Joel Hetrick Wins Second AMA ATV Motocross National Championship

Phoenix Racing Honda team Pro rider Joel Hetrick returned to the track that nearly derailed his title hopes earlier this season and clinched his second AMA ATV Motocross National Championship. Finishing second overall in the Pro finale at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, IN, Hetrick had rode flawlessly all weekend to nab the number one plate.

Hetrick was joined by teammate Haedyn Mickelson. Mickelson’s brother Noah made his Pro debut here in preparation for a full season in the Pro class in 2020.

The Pro-only event was held in conjunction with the Outdoor National Motocross Championship. With a huge crowd on hand, the pressure never got to Hetrick as he racked up two more holeshots. He dominated the first moto and then rode a conservative pace to score third in moto two. Hetrick also won the 2019 Top Qualifier Award and the Holeshot title.

“After round six we were 29 points down so there’s not much I could do was go out there and try to win motos,” explained Hetrick. “I decided to just go out there, race, and have fun. We went to RedBud and the tables turned. We went to Loretta’s one point down and we left with a five-point lead. I came in here with the plan to win the first moto and finish the second moto in the top four. That plan worked out, but this feels insane. I had no idea I was going to be in the position to come here and be battling for the championship. This is what we work so hard for every day. All that hard work paid off.”

Hard work by Hetrick and the Phoenix Racing Team was evident after bad luck struck in round three, also held at Ironman. After mechanical issues and a 14th-place finish Hetrick and the team did what it took to win a title. Also key were Hetrick’s winning combination of Maxxis tires, DASA engine, and Elka suspension.

Hard work by Hetrick and the Phoenix Racing Team was evident after bad luck struck in round three, also held at Ironman. After mechanical issues and a 14th-place finish Hetrick and the team did what it took to win a title. Also key were Hetrick’s winning combination of Maxxis tires, DASA engine, and Elka suspension.

“The bike worked amazing,” said Hetrick. “Jay Gobel with Impact Solutions had the Elka suspension dialed in for the big tires. We ran the Maxxis RZR Plus mud tires and it was hard to stop them today. We pulled two starts and it was a killer day.”

That DASA horsepower was a huge aspect of Hetrick’s success this season. Hetrick snagged 15 holeshots this season and qualified first eight times. DASA’s Dan Lamey flew in from California to watch Hetrick put the final touch on his season.

“Running the DASA motor was a key all year to us getting so many holeshots,” said Hetrick. “Dan came all the way from California to see me and that meant a lot. I’ve been the holeshot king for five years so the DASA motor-Maxxis tires combination continues to work.”

Haedyn Mickelson went 15-13 in the motos to finish 14th overall. He scored 11th in the title chase this year and his best finish was a seventh overall in round two in Texas. Mickelson got hit by another rider on the first lap of moto one and crashed. Still suffering lingering effects from the tumble, he rode a conservative pace in moto two.

“A lot of things happened this year that were out of my control; just some unfortunate stuff,” said Mickelson. “All in all, we have something to build on and we’re really going to push next year. I want to run up in the top five. I know I have the speed to do it. I have the people behind me that will help me do it. I just have to do it!”

The highlight of Haedyn Mickelson’s weekend was battling with his brother in moto two. Early on, Noah Mickelson passed him and they battled throughout the race.

“It was kind of cool,” said Haedyn Mickelson. “I stuck with him until two laps to go and then I passed him back. I really enjoy battling with him. There’s just something special competing with your brother. Once he passed me, I got a second wind. It really lit the fire. It’s going to be fun battling with him next season.”

Noah Mickelson finished 16th overall on the merit of 17-14 moto finishes. In the first moto, a mechanical issue slowed his pace. He too enjoyed battling with his brother in moto two. He’s looking forward to his rookie season in 2020.

“This wasn’t really what I expected,” said Noah Mickelson. “It was a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to next year. I tried my best, but my fitness is definitely not up to the par of these guys.

I have a little bit of work to do but it should be a great year in 2020. It was fun racing with Haedyn. It brought me back to when we were in Pro Am.”

Hetrick and the Mickelson brothers, as well as Grayson Eller, will next head to the GNCC series when it returns from summer break in mid-September. Hetrick will also be competing as part of

Team USA in the Quadcross of Nations scheduled for October 4-6 at Motocross MC Schwedt Circuit in Germany.