We’re counting down the days to the 43rd Annual Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Each day we’re taking a look at the history of success by the 50 states in the union, as well as a few foreign entities, in a race that began back in 1982. Today, we reach a three-way tie for all-time wins at 13 apiece for Idaho, New Mexico and Massachusetts.
Let’s start with the Gem State of Idaho, as just last weekend Pocatello’s Chance Hymas won his first professional overall with a 4-1 at the RedBud 250 National. Hymas is also responsible for one of the 13 total titles that Idaho riders have bagged at the ranch, though he’s only the second to have won an outdoor national. The first? Eagle’s Danny Smith, who topped the ’02 Southwick 125 National. Hymas’ title came in 2020 in the 250/Open B class, while Smith’s came back in 1996 in the 125 B Stock and Mod. The biggest winner at Loretta Lynn’s for Idaho was Lowell Thomson, a Yamaha Support rider from Post Falls who won the very first year—1982—on a 65cc minicycle, then added three more 85cc titles. And Moscow, ID’s Butch Smith was also a first-year winner, taking the title in the 51cc Shaft Drive class and beginning Yamaha’s long winning streak there. And the tiny town of Athol, Idaho, produced two champions in Ryan Breece (250 C Stock in 2010) and Derek Valenzuela (450 C in 2013). Also, there’s Cole Siebler of Emmett (125 B Mod in ’02), Kuna’s Stetson Johnson (250 C in ’16), and the very fast Ben Evans of Boise (2007 450 Pro Sport).
New Mexico has produced some top amateur talent, especially around Albuquerque. Justin Buckelew was outstanding as an amateur, generation four titles as a Yamaha factory support rider in the ‘90s, and his neighbor Ryan Clark of Team Solitaire fame topped the 125 B Stock class in 1994. They were both part of a big group of Albuquerque talent, including the Tedesco brothers of Gio and Ivan, although neither won a Loretta’s title.
Ivan Tedesco went on to greatness as a pro, as did Edgewood’s Jason “El Hombre” Anderson won five titles at Loretta Lynn’s in the early ‘00s. He also won the AMA Nicky Hayden Horizon Award in his final year at Loretta’s, then went on to become the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion and is still the captain of the Monster Energy Kawasaki factory team. Known as the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico also claimed LL titles via Rio Rancho’s Robby Brockman (125 C Stock and Mod in 2005) and Las Cruces’ Michael Chiudioni (125 C Stock in 2000).
Finally, there’s Massachusetts’ 13 wins, more than half of which belong to Keith Johnson! After his professional racing career ended, the man from Carver, Massachusetts returned to the ranch beginning in 2008 and won eight vet class titles. He’s now the man running The Wick 338 and just two weeks ago he and his crew put on what was arguably the best Southwick National ever.
Massachusetts’ other champions are all single-time winners: Chemsford’s Steve Burdette, East Brookfield’s Cynthia Cole, Falmoth’s Jesse Wessell, Hanover’s Justin Cokinos, and Rochester’s Jake Pinhancos.
