Technically for the Youth and Amateur divisions there has only been one round but with all the excitement it already seems like so much more. The racing thus far has been everything it was hoped to be and maybe even a little more. The idea of a new era dawning in the ATV Racin’ Nation is starting to seem like more than the hype that has preluded it. It seems real and we really haven’t even got the ball rolling. Round 2 in Texas will be a great new stop for the tour as many TQRA racers will join the nationals and we’ll get to see those talents mesh together with our ATVMX guys will be great for both organizations.

A lot of attention is paid to the Pro, Pro Am and Pro Sport classes and for a good reason, as they feature the premier riders of the sport working their way through the ranks to soon be top contenders. Another class that has been added to the roster this year, which features the top youth contenders, is the Youth All-Star class. The displacements are a little more, but more importantly the racing offers something we have never been able to see before out of this talented segment of riders. It is a stepping-stone for the top Youth to work from the smaller machines to the more powerful as they grow in size and talent.

The debut of this class took place at Daytona ATVSX and it was added to the class structure for the ATVMX as well. What has been witnessed so far of this class has truly been remarkable racing. In Georgia it was Peyton Zimmerman winning the first place honors with the fastest qualifying race in moto 1 determined after the 2^nd motos were canceled. Looks like we will have to wait and see in Texas, as these kids will square off with the best of the best nationally and in Texas.

Though Zimmerman seems to have the upper hand in this new class his hands will be full. Alan Meyers of New Jersey proved to be fast as well winning his qualifying moto 1. The big picture though is where we see the biggest opponents. Top youth stars like Noah Mickelson, Troy Hill, Cody Ford, Carson Parrish, Grayson Eller and more are also contenders, and this class could have multiple winners and push the class itself to a whole new level of competition. It’s as if it is a mini pro class, which is drawing a lot of attention from true racing fans.

The new level of competition could very well be the next big wave of Pro Sport and Pro Am riders very soon. This also means that the AMA Pro ATV ranks will see another influx of riders. This will be the first steady stream out of the Youth ranks working to a pro level, and we sure are in store for an even bigger treat than we are already enjoying. This does not mean that the current system in place hasn’t worked in the past, because anyone involved knows it has. We have seen the best racing ever in our sport and it is only getting better as the talent gets better.

One other class that has caught some attention is the Women class. Though there has been a big turn over in this class in recent years it has still been one of the premier championships. Current champion Megan Manshack is pursuing a challenging adventure in the off-road world of GNCC, and as she made her exit the next generation of Women class contenders fill her place. All of a sudden we have a class of new contenders. The new era of Women’s ATVMX is born and this is only the beginning.

If you have paid attention to the Girls classes in recent years then you may have noticed a few names that have become a common place in the divisions. They have raced their way to a level that this class may have never seen to this date. There have always been the standouts; of course the ones most recognized are Heather Byrd and the legendary Angela Moore. These two had talent that few could match in their days, but now the talent pool is stacked even deeper in this class.

Leading the new wave of Women’s ATVMX contenders are Kaitlin Gibson, Maci Devenport and Maddie Guyer. Niamh Shaw, Kierstin Keane, Johannah Vossman, Cassy Warwick follow those young ladies, and even more have followed them.

Anyone watching may have noted that there are others making their way in too that are sure turning some heads in the highly competitive Women class. Aubre King, and one of the toughest veterans in the class, Michelle (Suci) Jenkins have proven in the first round to be contenders. If both ride like they did in the first round then this class may be stacked with talent more than we even realized. Jenkins in particular is probably one the most fit riders on the track, and coupled with an ever-improving talent she may be a threat to take the title in 2015. It will take determination, desire and physical fitness to win and whoever commits to this title will have their hands full. 

Now, lets see what Gloop and Ken have been up to! 

In The Loop With Gloop:

Josh Upperman was looking fast at Daytona and I was impressed in how he was bombing jumps wide open in practice. Unfortunately he had some bad luck, starting with a pile up in heat 1 that sent him to the LCQ where he placed second behind Chad Wienen. The main event didn’t go quite as planned either as Josh was forced off the track in the first couple turns and had to work his way through the pack the entire race.

Echeconnee was looking better for Josh; he was running up front in moto one. He had a small bobble, which ended up making him go down ultimately causing his front tire to pop off the rim. Josh unfortunately just had another case of bad luck in Georgia.

I caught up with Josh and got a little scoop from him about his season so far.

“This season has been off to a rough start. I had bad luck at both rounds, but being on a new team and getting comfortable with the new bike and everything else around me I'm not letting the results put me down. I have a great crew behind me thanks to Rich and my mechanic Doug and the whole Root River crew. I'm going keep pushing and training my butt off and I know it's going to pay off in the long run.”

Silas Lamons is one of the “newer” Pro riders that has been looking strong this year, and he gave us a little insight on how he’s doing.

“I seem to keep having bad luck so far this season, but I’m not going to let it get me down. In Georgia I felt the best I have ever felt and was running 8th when I had some motor failure. I’m ready to turn that all around in Texas.”

Catching Up With Ken Hill

Well, the whirlwind that was the Daytona ATVSX and the official round one at Echeconnee have passed and we can take a look back at a few things that I for one will be watching for at the next round. Other then the shear history made at Daytona, Echeconnee gave us a better look at how the 2015 season might shape up as far as who is going to be a player, and who will be living the struggle. It has been pretty quiet since those two races so I am expecting to see an all out war at Underground MX. We have John Natalie chomping at the bit to grab another win after his dominating performance at Daytona and some retribution due to his get off at Echeconnee. I’m pretty sure he will come off the gate highly ticked off and looking for the center spot of the podium when the roost settles.

Our champion, Chad Wienen, claimed the win at in Georgia, so if you want the win, you will have to go through Wienen to get it. Thomas Brown proved he can find the podium, and then of course there is Joel Hetrick. Joel took himself out at round two and I really do not expect him to slack off the throttle unless he gets another huge holeshot and plenty of track between himself and whoever happens to be trying to close the gap. In years past having four riders that can take the win hasn’t really been something you could rely on because Wienen has been such a dominating force. Not only four riders, but there are five when you throw Jeffrey Rastrelli in there, and he deserves to be in there with the podium finishes he has had. So five of the worlds fastest racers all capable and showing they want not only a podium but a win. I hope you are paying attention because this season is going to be off the chain! And you cannot count out Ronnie Higgerson or Josh Upperman to slip in there and steal a podium, or even a win!

We have a pretty stacked field of talent, plus all the others who are working hard at being right there in the running order. For the fans, I really do not see one rider walking away with the season, which makes for killer racing! The competition hasn’t been this close, in my opinion, in a long time and this could very well be a breakout season for several riders. The Underground MX facility has been hyped up by most of the racers who have been there and from what I am told it can be anyone’s track, so again we head into a round where no real advantage plays to any certain rider! This will be my first trip to this track, so I am pumped and can’t wait to see the gate drop and the racing unfold!