Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News

Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • One Click Sign-In

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    OR

    Sign in with your username and password

    • Sign In
  • Features
    • 10 Things
    • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
    • 3 on 3
    • 250 Words
    • 450 Words
    • Between the Motos
    • Breakdown
    • Deals of the Week
    • GNCC Report
    • Great Battles
    • How to Watch
    • Injury Report
    • Insight
    • In the Mag, On the Web
    • Lockdown Diaries
    • Longform
    • MXGP Race Reports
    • My Favorite Loretta Lynn's Moto
    • Next
    • Observations
    • On This Day in Moto
    • Open Mic
    • Privateer Profile
    • Race Day Feed
    • Racerhead
    • Racer X Awards
    • Racer X Redux
    • Rapid Reaxtion
    • RX Exhaust
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Staging Area
    • The Conversation
    • The List
    • The Moment
    • Things We Learned at the Ranch
    • Unphiltered
    • Wake-Up Call
    • Where Are They Now
    • 50 Years of Pro Motocross
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • The Weege Show
    • Racer X Films
    • Video
    • SX Preview Shows
    • Factory Tech Tip
    • MX Preview Shows
    • Behind The Bars
    • Racer X Rapid News
  • Races
    • Series Schedules
    • TV Schedules
    • Results
    • Champions
    • Teams
    • 2022 Numbers
  • Results
    • Points Standings
    • Race Results
    • Riders
    • The Vault
    • Loretta Lynn's Vault
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • The Mag
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Customer Care
    • Current Issue
    • Newsletter
    • Store Locator
    • Subscribe
    • Free Stickers
    • Sell Racer X
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
GNCC
Hoosier
Articles
Overall Results
  1. Ben Kelley
  2. Trevor Bollinger
  3. Josh Toth
Full Results
XC2 Pro Results
  1. Lyndon Snodgrass
  2. Angus Riordan
  3. Liam Draper
Full Results
MXGP of
Italy
Articles
MXGP Results
  1. Tim Gajser
  2. Jeremy Seewer
  3. Maxime Renaux
Full Results
MX2 Results
  1. Jago Geerts
  2. Tom Vialle
  3. Stephen Rubini
Full Results
MXGP of
Sardegna
Articles
MXGP Results
  1. Calvin Vlaanderen
  2. Jorge Prado
  3. Glenn Coldenhoff
Full Results
MX2 Results
  1. Tom Vialle
  2. Jago Geerts
  3. Thibault Benistant
Full Results
Live Now
GNCC
The John Penton
Articles
Upcoming
Motocross
Fox Raceway 1
Sat May 28
Articles
Upcoming
Australian SX
Gillman
Sun May 29
Articles
Upcoming
MXGP of
Spain
Sun May 29
Articles
Upcoming
GNCC
Mason-Dixon
Sat Jun 4
Articles
Upcoming
Motocross
Hangtown
Sat Jun 4
Articles
Upcoming
MXGP of
Monster Energy France
Sun Jun 5
Articles
Full Schedule
Unsung Hero: Shane McElrath
Jason Weigandt

Jason Weigandt

Unsung Hero Shane McElrath

August 7, 2012 11:30am
by: Jason Weigandt
  • Home
  • Loretta Lynn's
  • Unsung Hero
  • Unsung Hero: Shane McElrath - Loretta Lynn's
Hurricane Mills, TN RedBull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship (Loretta Lynn's) Amateur National Motocross Championship

In a matter of 20 minutes, Shane McElrath's life started to change. By the end of one week, it would never be the same.

Before this year's Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, the North Carolina native was mostly an unknown compared to factory-backed B Class stars like Star Yamaha's Cooper Webb and Factory Connection/GEICO Honda's Matt Bisceglia. Anthony Rodriguez, a JGR Yamaha prospect, certainly commanded respect and attention before the race, too, as did long-time Suzuki prospect Jace Owen, Kawasaki Team Green's Thomas Covington and Nick Gaines, and KTM/Red Bull backed Dakota Alix. Roll up those names, and it would appear there wasn't room for anyone else on the podium. Until McElrath (pronounced Mac-El-rath) busted the darned door down. He won his first moto of the week, holding off Webb in 250 B Stock, then went on to deliver four runner up finishes and another moto win during his six races, all good enough for second overall in 250 B Stock and 450 B Mod. Best of all, incredibly, he notched the fastest lap time of any rider during the week. Makes for one heck of a Cinderella story!

undefined
The breakout star of Loretta's, Shane McElrath.
Simon Cudby photo

"I've always felt like I've ridden good and I felt like I should have been noticed before this," said McElrath when I found him after closing ceremonies on Saturday. "Last year I got a fourth overall and felt like I should have gotten some attention for that, but nothing really happened. This year was my first ever podium here. Last year I got a fifth in a moto and that was the best I had ever done here. So, I went from basically nothing as far as podiums here to where a second in a moto was the worst finish I had all week!"

Luckily, the Loretta's system, with a stock 250 Class, allows lesser-supported riders like McElrath to compete on an even playing field. And in 450 Mod, well, we all know it doesn't take much to make a 450 competitive. "I just got these two brand new bikes, they're stock off the showroom floor with an FMF pipe and silencer on them," he explained. "My 450 has got maybe 2 hours on it now, and that includes the motos here!"

He credits much of his success to working at Club MX in South Carolina. "They really turned me around," he says. "Brandon [Hass] works with me 100 percent and I'm happy with the outcome.  At the Areas and the Regionals I knew where I stood with guys like Jace [Owen] and [Daniel] Baker. And Jace had been out in California, and [Justin] Brayton had seem him out there. Then I would ride with Brayton at Club MX and he would keep me posted. I kind of had a couple of different opinions on what was going on."

Although his results were surprising, he seemed ready when it happened. All week, he acted the part of the guy who had been there before, instead of the fresh-faced newcomer. "I knew I put in the time and put in the work, so I really didn't expect anything less," he said. "I wanted to get at least one moto win. After the first moto win, all I wanted to do was win again. I put so much pressure on myself to win that last moto of the week, too, and get one more, and that's what I did. That was icing on the cake, and it feels so good."

undefined
McElrath would set the two fastest laps of the week, en route to two runner-up finishes.
Simon Cudby photo

What's next? Such success is leading McElrath into uncharted waters. "Last year we were debating moving up to the A class already, but I decided to stay B--but I knew I would have to do good. And I did! We really hadn't planned past that, so I don't know what's going to happen now. We've been talking to some people trying to get everything worked out. Way, way more people are talking to me than before the week began. It's almost overwhelming the amount of people who have talked to me this week!"

When I was done talking to him, I ended our conversation with the standard "See you next year" that serves for everyone except the riders about to turn pro. But McElrath turned it around with a surprising answer. "With some of the stuff we're working on, I might not be here next year," he said. Could he be making the leap from B to pro soon? Time will tell--and this time, people will be paying attention.

  • Racer X Tested:  Install Cams Racer X Tested: Install Cams 10:30am
  • Sign of the  Lap Times: Loretta's Sign of the Lap Times: Loretta's 3:00pm
Read Now
July 2022 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The July 2022 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2022 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
designed at: Website DesignImpulse Studios