DURHAM / PJ LARSEN
Durham
1ST: MX Lites A/Pro Sport
6TH: Motocross A/Pro Sport
Larsen
1ST: Motocross A/Pro Sport
2ND: MX Lites A/Pro Sport
2009 | DEAN WILSON
1ST: 450 A/Pro Sport
1ST: 250 A
2010 | JASON ANDERSON
1ST: 450 A
13TH: 250 A/Pro Sport
2011 | JUSTIN BOGLE
1ST: 450 A
2ND: 250 A
2012 | ZACH BELL
1ST: 250 A
3RD: Open Pro Sport
2013 | MATT BISCEGLIA
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 A
2014 | RJ HAMPSHIRE
1ST: 250 A
1ST: Open Pro Sport
2015 | BENNY BLOSS
1ST: Open Pro Sport
3RD: 450 A
2016 | CHASE SEXTON
1ST: Open Pro Sport
2ND: 250 A
2017 | JUSTIN COOPER
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 A
2018 | DEREK DRAKE
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 A
2019 | JALEK SWOLL
1ST: Open Pro Sport
30TH: 250 Pro Sport
2020 | STILEZ ROBERTSON
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 Pro Sport
2021 | LEVI KITCHEN
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 Pro Sport
2022 | CADEN BRASWELL
1ST: 250 Pro Sport
2ND: Open Pro Sport
2023 | DAXTON BENNICK
1ST: Open Pro Sport
2ND: 250 Pro Sport
Photo Courtesy: MX Sports / Align Media
