by: Chelsea Taylor
Wednesday, November 22, 2017 | 4:10 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chelsea Taylor
(304) 284-0101
[email protected]
Congratulations to the 2017 Wiseco ATV Motocross
Specialty Award Winners and National Champions
A Variety of Specialty Awards Also Presented
SANDUSKY, Ohio (November 22, 2017) – The Wiseco ATV Motocross National Championship (ATVMX) presented by CST Tires, an AMA National Championship, traveled to Sandusky, Ohio this past weekend, November 18-19, for the annual awards banquet. In addition to the coveted AMA Pro ATV championship, there were 40 National Championships and 21 specialty awards bestowed upon completion of the 2017 race season.
In addition to securing his first-ever Pro ATV Motocross Championship, Joel Hetrick also claimed the SSi Decals Holeshot Award and tied with five-time AMA Pro ATV champion Chad Wienen for the ATVRiders.com Top Qualifier Award.
Team USA was awarded the Special Achievement Award after becoming the first team to win at the Quadcross of Nations in Italy this past September. In addition to team members Joel Hetrick, Chad Wienen and Thomas Brown, Mark Baldwin was honored for his efforts as team manager. AMA Pro referee and team organizer, Harv Whipple, was also recognized for his dedication to making the event possible.
The AMA Pro Rookie of the Year Award identifies the first-year professional rider who shows the most improvement as they make their professional debut. Parker Wewerka took home this prestigious award after his eighth-place overall finish in the AMA Pro division, along with the highly-sought after Pro-Am National title.
Noah Mickelson claimed top honors as the Amateur Rider of the Year. The Minnesota native clinched both championships in the 450 A and Pro Sport divisions, and will make his debut in the Pro-Am ranks in 2018.
The Youth Rider of the Year Award goes to the youth rider who excelled in all divisions of racing. Pennsylvania’s Zack Decker took the top spot in championship points for the Super Mini (12-15) and 250 Mod (13-17) divisions, in addition to third place in the Youth All Star (13-15) class, which earned him this esteemed honor.
Brandon Lauer, mechanic for the newly crowned AMA Pro ATV Champion Joel Hetrick, was recognized as the Mechanic of the Year. After many years of chasing the championship, Lauer was able to vault Hetrick to the top with his extensive skillset, where Hetrick never suffered from an unfinished race during the 2017 season.
Wiseco was presented the Sponsor of the Year award, after their decision to step up as the series title sponsor. Their support expanded to both the professional and amateur racers where their on-site display traveled to each of the nine ATVMX rounds.
The Team of the Year Award is based on the team that displays not only exceptional results on the track, but also carries a positive demeanor off the track. In the end, it was Phoenix Racing who took home this prestigious award throughout their commitment to the professional and amateur ranks.
Each year MX Sports and the ATVPG recognizes those members of our race family that we lost, and this year five different individuals were remembered, including Kyler Lenz, 14, who we tragically lost at the Spring Creek ATVMX National in July.
MX Sports and the ATVPG wishes to thank everyone who participated in the 2017 Wiseco ATV Motocross National Championship, and congratulates all of our champions on their accomplishments. Please see below for the full list of class champions and specialty award winners.
| 2017 Wiseco ATV Motocross Champions | ||
| AMA Pro | Joel Hetrick | Seneca, PA |
| Pro-Am | Parker Wewerka | Live Oak, FL |
| Pro Sport | Noah Mickelson | Eyota, MN |
| WMX | Kierstin Keane | Temperance, MI |
| Open B | Eli Lingle | Winslow, IL |
| Open C | Chance Nekola | Des Moines, IA |
| Production A | Troy Hill | Beaverdam, VA |
| Production B | Brogan Guyer | Peru, IN |
| Production C | Gage Scaletti | Edison, NJ |
| 450 A | Noah Mickelson | Eyota, MN |
| 450 B | Brogan Guyer | Peru, IN |
| 450 C | Gage Scaletti | Edison, NJ |
| 450 B/C Limited | Chance Nekola | Des Moines, IA |
| Junior 25+ | Dalton Hicks | Montezuma, IA |
| Veteran 30+ | Chase Cunningham | Morehead, KY |
| Veteran 30+ C | Justin Wess | Hubbard, OH |
| Women 25+ | Michelle Jenkins | Warren, OH |
| Senior 40+ | CD Musick | Verdunville, WV |
| Senior 40+ B | CD Musick | Verdunville, WV |
| Senior 40+ C | Jason Klepacz | Riverside, IL |
| College (16-24) | Sky Volkamer | Runnells, IA |
| Schoolboy Sr. (14-17) | Max Lindquist | Little Suamico, WI |
| Schoolboy Jr. (13-15) | Korie Richmond | Akron, OH |
| Schoolgirl (13-17) | Kierstin Keane | Temperance, MI |
| 250 Mod (13-17) | Zack Decker | Zionsville, PA |
| Youth All-Star (13-15) | Trevor Thatcher | Swanton, OH |
| Super Mini (12-15) | Zack Decker | Zionsville, PA |
| Girls (8-13) | Natalie Jackson | Battle Creek, MI |
| 125 (8-15) | Bryce Duvall | Raywick, KY |
| 90 Open Sr. (12-15) | Aaron Salinas | Harlingen, TX |
| 90 Open Jr. (8-11) | Mason Jackson | Battle Creek, MI |
| 90 Automatic (8-13) | Noah Arnal | Vermilion, OH |
| 90 Shifter (12-15) | Aaron Salinas | Harlingen, TX |
| 90 Shifter (8-11) | Mason Jackson | Battle Creek, MI |
| 70 Open (6-11) | Noah Arnal | Vermilion, OH |
| 70 Automatic (6-11) | Noah Arnal | Vermilion, OH |
| 70 Shifter (6-11) | Ian Juica | Allentown, PA |
| 50 Open (4-8) | Dalton Turpin | Augusta, KS |
| 50 CVT (4-8) | Dalton Turpin | Dalton Turpin |
| 50 Automatic (4-6) | Ethan Tvergyak | Chardon, OH |
| Specialty Award Winners | ||
| Sponsor of the Year | Wiseco Performance Products | |
| Team of the Year | Phoenix Racing | |
| Youth Rider of the Year | Zack Decker | Zionsville, PA |
| AMA Pro Rookie of the Year | Parker Wewerka | Live Oak, FL |
| Amateur Rider of the Year | Noah Mickelson | Eyota, MN |
| Gary Denton Cup | Joel Hetrick | Seneca, PA |
| Bad Ass | Bryce Ford | Springtown, TX |
| AMA Pro ATV Champion Mechanic | Brandon Lauer | Parker, PA |
| ATVRiders.com Top Qualifier | Chad Wienen | Galena, IN |
| ATVRiders.com Top Qualifier | Joel Hetrick | Seneca, PA |
| SSI Decals Holeshot | Joel Hetrick | Seneca, PA |
| Kyler Lenz Sport Ambassador | Korie Richmond | Akron, OH |
| In Memorium | Dan Hoisington | Medina, OH |
| In Memorium | Kyler Lenz | Deforest, WI |
| In Memorium | Mikey Gleason | Sidell, LA |
| In Memorium | Rob Visnic | St. Clairsville, OH |
| In Memorium | Mike Walsh Sr. | Live Oak, FL |
| Special Achievement | Mark Baldwin | North Kingsville, OH |
| Special Achievement | Harv Whipple | Geneseo, IL |
| Special Achievement | Joel Hetrick | Seneca, PA |
| Special Achievement | Chad Wienen | Galena, IL |
| Special Achievement | Thomas Brown | Sanger, TX |
Riders will fire up their machines for the 2018 Wiseco ATV Motocross National Championship season on Tuesday, March 13, at the World Center of Racing – Daytona International Speedway – in Daytona Beach, Florida for the fourth annual FLY Racing ATV Supercross.
For more information on the 2018 Wiseco ATV Motocross National Championship, visit the series official website at www.atvmotocross.com or call (304) 284-0101. Join the conversation on the series social media channels, along with receiving the most up-to-date news and exclusive content.
- Facebook: @atvmotocross
- Instagram: @atvmotocross
- Twitter: @atvmxdotcom
- YouTube: @atvmotocross
About the Wiseco ATV Motocross National Championship:
The Wiseco ATV Motocross National Championship presented by CST Tires, an AMA National Championship, is the nation's premier amateur and professional ATV motocross series, hosted at top motocross facilities nationwide. The 10-round series features the Nation's best racers, teams and sponsors, and is America's largest and longest-running ATV national motocross program. Since 1985, the series continues to expand and produce top talent from the amateur ranks, while premiering the professional class. For more information, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.
About the American Motorcyclist Association:
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join.