The level of competition in ATV Motocross is elevating more and more each season. This past season was certainly no exception. The last few weeks we have broken down the class champions in each class. The reason for this is to give some props to some that may seem to get overlooked in the grand scheme of things. And it gives us an opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the ATVMX Top Guns before we head to the banquet in November. The youth and amateur are of course our core in the ATV Racin’ Nation and it is nice to take a look at the future crop of talent working its way through the ranks.

This week is dedicated to the Women’s class. Realizing that they have been written about quite often over the course of this past season, there is so much more than we have been able to scratch the surface on in this class. Realistically you could say that the class competition this year surprised a number of folks and a whole new fan base has begun to form for the ladies.

Couple the intensity of the competition in the Women’s class with how well #125 Chloe Buerster and #83 Katie Mette finished in the highly competitive 4-Stroke B Class. Amazingly they both scored 137 points for the season in the class, which placed them both in 4^th. They were only 5 points behind 3^rd place CJ Dollarhide and only 10 points behind 2^nd place in the class John Burke. Each lady scored a 2^nd and 3^rd place a piece in the class during the season and battled for top spots on several occasions.

I spoke with Jon Burke at Loretta Lynn’s Dirt Days who had battled with Katie Mette in Moto 1 of the 4-Stroke B class and asked him what it was like to being beat by a girl on the track. Without hesitation Jon said, ““She’s a good racer! It has nothing to do with being a boy or girl.” It was a sincere and honest answer as anyone has ever given me about anything.

It really shouldn’t be so much of a surprise that the Women’s class competition has reached the level it has. Five different riders took overall wins throughout the season, which is a true sign that the competition is there. Each race was a question of who will battle whom and who will come out on top this week.

So much is being said about Mette and Buerster, let us not forget the Women’s Class Champion #1 Adrienne Cooper. Cooper took a total of 5 wins on the season and finished no worse than 2^nd except at the season finale where she finished 3^rd. It was not a bad season for the 1^st time champ who showed not only speed but also consistency throughout the entire season.

Cooper, who rides for the Joe Byrd Quad Riding School, has a lot of time working on this championship. She has trained with and behind 8-Time champ Heather Byrd for many years. Couple her training with traveling all over the world assisting Byrd in his schools in North America, Central America, South America and Europe and all the work finally pays off and she is crowned champion.

Adrienne Cooper now has the biggest task of her career lying ahead in 2013 and that task is defending the number 1 plate. It has often been said that winning a championship is sometimes easier than maintaining one, but one thing is for certain, it has been a long and hard road traveled to get to where she is and Adrienne Cooper is setting herself up for the challenge.

Other Women’s class winners included past champ Heather Byrd who jumped out of her retirement for a couple of rounds this season.‚  Heather took an impressive, yet challenging, win at the famed Sunset Ridge in Walnut, Illinois. She gave an interview on how things were going that you can listen to here. Byrd returned to Red Bud where she finished 3^rd for the weekend and she says she still may hit an occasional round for old time’s sake but has no intentions of ever racing for another championship. Who knows though, things could change and the class could get that much more intense.

#19 Samantha Cheetham also posted a win in the class in 2012. Cheetham actually stole the spotlight in Georgia at the season opener. However, lingering back issues and a big get off in Kentucky at the night race halted her challenges at about the halfway point of the season. Cheetham, who is the girlfriend of Rookie Pro of the Year Mark Madl, still comes to every round but said that she is going to take the next few seasons focusing on a nursing degree. Good luck Samantha, there will always be that question of what if for some, but for her it is a question of what’s next.

A surprise winner of the season came at Dirt Days for the season finale. Joe Byrd Quad Riding School as we told you travels all over the world promoting and training ATV racers to the next level.‚  In his journeys he has met and introduced to us several fast and interesting characters from around the globe. But one has to say the most exciting in recent years is the introduction of Ireland’s Emma McQuaid.

Emma McQuaid came to Loretta Lynn’s a literal unknown to American ATV racing. Most riders have high hopes and big desires when they make their first appearance in American national competition. Could anyone ever have guessed things would have ended for McQuaid the way they did. I would say that she probably dreamed and hoped to do well but to win was without a doubt a huge statement about her talents and hopefully it is a talent she will be able to grace us with in the future.

Another new arrival to the Women’s Class this season was the young #88 Brandy Cottage who raced a limited schedule for 2012. She never finished on the podium but just missed it a few times. Cottage may not run a full schedule again next year, but being her first year on the big bikes she seems to have adapted well and with a little more seat time could play havoc in the championship.

Should we really be surprised about the level of competition in the Women’s class? Honestly, a look at the way the entire series is developing, probably not. Actually, no we should not be surprised. Each class including Girl’s classes are proving to be more and more competitive and the talent really seems to run deep in most of classes on the roster.

The talent of the girls working through the ranks from youth right now is a wave that we should be watching for in the near future. The present wave may have taken us by surprise but our eyes are wide open now. And it can’t be helped but be noticed with the young talents of Maci Devenport, Maddison Guyer, Samantha Bronson, Abby Bowyer and Emily Irwin to name a few in the 12-15 class. Younger riders that should be arriving a few years after those girls to the big bikes will be riders like Lindsay Hutchinson, Emily Boyer, Lizzy Vogt, Jordyn Reed and Logan Sepesi to name a few from the 6-11 class.

I am excited to think what the future holds for ATV racing. I am also excited to know that with the off-season, there will be lots of rumors and crazy things flying around. This is what is called silly season and yes it has begun. Next week we will try to look into some things and talk a little more about it. Also we hope to have some information from the Montreal ATV SX this weekend. A number of the boys from the USA are there and hopefully we will have some good stories and news from there.

As the ““Silly Season” heats up it is only going to more exciting looking forward to next season, but don’t forget it isn’t technically over yet as we still have the banquet coming up in November. Make sure to check the ATVMotocross.com website for reservations and special room pricing.

Speaking of that, here’s an official rundown of the Top 10 in each class, after drops and number of races were configured. Please note: WE NEED EVERY CLASS WINNER TO SEND [email protected] THEIR JACKET SIZES BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A CHAMPIONSHIP JACKET.

Also, you can email the same address to cast your vote for the 2012 Specialty Awards. Team of the Year, Youth Rider of the Year and Rider of the Year.

2012 ATVMX Amatuer Class Top Ten

Pro-Am Production
1 CODY GIBSON
2 CASEY MARTIN
3 TYLER HAMRICK
4 NICHOLAS MOSER
5 SEAN TAYLOR
6 KYLE FIX
7 WILLIAM "DUCK" LLOYD
8 CUDY SUGGS
9 BRENT SELLERS
10 COLE HENRY

Pro-Am Unlimited
1 CODY GIBSON
2 NICHOLAS MOSER
3 CODY JANSSEN
4 SEAN TAYLOR
5 WILLIAM "DUCK" LLOYD
6 TYLER HAMRICK
7 COLE HENRY
8 CODY SUGGS
9 BRENT SELLERS
10 BRIAN JOHNSON

450 A
1 NICHOLAS GENNUSA
2 MERRILL CROSE
3 DALTON HICKS
4 VITAL CAZENAVE
5 DYLAN TREMELLEN
6 JOEY WIMSATT
7 TANNER GIPPLE
8 LUCAS LAMONS
9 ANDY MAGYAN
10 MICHAEL TROIANO

450 B
1 BRETT MUSICK
2 MASON MUCHOW
3 LAYNE LAUER
4 JAGAR HALBLEIB
5 JACOB RANZANI
6 GREG FILLIEZ
7 CODY BEASLEY
8 CODY WITHEY
9 BENJAMIN HYSONG
10 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

450 C
1 MATTHEW KEESEE
2 MIKE SHELDON
3 TANNER STUTZMAN
4 COREY POWERS
5 WILLIAM GRIMES
6 CLAYTON COAD
7 BRADY SEWARD
8 AUSTIN HALL
9 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
10 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Open A
1 TRAVIS SPADER
2 MERRILL CROSE
3 MIKE BARNHART
4 LIAM CATER
5 CALEN MCGINTY
6 CHASE CUNNINGHAM
7 DANIEL HOISINGTON
8 BRANDON ROBINSON
9 SILAS LAMONS
10 ROCKY HEUPEL

Open B
1 RIES PARVIN
2 JON BURKE
3 AUSTIN CLEMENS
4 JACOB RANZANI
5 LUKE SHEPHERD
6 JAGAR HALBLEIB
7 LARRY MINER
8 JOSH RAGER
9 TRAVIS BLAIR
10 ZACKERY TAYLOR

Open C
1 CHRIS MILLER
2 TYLER HAEHNER
3 DERRICK ADAMS
4 HUNTER RIDENOUR
5 DAMON CLARK
6 CLAYTON COAD
7 BRIAN WOOD
8 MATTHEW BROYLES
9 KEVIN BOWENS
10 RUDY ZARAGOZA

4-Stroke A
1 NICHOLAS GENNUSA
2 TRAVIS SPADER
3 DYLAN TREMELLEN
4 JOEY WIMSATT
5 JOE SCARROW
6 MICHAEL TROIANO
7 LUCAS LAMONS
8 ANDY MAGYAN
9 LIAM CATER
10 JUSTIN DAUGHERTY

4-Stroke B
1 MASON MUCHOW
2 JON BURKE
3 CARL DOLLARHIDE
4 KATIE METTE
5 CHLOE BUERSTER
6 LUKE SHEPHERD
7 WILLIAM BISHOP
7 TRAVIS BLAIR
9 LARRY MINER
10 JACOB KAISER

4-Stroke C
1 BRANDON WEBER
2 TANNER STUTZMAN
3 MATTHEW COAD
4 BRANDON ANTONUCCI
5 CHRIS FORTNER
5 MIKE SHELDON
7 BRADY SEWARD
8 AUSTIN HALL
9 MATT SERRY
10 TANNER VAICKUS

Production A
1 NICHOLAS GENNUSA
2 CHASE HENRY
3 VITAL CAZENAVE
4 GRAHAM GARDNER
5 DALTON HICKS
6 JACOB MCGRAW
7 TANNER GIPPLE
8 BRYAN VOLLMER
9 CALEN MCGINTY
10 DAVID TERRELL

Production B
1 BRETT MUSICK
2 LAYNE LAUER
3 BLAKE FOOTE
4 CODY WITHEY
5 GREG FILLIEZ
6 JAGAR HALBLEIB
7 JACOB RANZANI
8 CODY BEASLEY
9 RIES PARVIN
10 BENJAMIN HYSONG

Production C
1 MATTHEW KEESEE
2 MATTHEW COAD
3 TYLER HAEHNER
4 COREY POWERS
5 HUNTER RIDENOUR
6 TRISTAN DIXON
7 BRANDON ANTONUCCI
8 WILLIAM GRIMES
9 TANNER VAICKUS
10 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

College (16-24)
1 DYLAN TREMELLEN
2 DANIEL HOISINGTON
3 LIAM CATER
4 SILAS LAMONS
5 KENDALL DIXON
6 SAM IMBURGIA
7 VITAL CAZENAVE
8 RIES PARVIN
9 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
10 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Junior 25 Plus
1 TRAVIS SPADER
2 MERRILL CROSE
3 JOE SCARROW
4 CHASE CUNNINGHAM
5 CLIFFORD TAYLOR
6 ADAM KOEHLER
7 JUSTIN DAUGHERTY
8 BRAD MICKLEY
9 JON WOODWARD
10 RYAN BLADECKI

Veteran 30+ A/B
1 TRAVIS SPADER
2 MERRILL CROSE
3 JOE SCARROW
4 MIKE BARNHART
5 DALE BATSON
6 WILLIAM MARSH
7 LANE COILE
8 CLIFFORD TAYLOR
9 ADAM KOEHLER
10 BRANDON ROBINSON

Veteran 30+ C
1 MIKE SHELDON
2 CHRIS HARPER
3 DERRICK ADAMS
4 CHRIS MILLER
5 DAMON CLARK
6 JAMES PERRY
7 JASON PORTERFIELD
8 COURTNEY TAYLOR
9 TOM REED
10 BRIAN WOOD

Senior 40+
1 GREGG MILLER
2 WILLIAM MARSH
3 LANE COILE
4 C MUSICK
5 JAMES PERRY
6 NEIL HAMBLY
7 ARON REISIG
8 SAL IMBURGIA
9 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
10 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Women
1 ADRIENNE COOPER
2 CHLOE BUERSTER
3 KATIE METTE
4 RACHEL DICKSON
5 SHAY HONEYWELL
6 COURTNEY TAYLOR
7 SAMANTHA CHEETHAM
8 BRANDY COTTAGE
9 HALEY DAVIS
10 JENNIFER IMBURGIA

Schoolboy Sr. (14-17)
1Medlin CAM COVIL
2 SAMUEL ROWE
3 HAEDYN MICKELSON
4 NICHOLAS MAJOR
5 DYLAN BUTLER
6 CHANCE BEVERLY
7 EVAN CLEMENS
8 KYLE HAYNES
9 BRANDON SMITLEY
10 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Schoolboy Jr. (13-15)
1 SAMUEL ROWE
2 HAEDYN MICKELSON
3 BLAKE SARVER
4 CHANCE BEVERLY
5 ALEXANDER GILLETTE
6 RYAN KORODY
7 CAMDEN VISTAIN
8 DYLAN BUTLER
9 KYLE HAYNES
10 EVAN CLEMENS

Super-Mini (13-15)
1 COLE SEPESI
2 TYLER MACK
3 HAEDYN MICKELSON
4 BENJAMIN BROCATO
5 JEREMY LEDONNE
6 NICHOLAS MAJOR
7 RYAN KORODY
8 ALEC MILLER
9 TYLER PETERS
10 LOGAN DUSENBERRY

90 Modified (8-11)
1 SAM STECKLY
2 GUNNER TEBON
3 DJ BASSANI
4 TROY HILL
5 JOSHUA HOLLEY
6 CHANCE NEKOLA
7 DAMIEN GOLDEN
8 BRANDON ONEILL
9 JACOB VISNIC
10 SPENCER MEYER

90 Modified (12-15)
1 COLE SEPESI
2 TYLER MACK
3 JEREMY LEDONNE
4 NOAH MICKELSON
5 TYLER PETERS
6 JESSE VOILES
7 LOGAN DUSENBERRY
8 CAMDEN VISTAIN
9 BROGAN GUYER
10 BENJAMIN BROCATO

Girls (6-11)
1 LINDSAY HUTCHINSON
2 EMILY BOWYER
3 ELIZABETH VOGT
4 JORDYN REED
5 LOGAN SEPESI
6 NIAMH SHAW
7 ELISHEA REED
8 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
9 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
10 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Girls (12-15)
1 MACI DEVENPORT
2 MADDISON GUYER
3 SAMANTHA BRONSON
4 ABBY BOWYER
5 EMILY IRWIN
6 KIERSTIN KEANE
7 LEA CONCEPCION
8 DAEMARIE FERGUSON
9 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
10 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

90 Production (8-15)
1 MACI DEVENPORT
2 ALEX WALTERS
3 DAVID COLLARD
4 GRAYSON ELLER
5 LOGAN DUSENBERRY
6 BRANDON ONEILL
7 SAMANTHA BRONSON
8 ABBY BOWYER
9 LOGAN STANFIELD
10 CAMERON WHALEY

90 Automatic Sr. (12-15)
1 WESTLEY WOLFE
2 JESSE VOILES
3 GRAYSON ELLER
4 BROGAN GUYER
5 CODY FORD
6 LOGAN KENNEY
7 KIERSTIN KEANE
8 LOGAN BOOMERSHINE
9 CHRISTOPHER FURCHES
10 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

90 Automatic Jr. (8-11)
1 PEYTON ZIMMERMAN
2 TYLER FORTIN
3 BRYCE FORD
4 JACOB VISNIC
5 LANCE WALKER
6 CHANCE NEKOLA
7 COREY BOST
8 CARSON PARRISH
9 JORDAN CARSON
10 BRADY CARSON

90 CVT (8-15)
1 JESSE VOILES
2 WESTLEY WOLFE
3 PEYTON ZIMMERMAN
4 GRAYSON ELLER
5 CODY FORD
6 COREY BOST
7 CHANCE NEKOLA
8 LOGAN KENNEY
9 LANCE WALKER
10 BRADY CARSON

70 Modified (6-11)
1GUNNER TEBON
2 DJ BASSANI
3 TREVOR THATCHER
4 TROY HILL
5 BLAKE BRONSON
6 LANE BAIRD
7 SPENCER MEYER
8 PARKER ROAHRIG
9 LINDSAY HUTCHINSON
10 DYLAN MCCLELLAN

70 CVT (6-11)
1 TREVOR THATCHER
2 PEYTON ZIMMERMAN
3 RICHARD BODINE III
4 BRYCE FORD
5 JACOB VISNIC
6 COREY BOST
7 TYLER FORTIN
8 CALE DEAL
9 MAX LINDQUIST
10 PARKER ROAHRIG

70 SS (6-11)
1 LANE BAIRD
2 MALAKHI MARSHALL
3 LOGAN SEPESI
4 BLAINE THOMAS
5 EMILY BOWYER
6 TRISTEN LIEBE
7 PRESTON FOUTCH
8 NIAMH SHAW
9 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
10 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

50 Sr. (6-8)
1 ‚ KOBE VANFOSSEN
2 LANDEN HOUCHENS
3 MATTHEW HOLLEY
4 BRADLEY VOLLMER
5 JORDYN REED
6 BRAYDON ORR
7 JAKE COLSON
8 LEVI KENNEY
9 TARON LIEBE
10 TRISTAN EVANS

50 CVT (6-8)
1 MAX LINDQUIST
2 GRANT LANDIS
3 CONNOR HENSON
4 SHANE COOTER
5 PARKER ROAHRIG
6 BEN CUSHMAN
7 JAKE LINDQUIST
8 LEVI KENNEY
9 JAKE COLSON
10 TARON LIEBE

50 Limited Jr. (4-6)
1 BARRETT CUSHMAN
2 JAKE LINDQUIST
3 SHANE COUGHLIN
4 BODIE DERRER
5 BRANDON BASSANI
6 TRAXTON LIEBE
7 SHAKER REISIG
8 KADEN DERRER
9 LOGAN HALE
10 COLLIN EDWARDS

‚ 

That will do it for now. Till next time, God Bless Your Heart and All Your Vital Organs.