Scouting Report: Loretta Lynn's Preview, Part I

IT’S TIME(!) in my best Bruce Buffer voice. We are now less than two weeks away from move in day for the 40th Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Motocross Championship. With rider rosters being announced it’s time for us experts (using that term very loosely) to break down these classes and give you folks some of our classes to keep an eye on as the week approaches. Grab a fresh glizzy, kick back and get up to speed!

Mini-E (4-6) Jr:

This class will see a new champion this year as last year’s winner Kade Nightingale has moved out of the class along with the rest of the podium from 2020. This year’s edition is wide open. Your regional champs Ryan Ciciretti, Kannon Zabojnik, Jace Porter, Jax Baker, Greyson Kressman, Jace Coy, Landon Corbin and Talon Hinson will duke it out with the rest of the field. I’m going to be honest, there isn’t one name here that is a lock for the Dub in this class which is the kind of parody we love to see!

Jax Baker will be pulling double duty in Mini-E and 51cc Jr.

51cc (4-6) Shaft Drive Limited:

P-Dub mania is back and the OEM’s are heavily on the hunt for the next prodigy, errr maybe. Anywho, the Shaft Drive class is forever one to watch, especially at the Ranch. Much like Mini-E class, the Shaft Drive class is slated for a new champion as the 2020 champ has moved out of the class. Some of the Regional Champions opted to give it a shot in 2021. Luke McKey, Kaverick Stewart, Anthony Lonzo, Berchel Johnson, Weston Mandy, Ryan Ciciretti, Cater Schutte and Enzo Posca and the rest of the little tikes are going to be duking it out for the almighty Shaft Drive title.

51cc (4-6) Jr. Limited:

Cobra’s everywhere! No not the lethal kind most commonly found in southern Africa through southern Asia, instead it’s the yellow kind that revs out at seemingly 10000 RPM. This class is an interesting one due to a chunk of the top qualifiers in their respective regions opted out of the class which once again, leaves the door open for some new kids on the block. Landon Conn, Gavyn Welzien, Kannon Zabojnik, Maverick Gresham-Lewis, Levi Leddy, Cole Workman, Reid Girard and Mason Dixon are just a few names who will be absolutely sending it for the title.

Kannon Zabojnik (left) and Gavyn Welzien are looking poised for a Podium at the Ranch.

51cc (7-8) Limited:

Ahhhhh more Cobra’s and some HEAVY competition. Last year’s champ Gage Brown has moved onto the 65 leaving the door open for some hitters like Jaydin Smart, Eidan Steinbrecher, Kade Nightingale, Chase Brennan, Austin Keller, Micah Nix, Axle Ward, Anderson Waldele, Aiden Mckiddie, Talon Hill, LJ Pacheco and Bryson Howell, who are all names that have the potential to spray (children’s) champagne come weeks end. Only time will tell!

Eiden Steinbrecher is not afraid to send it for a title.

65cc (7-9) Mod & Limited:

Fresh(ish) off of Cobra’s, the 65cc classes are where we start to see some potential rising stars in the making. These groms send it as hard as any of the big bike classes year in and year out. I expect nothing less out of the 2021 class with names like Tayce Morgan, Brayton Kreglow, Braydan Comerford, Gauge Brown, Kash Cain, Braxtyn Mes, Easton Graves, Maddox Temmerman, Travis Schneider, Jaydin Smart, Jackson Vick, Bucky Karvasek and Nolan Murphy. Those 13 names, plus the other 29 rippers are going to make the class very interesting. It’ll be cool to see how kids like Gauge Brown will respond to the new class being a past champion at the Ranch.

Jaydin Smart (left) is one of the better starters in the class. Tayce Morgan (right) is one of the biggest senders on a 65cc we have seen in a minute.

65cc (10-11) Mod & Limited:

Let’s just start with the names, then try and break down how it will go because this class is more stacked than a plate of pancakes at IHOP. Carson Wood, Darren Pine, Jackson McCarty, Ryder Ellis, Jonathan Getz, Grant McDonald, Ries Seeba, Landon Walters, Vincent Wey, Mavrick Gish, Hunter Porco, Amari Arnold, Wyatt Duff, Mason Brown, Kevyn De Pinho, Gage Dunham and Cole Blecha. See, more stacked than some pancakes! These older 65cc classes are rad, so many hitters, some have had success and some are still looking for their breakout ride. Who will it be this year? Truth be told, its a crap shoot. Landon Walters appears to be on rails right now, you can never sleep on cats like Vincent Wey and Jonathan Getz while past champions like Gage Dunham are seeking the success they had in the 7-9 year old class.

Landon Walters (top left), Darren Pine (top middle), Ries Seeba/Vincent Wey (top right), Ryder Ellis (bottom left) and Jonathan Gets Jr (bottom left) are just a few of the hitters going for the 65 (10-11) titles.

Thats a wrap for the first part of the mini-cycle classes. In the next edition of the Loretta Lynn’s preview we will be taking a closer look at the 85cc, Mini Sr, Supermini, 125 and Schoolboy 1 classes.