Every racer wants to be in position to accomplish their goals at the season finale, and that’s right where the Ford Brothers Racing team found themselves entering championship weekend at Briarcliff. The Ford brothers have been focal points of the series all season long, and rightfully so. Second-year-pro, Bryce Ford, entered the 2021 season surrounded by as much buzz and anticipation as any rider, and he has lived up to the hype this season with more podium finishes than any rider not named Chad Wienen or Joel Hetrick. Older brother, Cody Ford, had his sights set on the Pro Class top ten, and he entered the finale riding a hot streak of eight consecutive top ten finishes. With their goals within reach and in front of the biggest crowd ATV racing has seen in as long as we can remember, it was time to drop the gate for the fastest ATV racers in the world at Briarcliff. And, another spoiler alert, Ford Brother’s racing saved their best for championship weekend!

After solid qualifying laps that earned Bryce and Cody Ford fourth and tenth gate picks respectively, the gate dropped on the penultimate moto of the 2021 ATV Motocross National Championship season. For Cody, he put himself in solid position with a start inside the top ten. In typical “Foreman” fashion, he put his head down and began to charge forward all the way to the finish. When the checkered flag flew, Cody had fought his way up to a very solid eighth place finish in Pro Moto 1. For younger brother Bryce, he may very well have put on the most impressive ride of the day. He entered the final event of 2021 locked in a battle for the third-place podium spot in the series points standings, so when he found himself tangled in a first turn maylay, he knew he had to throw it in high gear – and, at a ballistic pace, he did just that! Bryce Ford crossed the finish line after the first lap in thirteenth, by lap six he was already inside the top five, and the following lap he got himself into fourth where he would remain until the checkered flag flew. With just one gate drop remaining in an epic season of ATV motocross racing, the boys were so close to accomplishing their goals they could nearly taste it.

In the final gate drop of the season, both Ford brothers made it through unscathed. Bryce made a couple passes to get himself into the top five and, knowing that was more than enough to accomplish his season podium goal, he rode a solid race to maintain that position until the finish. For eldest brother, Cody, he saved his very best for last. To cap off an impressive season, Cody started inside the top ten and began a charge to the front that would conclude with him finishing seventh in the moto. His strong 8-7 moto finishes earned him sixth overall, extending his streak to nine consecutive top ten finishes and earning his best overall finish of the season! Way to go, Cody! Bryce’s 4-5 moto scores earned him a solid 5^thoverall on the day, but most importantly the Pro Class sophomore had clinched third place in the series points standings with his impressive day at Briarcliff highlighted by that furious first moto charge. Welcome to ATV racing’s big three, Bryce Ford! Both brothers had accomplished their goals at the season finale, what a feeling!

As many of you know, Bryce Ford chose to compete in the Pro-Am division as well this season. With the team’s switch to the Yamaha YFZ450R for 2021, Bryce stated early in the year that racing the extra class was in an attempt to get some seat time on the new machine and strictly have some fun – and have some fun he did! He led all laps at Briarcliff en route to a 1-1 victory and, with seven overall wins on the season, Bryce Ford was your Pro-Am National Champion! Incredibly, this was the thirteenth National Championship of his young career. Congrats, Bryce!

“Congratulations to [the Ford Brothers Racing] boys!” The team posted to their official Instagram account. “Bryce Ford pulled off 3rd in Pro and Cody [Ford] finished in the {Pro Class] top 10. Bryce also raced Pro Am and won the championship. Thank you to everyone who keeps us going!”